Abstract:

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible protective effects and mechanisms of 20-hydroxyecdysone, an insect steroid hormone, on H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Pretreatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone significantly elevated the cell viability and decreased LDH leakage in H₂O₂-treated SH-SY5Y cells. 20-Hydroxyecdysone also dramatically reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and enhanced the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities under oxidative stress conditions. Furthermore, 20-hydroxyecdysone pretreatment inhibited apoptosis by decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and attenuating the activation of caspase-3. These results suggest that 20-hydroxyecdysone can protect SH-SY5Y cells against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity and might potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases induced by oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Key words: 20-Hydroxyecdysone, H2O2, SH-SY5Y cells, Oxidative stress, Apoptosis, Neurodegenerative disease