Isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus protect PC12 cells from toxicity induced by l-glutamate

lsoflavonoids, formononetin, 9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan 3-O-β-d-glucoside, ononin, calycosin 7-O-glc and calycosin, were isolated from the roots of Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Leguminosae). The neuroprotective roles and direct antioxidant effects of these isoflavonoids were investigated by using PC12 cell model and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Formononetin, ononin and calycosin were found inhibiting glutamate-induced cell injury, with an estimated 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.027 μg/ml, 0.047 μg/ml and 0.031 μg/ml, respectively. Pretreatment with them increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and prevented the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in glutamate-injured PC12 cells. On the other hand, calycosin 7-O-glc and calycosin showed more scavenging activity to DPPH radicals than formononetin in the cell-free system. The inconsistency between the neuroprotective capabilities of isoflavonoids and their directly scavenging activity to DPPH radicals indicated that formononetin, ononin and calycosin probably depended on increasing endogenous antioxidant and stabilizing the cells' membrane structures to inhibit the cell damage induced by glutamate.