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Redox Report
Communications in Free Radical Research
Volume 27, 2022 - Issue 1
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Research Article

Alfalfa saponins inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway

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ABSTRACT

Background:

Oxidative stress could seriously affect the growth performance of piglets. As natural extracts of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), alfalfa saponins have been shown to function as antioxidants in piglets in vivo. However, few studies have investigated the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells in vitro. In the current study, piglets’ small intestinal epithelial cell line (IPEC-J2) was explored to investigate the protective effects of alfalfa saponins on injured cells induced by H2O2.

Methods:

To investigate the effects and mechanism of alfalfa saponins against oxidative stress in piglet cells, the cell viability, activity of antioxidant enzymes, LDH and the amount of MDA were detected in H2O2-treated cells after the cells were pre-incubated with alfalfa saponins. The mechanism of alfalfa saponins against H2O2-induced oxidative cell damage was explored by detecting the expression of mitochondrial apoptosis-related proteins. Furthermore, the signaling pathway of alfalfa saponins in IPEC-J2 cells under oxidative stress was also investigated.

Results:

The results indicated that alfalfa saponins could rescue cell viability, elevate the activity of antioxidant enzymes and down-regulate the activity of LDH and the amount of MDA in H2O2-induced cells.

Conclusion:

Alfalfa saponins could inhibit oxidative stress-induced cell mitochondrial apoptosis through the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby providing a new method for improving antioxidant stress ability by means of nutritional regulation.

Authors’ contributions

YHS, YLC, FL and XYZ designed, conducted, analyzed and wrote the manuscript. JYX and MA helped to revise the manuscript. DFL, YYC, BSL and CZW helped to do the experiments and analyzed the data. ZCW, SM and XLL analyzed and wrote part of the data.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Availability of data and material

The authors declare that data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Correction Statement

This article has been corrected with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA; Outstanding Talents of Henan Agricultural University: [Grant Number 30500636]; Science and Technology Innovation Team of Henan Province High Quality Forage and Animal Health: [Grant Number 22IRTSTHN022]; Science and Technology Innovation Project of Henan Agricultural University: [Grant Number KJCX2019A07].