cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of echium amoenum anthocyanin-rich extract in human endothelial cells (huvecs)

objective: echium amoenum fisch. & c.a. mey. is used for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine. this plant is a major source of anthocyanins with beneficial cardiovascular properties such as anti-atherosclerotic and antihypertensive effects. in the present study, the protective and antioxidant effects of anthocyanin-rich e. amoenum extract were evaluated on human vascular endothelial cells (huvecs) under oxidative stress. materials and methods: cell viability and oxidative status were assessed on h2o2-induced oxidative stress (0.5 mm h2o2 for 2 h) in huvecs pretreated by anthocyanin-rich extract from the petals of e. amoenum (25-1000 µg/ml). cytoprotective effect of the extract was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (mtt) assay. the hydroperoxides concentration and ferric reducing antioxidant power (frap) were assessed in intra- and extra-cellular fluid of pretreated cells. results: pretreatment of huvecs with e. amoenum extract at the concentrations of 100-1000 µg/ml reduced the cell death resulted from the exposure to h2o2 in a concentration-dependent manner. e. amoenum extract decreased hydroperoxides concentration and increased frap value in both intra- and extra-cellular fluid at different concentration ranges. moreover, it did not show cytotoxic effects at the concentration range of 25-1000 µg/ml. conclusion: these results suggest antioxidant and protective effect of anthocyanin-rich extract of the petals of e. amoenum against h2o2-induced oxidative stress in huvecs. however, further investigations are needed for understanding the detailed mechanisms of cytoprotective effects of this traditional herbal medicine.