Mahuang Xixin Fuzi decoction ameliorates apoptosis via the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway in MCM cells

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Mahuang Xixin Fuzi Decoction (MXF), as a classical prescription of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat the symptoms of fever, nasal congestion and headache in elderly people for almost a thousand years.

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects and possible mechanisms of MXF on thermal stimulation-induced mouse cardiac myocytes (MCM) cell Apoptosis.

Materials and methods: The Apoptosis of the MCM cell model was induced by a PCR-calculated temperature control system with a gradual heating pattern at 43 °C for 1 h. The cytotoxic effects were determined using real-time cell analyzer (RTCA) technology. Annexin V-FITC/7-AAD staining, and JC-1 fluorescence were used to assess Apoptosis. Specific substrates, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), and Western blotting were used to identify proteins in the mitochondrial-mediated pathway. The identification of chemical components in the mouse heart was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis.

Results: MXF inhibited Apoptosis through the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway, including ameliorating ∆Ψm reduction, blocking mitochondrial Cyt C release, reducing Bax levels and increasing Bcl-2 levels, suppressing caspase-9 and Caspase-3 activation in cytoplasmic fractions. Moreover, the components of MXF that act on the heart are mainly ephedra Alkaloids and aconitine Alkaloids.

Conclusions: The findings demonstrated that MXF treatment markedly reduced MCM cell Apoptosis induced by thermal stimulation, which may be ascribed to the mitochondrial-mediated signaling pathway.