Stevioside enhances apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in PC12 cells

• Takahashi, Kumiko

• Sun, Yongkun

• Yanagiuchi, Ikumi

• Hosokawa, Toshiyuki

• Saito, Takeshi

• Komori, Miyako

• Okino, Tatsufumi

• Kurasaki, Masaaki

Abstract

In our laboratory, using a PC12 cell system, we have been conducting studies on the effects of various chemicals on apoptosis, as it is considered to be an essential part of normal development, maintenance, and defense in organisms. Stevioside is a natural sweetener extracted from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. Since it is widely used as a sugar replacement, we decided to evaluate the toxicological effects of low concentrations of stevioside on apoptosis induced by serum deprivation using the PC12 cell system. We found, based on data from DNA electrophoresis and TUNEL signal assays, that stevioside enhanced apoptosis induced by serum deprivation. This enhancement was caused by increased expression of bax and of cytochrome C released into the cytosol. These findings suggest that stevioside affects the regulation of the normal apoptotic condition. Further investigation will be needed to clarify the detailed the mechanism of the enhancement due to the treatment with stevioside.

Journal

• Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods

  Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 22 (4), 243-249, 2012-05

  Informa Healthcare

Keywords

• Apoptosis
• Bcl-2 family
• cytochrome c
• PC12 cells
• stevioside

Details

• CRID: 1050282813987452544
• NII Article ID: 120005228672
• DOI: 10.3109/15376516.2012.658978
• ISSN: 15376524
• ISSN: 15376516
• HANDLE: 2115/52718
• Web Site: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/15376516.2012.658978
• Text Lang: en
• Article Type: journal article
• Data Source:
  • IRDB
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN