Influence of isolated compounds of the TCM formulation HLJDT on apoptosis in yeast under stress conditions

Apoptosis is very important for the development and homeostasis of organisms. Various stimuli e.g. low doses of H₂O₂ can induce apoptosis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae [1]. S. cerevisiae wildtype BY4741 were used as test organisms. Apoptosis under stress conditions induced by H₂O₂ or acetate was investigated using the TCM formulation Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT; it consists of Gardeniae fructus, zhi zi; 1.5 parts, Scutellariae radix, huáng qín; 1 part, Phellodendri cortex, huáng bai; 1 part, Coptidis rhizoma, huáng lián; 1.5 parts.) and its main compounds (baicalein, baicalin, berberine, geniposide, jatrorrhizine, wogonin) as substrates. In preliminary investigations the influence of the incubation time as well as the influence of different concentrations of the substrates on the model organism was determined. HLJDT did not show any anti apoptotic effect. After H₂O₂ treatment baicalein reduced the cell death significantly. Berberine and geniposide prevented the yeast cells from dying under acetate stress conditions. These pure compounds which reduced apoptosis under stress conditions may play an important role in future in the therapy of neurodegenerative diseases.

Reference: 1. Madeo F. et al. (1999)J. Cell Biol.145, 757–767.