Abstract: AIM: To investigate protective effect of picroside-Ⅱ on the damage of cultured PC12 cells. METHODS: The damage of cultured PC12 cells was made by hydrogen peroxide.The protection of picroside- Ⅱ was observed by morphological identification, colorimetric MTT assay, effluxes of LDH, and ROS level. RESULTS: 0.5 and 5 mmol·L ^-1 of picroside-Ⅱattenuated the damage of PC12 cells by increasing significantly the survival rate, decreasing the changes in cell morphology, and lowering LDH release from cells into culture medium and ROS level. CONCLUSION: Picroside-Ⅱ can obviously protect the cultured PC12 cells from damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Key words: pharmacology, picroside-Ⅱ;, hydrogen peroxide, PC12 cells, lactic dehydrogenase, reactive oxygen species