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Genistein protects primary cortical neurons from iron-induced lipid peroxidation

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Abstract

Neuroprotective role of isoflavones in particular genistein might be resulted from their antioxidant activities in addition to their estrogenic actions. In the present study, we investigated effect of genistein on iron-induced free radical reaction in cultured cortical neurons. Thiobarbituric-acid-reactive species (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured after incubation of the cells with different concentrations of genistein in the absence or presence of iron (12.5 μM) for 24 h. Genistein at 100 μM significantly reduced the iron-induced TBARS, implying that genistein has an inhibitory role on iron-induced lipid peroxidation. Also, genistein (100 μM) led to a relatively higher SOD level than that in iron treatment although no significant difference was found. The findings imply that the antioxidative effect of genistein is partly associated with its neuroprotective function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Brain Iron Metabolism, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

    Kwok Ping Ho, Lin Li & Zhong Ming Qian

  2. Institute of Gerontology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Peoples Republic of China

    Lin Li & Li Zhao

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  1. Kwok Ping Ho
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  2. Lin Li
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Ho, K.P., Li, L., Zhao, L. et al. Genistein protects primary cortical neurons from iron-induced lipid peroxidation. Mol Cell Biochem 247, 219–222 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024142004575

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