Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective is to evaluate the protective effects of six coumarin derivatives against peroxide-induced cardiomyocyte damage and investigate their action mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were analyzed using dihydrorhodamine 123 and JC-1 combined with flow cytometry. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed using WST-1 and lactate dehydrogenase analysis kits, respectively. The apoptotic signaling pathway was analyzed using a mouse apoptosis array kit. Cellular protein expression was detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Among the six coumarin derivatives tested, only 7-hydroxyflavone demonstrated the ability to protect cardiomyocytes from hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced damage. Protein expression analysis revealed that 7-hydroxyflavone reduced cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and inhibited H(2)O(2)-induced activation of caspase-3. In addition, 7-hydroxyflavone maintained MMP stability in cardiomyocytes exposed to H(2)O(2). CONCLUSION: 7-hydroxyflavone has potential as an effective antioxidant supplement for cardiac tissues. Further research is required to elucidate its pharmacokinetics and metabolic profile in humans to facilitate its therapeutic application.