Phenylethanoid glycosides from Cistanches salsa inhibit apoptosis induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion in neurons

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-ylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay revealed that the treatment of CGNs with PhGs inhibited the decrease of cell viability induced by MPP+. The activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 was induced by MPP+ in apoptosis. The caspase-3 and caspase-8 fluorogenic assays showed that the treatments of CGNs with PhGs efficiently suppressed the activation of caspase-3 and caspase-8 induced by MPP+. It is concluded that PhGs can prevent the MPP+-induced apoptosis in CGNs and exert its anti-apoptosis effect by inhibiting caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities.