trans-4,4'-Dihydroxystilbene (DHS) protects PC12 cells from oxidative damage but induces reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in SHSY-5Y cell line.

Polyphenols can exert both, antioxidant and pro-oxidant properties, depending on cell types as well as their concentrations. Hence, it was of interest to examine if the naturally occurring resveratrol analog, trans-4,4'-dihydroxystilbene (DHS) also exert both these activities in a biphasic or cell-specific manner. In this study, we established the cytoprotective action of DHS against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced apoptotic death of the PC12 cells. DHS reduced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and deactivated reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated caspase-3 activation in the H2O2-treated PC12 cells. However, it induced apoptosis in the human neuroblastoma SHSY-5Y cell line by destabilizing mitochondrial membrane, augmenting ROS and activating caspapse-3. DHS showed better activity than resveratrol in both the chosen models.