Figure 1

Leaf but not root extract of Sarracenia purpurea protects PC12 cells from high glucose-mediated death. Exposure to glucose toxicity elicited a significant loss in cell viability compared to normal glucose conditions as assessed by mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity measured by cleavage of the formazan dye WST [left panel, ** denotes a significant difference (p < 0.01) relative to normal glucose control, Student’s t-test, n = 24]. Multiple concentrations of leaf or root extract were administered to high glucose-treated cells to assess cytoprotective activity [right panel, # and ## denote significant differences (p < 0.05 and ## p < 0.01, respectively) relative to high glucose control, ANOVA, post-hoc Dunnett’s t-test, n = 8-12]. Data are reported as the mean ± SEM. Extracts were tested at concentrations below their IC₅₀ concentrations established under normal glucose conditions.