Objective: To compare the protective effect of tanshinol and salvianolic acid B on glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in PC12 cells. Method: With PC12 cells as the study objects

the cultured cells were divided into blank group

glutamic acid treatment group (model group)

salvianolic acid B group

tanshinol group

and vitamin E group (20 μmol·L-1). The cells in all the other groups except blank group and model group were treated with additional glutamic acid for co-incubation for 24 h after pre-treatment with salvianolic acid B

tanshinol and vitamin E respectively for 1 h. The cell activity was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method;lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) method was used to detect the leakage rate of lactate dehydrogenase

and the content of intracellular reactive oxygen was detected by the flow cytometry. Result: As compared with the blank group

tanshinol and salvianolic acid B could significantly inhibit the glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in PC12 cells and prevent the leakage of LDH (P < 0.05)

showing a dose-response relationship in 50

100

200 μmol·L-1 dose. At 100 μmol·L-1 concentration

tanshinol was slightly better than salvianolic acid B in inhibiting reactive oxygen species(ROS) accumulation in PC12 cells and reducing the relative fluorescence intensity (about 12.5%). At the same dose condition

tanshinol was superior to salvianolic acid B in the protective effect on PC12 cells. Conclusion: Under the selective research models and concentrations

both tanshinol and salvianolic acid B had the potential effects on protecting glutamate-induced injury in PC12 cells

and the protective effect of tanshinol was slightly better than that of salvianolic acid B.