Investigation on the morphological protective effect of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural extracted from wine-processed Fructus corni on human L02 hepatocytes

Aim: To determine the mode of action of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) extracted from wine-processed Fructus corni on hepatoprotective activities, the effects of 5-HMF on H2O2-induced human L02 hepatocytes injury was examined. Mthods: Hepatocytes L02 injured by H2O2 was treated by 5-HMF. The morphological changes of the cells were observed under inverted phase-contrast, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy and the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent detector. Results: It revealed that 5-HMF improved the morphology of H2O2-treated human L02 hepatocytes, and also inhibited the level of caspase-9 and caspase-3 of them. Conclusions: These results suggested a morphological hepatocyte protective effect and the anti-apoptosis mechanism by 5-HMF. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.