Esculetin inhibits oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes following hypoxia/reoxygenation injury

Esculetin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin), a natural coumarin compound extracted from natural plants, was reported to be involved in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the role of esculetin in myocardial I/R injury remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of esculetin on cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R), and explore the underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that esculetin improved the cell viability and decreased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. In addition, esculetin significantly suppressed oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cells exposed to H/R treatment. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms of its action indicated that esculetin enhanced the activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway in H/R-stimulated H9c2 cells. Taken together, these findings indicated that esculetin inhibits oxidative stress and apoptosis in H9c2 cardiomyocytes following H/R injury through the activation of JAK2/STAT3 pathway.