OBJECTIVETo study mechanismt of Fufang Haishe capsule for dementia by observing the effect of it on PC-12 cell apoptosis, which was induced by beta-amyloid protein (Abl-42).

METHODNerve growth factor (NGF) was used to cultivate the PC-12 cells. Fufang Haishe capsule at different concentrations was added into the culture medium so as to identify the nontoxic concentrations with MTT. To analyze the PC-12 cell apoptosis respectively by MTT assay, Flow cytometry (FCM technique) with different concentrations of Fufang Haishe capsule (0.01, 0.1, 1, 5 mg x mL(-1)), adding Ab or not Western blot was used to detect apoptosis which was measured on the implementation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 activity.

RESULTFufang Haishe capsule could significantly inhibit the apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta with increased colorimetric MTT asay ( compare among the control group and concentration 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 5 mg x mL(-1) group, which is the same below: 1.75 +/- 0.12, 0.73 +/- 0.35, 0.79 +/- 0.11, 0.83 +/- 0.07, 1.31 +/- 0.07, 1.80 +/- 0.38, P < 0.01) and the decreased apoptosis rate of the cells which was analysed by flow cytometry (1.93 +/- 0.41)%, (46.17 +/- 4.08)%, (35.35 +/- 4.63)%, (28.62 +/- 3.81)%, (15.13 +/- 3.15)%, (7.84 +/- 1.76)%, P < 0.01. In addition, Fufang Haishe capsule inhibited the activity of caspase-9 and caspase-3 of PC-12 cells which was induced by Abeta.

CONCLUSIONFufang Haishe capsule significantly inhibite apoptosis of PC-12 cells induced by Abeta. The mechanism might be that Fufang Haishe capsule decrease the activity of the apoptosis implementing protein,caspase-9 and caspase-3.