Neuroprotection of two C21 steroidal glycosides from Cynanchum auriculatum against H2O2-induced damage on PC12 cells

Neuroprotection under conditions of oxygen stress of two C₂₁ steroidal glycosides, cynsaccatol Q (1) and saccatol K (2), isolated from Cynanchum auriculatum Royle ex Wight, and their potential mechanisms were studied using the model of H₂O₂-induced damage on PC12 cells in this paper. Experiments showed that compounds 1 and 2 can both regulate the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including GSH-Px, LDH, CAT, SOD, decrease the levels of intracellular ROS and Ca²⁺, reduce cell apoptosis, and regulate the expression of HO-1 and NQO1 through the Nrf2-ARE pathway, thus play the role of neuroprotection against oxidative damage.