Abstract

The roots of Aconitum brachypodum Diel are used clinically in traditional medicine of China. However, it is also found very toxic and to date, few detoxication strategies are available to completely eliminate its toxicity. The present study was conducted to observe the cellular neurotoxicity of A. brachypodum Diels and discuss the detoxication effect of baicalin and glycyrrhetic acid, two compounds from Chinese herbal Baical skullcap root and Radix Glycyrrhizae, respectively. The cellular neurotoxicity of A. brachypodum Diels on PC12 cell was estimated and assessed. The results showed that low doses of chloroform-soluble fraction (CFA) displayed little toxicity on PC12 cells. However, long term of high doses (300 to 400 μg/ml) exposure to CFA could lead to significant cell damage, mainly including cell apoptosis and necrosis, increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria dysfunction and redox imbalance. Pre-incubation of baicalin and glycyrrhetic acid could both decrease the cytotoxicity of PC12 induced by CFA. The present study strongly demonstrated the pro-oxidant effects of CFA and suggested that increased intracellular ROS and calcium have mediated a significant time and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in PC12 cells exposed to CFA via a mitochondrial dependent pathway, which could be effectively reduced by baicalin and glycyrrhetic acid.

Key words: Aconitum brachypodum Diel, baicalin, glycyrrhetic acid, PC12, detoxication.