We investigated the cytoprotective effects of anthocyanins,including cyanidin-3-O-(galactoside,glucoside,arabinoside,xyloside),from Aronia melanocarpa against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by Aβ_1-42.The MTT assay was conducted by MTT colorimetric assay and cell group was done,oxidative stress related indicators,including reactive oxygen species (ROS),hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂),superoxide dismutase (SOD),were measured using ROS,H₂O₂2,SOD detection kit,respectively,apoptosis was detected by Annexin-V-PI/FITC apoptosis detection kit.Besides,the gene transcription and protein expression of antioxidase-related gene nuclear factor erythroid (Nrf2),heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1),quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and apoptosis-related genes (Bcl-2,Bax) were analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot.These results showed that anthocyanins pretreatment significantly inhibited Aβ_1-42-induced increase in intracellular ROS,H₂O₂,and increased the SOD expression through upregulating the Nrf2,HO-1,NQO-1 expression.Apoptosis was significantly inhibited by anthocyanins via down-regulation of Bax and up-regulation of Bcl-2.It can be concluded that high-purity Aronia melanocarpa anthocyanins could protect SH-SY5Y cell from Aβ_1-42-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis through a Nrf2 mechanism.