Identification of flavonoids from Flammulina velutipes and its neuroprotective effect on pheochromocytoma-12 cells.

The flavonoids from Flammulina velutipes (FVF) were isolated and the chemical composition of FVF was identified by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS). The antioxidant activity and the neuroprotective effect against H2O2-induced pheochromocytoma-12 cells (PC12) cytotoxicity of FVF was investigated. Six flavonoids from FVF were identified as arbutin, epicatechin, phillyrin, apigenin, kaempferol and formononetin. Obtained results suggested that FVF possesses strong antioxidant properties in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities as well as reducing power. Pretreatment of PC12 cells with FVF significantly increased the survival rate of cells, glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity. Conversely, the pretreatment reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase and the accumulation of both intracellular reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. These findings collectively suggested that the protective effects of FVF against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells as well as the potential for neuroprotection of FVF could be due to its antioxidant action.