Geniposide protects human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against corticosterone-induced injury

In vitro cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with 50 or 5 μg/mL geniposide for 12 hours and exposed to 400 μmol/L corticosterone. Corticosterone exposure in cultures not pretreated with geniposide resulted in inhibited cell growth, reduced cell survival, and increased P53 and P21 protein expression. However, in geniposide pretreated SH-SY5Y cells, cell viability and the number of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle were significantly increased, P21 and P53 protein expression was reduced, and cell apoptosis was inhibited following corticosterone exposure. These results indicate that geniposide can protect SH-SY5Y cells against high-dose corticosterone-induced injury.