Beta-asarone protection against beta-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells via JNK signaling and modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins

Neurodegenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer's disease have been well investigated. However, significant methods for the treatment of the promotion and progression of Alzheimer's disease are unavailable to date. Apoptosis is a crucial pathway in neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease patients. Thus, the suppression of apoptosis may be an effective therapeutic strategy for Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we evaluated the effect of β-asarone on β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced toxicity in cultured PC12 cells. Our data show significant induction of apoptosis in PC12 cells incubated with Aβ peptide, and this effect was reduced by β-asarone. Beta-asarone reduced Aβ-induced JNK activation. In addition, β-asarone attenuates Aβ-induced down-regulation of Bcl-w and Bcl-xL in a JNK-dependent manner, and subsequent inhibition mitochondrial release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3. Together, these findings indicate that Aβ-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells proceeds through mitochondrial pathway. Further, the JNK signaling cascade plays a role in regulating the anti-apoptotic effects of β-asarone. Thus, our results indicate that β-asarone might be a potentially therapeutic compound for Alzheimer's disease.