Protective Effects of an Ancient Chinese Kidney-Tonifying Formula against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage to MES23.5 Cells

Oxidative damage plays a critical role in the etiology of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD). In our study, an ancient Chinese kidney-tonifying formula, which consists of Cistanche, Epimedii, and Polygonatum cirrhifolium, was investigated to protect MES23.5 dopaminergic neurons against hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced oxidative damage. The damage effects of H2O2 on MES23.5 cells and the protective effects of KTF against oxidative stress were evaluated using MTT assay, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunocytochemistry (ICC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. The results showed that cell viability was dramatically decreased after a 12 h exposure to 150 μM H2O2. TEM observation found that the H2O2-treated MES23.5 cells presented cellular organelle damage. However, when cells were incubated with KTF (3.125, 6.25, and 12.5 μg/ml) for 24 h after H2O2 exposure, a significant protective effect against H2O2-induced damage was observed in MES23.5 cells. Using ICC, we found that KTF inhibited the reduction of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) induced by H2O2, upregulated the mRNA and protein expression of HO-1, CAT, and GPx-1, and downregulated the expression of caspase 3. These results indicated that KTF may provide neuron protection against H2O2-induced cell damage through ameliorating oxidative stress, and our findings provide a new potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of Parkinson’s disease.