| Summary: | <i>Brassica rapa</i> L. (BR), a traditional biennial herb belonging to the <i>Brassica</i> species of Brassicaceae, has been widely used for functions of anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidation, antiaging, and regulation of immunity. In this study, antioxidant activity and protective effects on H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells of the active fractions of BR were investigated in vitro. Among all active fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract from BR (BREE-Ea) showed the strongest antioxidant activity. Additionally, it was noted that BREE-Ea and <i>n</i>-butyl alcohol fraction of ethanol extract from BR (BREE-Ba) both have protective effects in oxidatively damaged PC12 cells, while BREE-Ea displayed the best protective effect in all determined experimental doses. Furthermore, flow cytometry (DCFH-DA staining) analysis indicated that BREE-Ea could reduce the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by reducing the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Moreover, BREE-Ea could decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduce the release of extracellular lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) from H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>-induced PC12 cells. All these results demonstrate that BREE-Ea has a good antioxidant capacity and protective effect on PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and that it can be used as a good edible antioxidant to improve the body’s endogenous antioxidant defense.
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