Protective effects of icariin on human vascular endothelial cells induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein via modulating caspase-3 and Bcl-2

Icariin belongs to the family of flavonoids that is extracted from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim, and exhibits antioxidative, antitumorigenic, antiosteoporotic, immunoregulatory and antiatherosclerotic properties. To understand the mechanisms underlying the antiatherosclerotic properties of icariin, the present study investigated the effects of icariin on human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) following treatment with oxidized low‑density lipoprotein (ox‑LDL). Thus, following pretreatment with icariin at four various concentrations (0, 10, 20 and 40 µM), HUVECs were stimulated with ox‑LDL (100 µg/ml). The viability of cells was evaluated via an MTT assay and flow cytometry was performed to assess apoptosis. Additionally, the protein and mRNA expression levels of apoptosis regulator Bcl‑2 (Bcl‑2) and caspase‑3 were determined by western blotting and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The findings of the present study indicated that icariin prevented injury and apoptosis in HUVECs following ox‑LDL treatment, in particular via the regulation of protein and mRNA expression levels of Bcl-2 and caspase-3.