en Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Cell, Stem Cell and Cancer Experimental research article Experimental research article <p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Introduction:</strong> Oxidative stress (OS) is related to the onset and development of different disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. Attenuation of OS may be an appropriate way to combat such a situation. Ferulic acid (FA) as a natural antioxidant compound has been shown to have potent free radical scavenging activity. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of FA to inhibit the intrinsic apoptosis pathway evoked by H₂O₂ in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.<br /> <strong>Methods: </strong>PC12 cells were treated with various concentrations of FA at different times. Then, H₂O₂ (300 &micro;M for 2h) was added. Afterward, cell viability was assessed by MTT assay followed by determining the levels of total antioxidant power (TAP), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. The protein expressions of Caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 were also measured by western blotting. &nbsp;<br /> <strong>Results:</strong> Current results indicate that after 72 hours, FA significantly protected PC12 cells against H₂O₂-induced damage by reducing the generation of MDA levels as well as increasing TAP. H₂O₂-induced caspase-3 overexpression and the increase of the Bax/BCL-2 protein ratio were also diminished by FA treatment.<br /> <strong>Conclusion:</strong> Taken together, FA may be considered a protective agent to prevent or postpone the progression of oxidative neurodegenerative diseases through its anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.</span></span></p> Apoptosis, Ferulic acid, H2O2, oxidative stress, PC12 cells 486 493 http://ppj.phypha.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2172-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mehrnaz Mehrabani mehrnaz.mehrabani@yahoo.com 3200319475328460036796 000000025847364X No Physiology Research Centre, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mitra mehrabani mmehrabani@hotmail.com 3200319475328460036797 0000000238655120 No Herbal and Traditional Medicines Research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Arian Amirkhosravi arianamirkhosravi@yahoo.com 3200319475328460036798 000000017811214X No Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Azadeh Aminzadeh azadehaminzadeh@yahoo.com 3200319475328460036799 0000000182931180 No Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Neda Tekiyeh Maroof neda.maroof@gmail.com 3200319475328460036800 0000000271528721 No Razi Drug Research Centre and Department of Pharmacology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Atiqah Ab Aziz eyqa@um.edu.my 3200319475328460036801 0000000239125041 No Tissue Engineering Group, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tunku Kamarul tkzrea@um.edu.my 3200319475328460036802 0000000260281313 No Tissue Engineering Group, (NOCERAL), Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Alimohammad sharifi sharifalim@gmail.com 3200319475328460036803 0000000250897122 Yes Razi Drug Research Centre and Department of Pharmacology, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran