Kobophenol A inhibits sodium nitroprusside-induced cardiac H9c2 cell death through suppressing activation of JNK and preserving mitochondrial anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Mcl-1.

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) releases nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator, and thus widely used in intensive care unit for treating hypertension emergency. However, cardiac toxicity after SNP administration is a clinical problem. For finding a natural compound that suppressing SNP-induced cardiac toxicity, we tested the protective potential of kobophenol A (Kob A), purified from the root of Caragana sinica, against the toxic effects of SNP. The severe cardiac H9c2 cell death was induced by SNP (2 mM) treatment. Kob A ameliorated SNP-induced cardiac H9c2 cell death, and this protective effect of Kob A may be related to the inhibition of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation following SNP administration. In addition, the downregulation of cellular Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 levels by SNP exposure was strongly abrogated in the presence of Kob A. These biological properties of Kob A might provide insights into developing new cardioprotectant against SNP-induced cardiac cell death.