Cytoprotective effects of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner) seed extracts on oxidative damaged mouse embryonic fibroblast cell

This study was conducted to evaluate the cytoprotective activity of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner) seed extract (LSE) on mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells. The DPPH free radical scavenging activities of LSE increased in a concentration dependent manner. The cells, damaged by oxidative stress, decreased their viability following increasing concentration of H₂O₂, but the cotreatment of ethyl acetate fraction of LSE and H₂O₂ resulted in an increase in cell growth, by about 25%, compared to the cells treated with H₂O₂. The ethyl acetate fraction of LSE inhibited the cytotoxicity induced by H₂O₂ in a concentration dependent manner. The treatment of the n-butanol fraction of LSE on MEF cell was also examined by analyzing the DNA content and apoptotic rate, using flow cytometry. The oxidative damage to the cells, measured by apoptotic and necrotic cell accumulation, was similar with the addition of the ethyl acetate fraction of LSE to H₂O₂. These results suggest that LSE inhibited the cytotoxicity which is induced by H₂O₂, and has a protective effect on MEF cell against oxidative stress.