Abstract: Objective　To explore the neuroprotective effects of PN against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced injuries and the underlying mechanisms. Methods PC12 cells were cultured in vitro, and divided into culture group, the oxygen-glucose deprivation and reperfusion (OGD/R) group, and PN group (1, 5, 10 and 20 μmol/L, n=3 in each group). CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell viability. Using the kits, the activities of caspase-3, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen spices (ROS) were determined. The protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-Akt/Akt and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β were detected using western blot. Results Compared with control group, the PC12 cells viability , the activities of catalase, SOD and GPx, and the levels of LDH, ROS, Bcl-2, and phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3β were significantly decreased in the OGD/R group (P<0.05), with increased level of ROS, Bax-1 expression and caspase-3 activity (P<0.05). But PN treatment could significantly alleviate these changes in PC12 cells, compared with OGD/R group (P<0.05). Conclusions PN is a potential therapy for the cerebral I/R injury.

Key words: Parthenolide (PN), cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), Akt/GSK-3β signal pathway