A Chinese Herbal Preparation, Xiao-Er-An-Shen Decoction, Exerts Neuron Protection by Modulation of Differentiation and Antioxidant Activity in Cultured PC12 Cells

Figure 2

XEASD induces neurite outgrowth of cultured PC12 cells. (a) Cultured PC12 cells were treated with XEASD extract at various concentrations (0.3–3.0 mg/mL) for 48 hours. NGF (50 ng/mL) served as the positive control. After treatment, cells were fixed with ice-cold 4% paraformaldehyde, and then the neurite outgrowth was measured under microscope. Representative images were shown, n = 5. Bar = 20 μm. Arrowheads indicate cell neurite. (b) To quantify the differentiation effect, the % of differentiated cell numbers (upper panel) and length of neurite (lower panel) were calculated as indicated in the Materials and Methods. The cells were defined as differentiated if one or more neurites were longer than the diameter of cell body and also classified according to their neurite length in <15 μm, 15–30 μm, and >30 μm. Data are expressed as % of cells in 100 counted cells. Mean ± SEM; n = 4. Statistical comparison was made with the control; < 0.05; < 0.01.

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