Brazilin and the extract from Caesalpinia sappan L. protect oxidative injury through the expression of heme oxygenase-1.

In this study, we examined the protective effects of Caesalpinia sappan L. and its major component, brazilin, against tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced cell death in House Ear Institute-Organ of Corti 1 (HEI-OC1) cells. We found that the extract of C. sappan L. and brazilin induced antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase activity and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in a concentration-dependent manner. The inductive effect of brazilin was more potent than the extract of C. sappan L. and the expression of HO-1 reached a peak at 12 h after brazilin treatment. The extract and brazilin protected the cells against t-BHP-induced cell death. Their protective effects were abrogated by zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP IX), a HO inhibitor. These results demonstrate that the extract of C. sappan L. and brazilin induce the expression of HO-1 and the enzyme diminishes t-BHP-induced cell death in HEI-OC1 cells.