Protective effect of puerarin on vascular endothelial cell apoptosis induced by chemical hypoxia in vitro

Aim To study the effect of puerarin on vascular endothelial cells apoptosis induced by chemical hypoxia ischemia in vitro . Methods The chemical hypoxia ischemia model was performed by treating cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) with NaCN in glucose free medium. Cell viability was determined by trypan blue staining. Cell apoptosis was defined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), flow cytometry and Hoechst 33342 staining. The expression of Caspase 3 in endothelial cells was detected by immunocytochemical method. Results Chemical hypoxia ischemia was shown to initiate bovine aortic endothelial cell apoptosis. Puerarin (0 5-3 mmol·L -1 ) was found to inhibit endothelial cell apoptosis effectively, and reduce the expression of Caspase 3 significantly. Conclusion Puerarin can protect apoptotic endothelial cells induced by chemical hypoxia ischemia markedly and the effect was performed partly by decreasing Caspase 3 expression.