NTU Undergraduates' research April 2014 - Biosciences | Page 113

Abstract
Citrus flavonoids such as hesperidin are extensively studied and are known to exhibit anti-oxidant
effects. However recent literature has presented evidence of some flavonoids such as Quercetin
modelling pro-oxidant effects in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate any cytotoxic effects
and antioxidant effects of hesperidin on H9c2 cell viability. In this study increasing concentrations of
hesperidin (1 µM- 100 µM) were administered to differentiated and undifferentiated H9c2 cardiomyocytes to observe any cytotoxic effects, using the MTT assay as a measure of cell viability.
Hesperidin was not cytotoxic at all concentrations to differentiated and undifferentiated H9c2 cells
(P>0.05). Furthermore, the cardioprotective effects of pre-treatments (24H) with hesperidin at (30
µM, 100 µM) on H 2 0 2 induced cardio toxicity on H9c2 cells were observed. Results displayed
significant cardio protection at a concentration of 100 µM of hesperidin (P<0.05) but not at 30 µM.
Hesperidin displays beneficial effects in H9c2 cardio myocytes with no cytotoxic effects therefore
can be of potential therapeutic value with further testing at the clinical level.