Antioxidant activity against H 2 O 2 -induced cytotoxicity of the ethanol extract and compounds from Pyrola decorate leaves.

Context:The leaves ofPyrola decorateH. Andr (Pyrolaceae), known as Luxiancao, have long been used for treating kidney deficiency, gastric haemorrhage and rheumatic arthritic diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. Objective:The phytochemicals and antioxidant capacitiesin vitroofP. decorateleaves were investigated. Materials and methods:Ethanol, petroleum ether, acetidin,n-butyl alcohol and aqueous extracts ofPyrola decorateleaves were prepared by solvent sequential process, and then isolated and purified to obtain phytochemicals. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay. PC12 cells were pretreated for 24 h with different extractions ofP. decorateleaves at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mg/mL, then H2O2of 0.4 mM was added in all samples for an additional 2 h. The antioxidant capacities of betulin, ursolic acid and monotropein were determined in PC12 cells against H2O2induced cytotoxicityin vitroas well. Results:Nine compounds (1–9) were isolated and structurally determined by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR analyses. Ethanol extract treated groups showed inhibitory activity with IC50value of 10.83 mg/mL. Betulin, ursolic acid and monotropein were isolated fromP. decorate, and demonstrated with IC50values of 6.88, 6.15 and 6.13 μg/mL, respectively. Discussion and conclusions:In conclusion,Pyrola decorateis a potential antioxidative natural plant and worth testing for further pharmacological investigation in the treatment of oxidative stress related neurological disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]