Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus (Alpinia Oxyphylla Miq) Extracts Inhibit Angiotensin-II Induced Cardiac Apoptosis in H9c2 Cardiomyoblast Cells

Angiotensin H (Ang H) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We used a traditional Chinese medicine, alpinate oxyphyllae fructus (AOF), to evaluate its effect on Aug II-induced cardiac apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Ang II-treated H9c2 cells were administered AOF of 20-100 mu g/mL concentrations. Ang significantly increased TUNEL-positive nuclei in the H9c2 cells, effect was inhibited by AOF administration in both pre-treated and post-treated H9c2 cells. Caspases 9 and 3 activities were increased by Ang II and downregulated by AOF administration, especially in pre-treatment. AOF treatment reversed Ang II-induced mitochondria membrane potential instability in H9c2 cells as observed by JC-1 stain assay. Furthermore, proapoptotic proteins Bad and cytochrome c increased and decreased respectively under AOF administration. The levels of p-Bad anti-apoptotic protein were significantly increased after AOF treatment. This study indicates that mitochondrial dependent apoptosis induced by Ang II.