Salidroside promotes erythropoiesis and protects erythroblasts against oxidative stress by up-regulating glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Rhodiola rosea is commonly used in China and Tibet folk medicine for the treatment of high altitude sickness, anoxia and mountain malhypoxia. Aim of study: Salidroside (SDS) is an active ingredient of Rhodiola rosea. This study attempted to examine the potential erythropoiesis-stimulating and anti-oxidative effect of SDS in TF-1 erythroblasts. Materials and methods: The erythropoiesis-promoting effect was determined by treating human TF-1 cells, one of the popular in vitro models for studying erythropoiesis, with SDS in the presence and absence of erythropoietin (EPO) through the measurement of the expression of a series of erythroid markers such as glycophorin A (GPA), transferrin receptor (CD71) and hemoglobin (Hb). The potential protective effect of SDS against H2O2-induced apoptosis and its underlying mechanism in TF-1 erythroblasts were examined by flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. Results: SDS promotes erythropoiesis in the EPO-treated cells and it also reduces the number of apoptotic cells in TF-1 erythroblasts after H2O2 treatment probably through the up-regulation of protective proteins thioredoxin-1 (Trx1) and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1). Conclusion: Our study provides evidence to explain the ethnopharmacological role of SDS and Rhodiola rosea in Chinese medicine. Our findings also support the use of SDS as an erythropoiesis-adjuvant agent to correct anemia and malhypoxia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.