Abstract:

The effect of platycodin D (PD) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were evaluated in vitro. OxLDL
at 50 mg/L was used to induce oxidative injury in HUVECs to establish a cell model of oxidative injury. The cells were pre-treated
with various concentrations of PD (0.5, 0.75 mg/mL and 1 mg/mL). The levels of nitric oxide (NO) and malonaldehyde (MAD)
in the culture medium were determined. The mRNA expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular
cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in endothelium cells were also analyzed as well as the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial
cells. The results showed that PD treatment significantly increased NO levels (P ＜ 0.01) but decreased (P ＜ 0.01) MDA levels in
the medium of endothelial cells. Moreover, PD significantly downregulated mRNA expression levels of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in
endothelial cells (P ＜ 0.01) but also inhibited the monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells (P ＜ 0.01). These findings suggest that
PD can inhibit OxLDL-induced oxidative injury in endothelial cells.

Key words: Platycodon grandiflorum A.DC., platycodin D, oxidative damage, cells adhesion