Flavonoids suppress the cytotoxicity of linoleic acid hydroperoxide toward PC12 cells

The suppressive effect of flavonoids on the cytotoxicity of linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LOOH) toward rat phenochromocytoma PC12 cells was examined. The extent of cytotoxicity was shown on the basis of % survival determined by the trypan blue exclusion test. On preincubation of cells with either 3-hydroxyflavone, quercetin, or luteolin prior to LOOH exposure, the cytotoxicity was considerably suppressed. In contrast, on coincubation of cells with either eriodictyol, quercetin, kaempherol, luteolin, or 3-hydroxyflavone and LOOH, it was markedly suppressed. Regardless of incubation conditions, quercetin, 3-hydroxyflavone, and luteolin were thus more effective as protective agents against the cytotoxicity than the other flavonoids. These flavonoids further showed a suppressive effect on coincubation rather than on preincubation. These results suggest that such flavonoids are beneficial for cells under oxidative stress.