Protective effect of Hypericum perforatum Linn (St. John's wort) against hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis on human neuroblastoma cells.

The medicinal plant Hypericum perforatum Linn, commonly known as St. John's wort, has been used as an antidepressant. To investigate whether St. John's wort possesses a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, flow cytometry analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma cells. Cells treated with H(2)O(2) exhibited several apoptotic features, while those pre-treated with St. John's wort prior to H(2)O(2) exposure showed a decreased occurrence of apoptotic features. In addition, pre-treatment with St. John's wort inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced increase in caspase-3 enzyme activity. These results suggest that St. John's wort may exert a protective effect against H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cells. Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.