Ameliorative effect of Vitex peduncularis in neuroblastoma cells against oxidative stress under hypoxic condition

Vitex peduncularis, a well-known herbal anti-oxidant, has emerged as a potential candidate to ameliorate cellular damage caused due to hypoxia. Formation of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde (MDA) and altered level of GSH, GSSG, GPx, GR, and SOD is common during hypoxic stress. N2a cells exposed to hypoxia showed an increase in oxidative damage with enhanced levels of ROS, MDA, GSSG and reduced levels of GSH, GR, and SOD. In the present study, different extracts of V. peduncularis i.e. (methanol, chloroform, hexane and benzene) were observed in mitigating oxidative stress in murine neuroblastoma-N2a cell line. The V. peduncularis chloroform extract (VPC) was found best in reducing ROS generation. Treatment with VPC significantly restored the levels of GSH, GSSG, SOD and GR in N2a cells under hypoxic conditions. The anti-oxidant activities of VPC were further confirmed by checking expression of anti-oxidative genes, HIF-1α, metallothionine and haemeoxygenase-1 as markers.