Daidzin protects PC12 cells from serum deprivation-induced apoptosis

This article examines the effect of daidzin on PC12 cell apoptosis induced by serum-free medium. PC12 cell survival was measured by MTT assay. The DNA content and percentage of apoptosis were monitored by flow cytometry and DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results showed that serum-free (12 h) medium induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. When the cells had been treated with daidzin (0.1, 1 microM) for 12 h, the percentage of PC12 cell apoptosis was significantly decreased to 12.21 and 4.24% from 91.94% in the group with serum deprivation, and DNA fragmentation was prevented. Daidzin (0.01-10 microM) attenuated the cytotoxic effect of sodium cyanide (20 mM), glutamate (0.5 mM) and sodium nitroprusside (0.5 mM) in a manner dependent on concentration. The results suggested that daidzin prevented PC12 cell from serum free-induced apoptosis.