8,9-DIHYDROXY-1,5,6,10B-TETRAHYDROPYRROLO[2,1-A]ISOQUINOLIN-3(2H)-ONE

Oleracein E is a a tetrahydroisoquinoline possessing potent antioxidant activity. Pretreatment with OE (10 μM, 2 h) decreased lactic acid dehydrogenase (LDH) release and the apoptosis rate in rotenone (5 μM, 24 h)-treated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Further mechanistic study indicated that OE reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, inhibited extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation, reduced rotenone-induced up-regulation of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and prevented cytochrome C release and caspase-3 activation.