Protection from antimycin A-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by Nelumbo nucifera seed extracts

Antimycin A (AMA) damages the mitochondria through inhibition of mitochondrial electron transport. In this study, exposure of L6 rat skeletal muscle cells to AMA induced a decrease in ATP content, followed by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to apoptosis. We evaluated the protective effects of water and ethanol extracts of Nelumbo nucifera seeds on L6 cells with AMA-induced oxidative stress. We found that the extracts reduced cellular apoptosis; preserved the mitochondrial membrane potential; protected mitochondrial ATP production; inhibited p53, Bax, and caspase 3 activities; and induced Bcl-2 production. Our results suggested that AMA induced apoptosis in L6 cells via impairment of mitochondrial function. N. nucifera extracts protected the cells from this mitochondria-mediated cell death.

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► Cell viability increased to 80% at 200 μg/ml Nelumbo nucifera seeds extracts.
► Both water and ethanol extracts of N. nucifera seeds reduced cellular apoptosis.
► ATP was significantly greater in cells treated with N. nucifera extracts.
► N. nucifera extracts inhibited p53, Bax, caspase3 activities.
► N. nucifera extracts protect cells that lead to mitochondria-mediated cell death.