Protective effects of Sanguisorba minor and Ferulago angulata total extracts against betaamyloid induced cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in cultured cerebellar granule neurons

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an agedependent neurodegenerative disorder and major cause of mortality in the elderly. AD has a complex pathophysiology and needs new multitargeted compounds to halt the disease progression through several mechanisms. Medicinal plants contain various compounds with heterogeneous pharmacological effects, therefore are a good source. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of total extracts of Sanguisorba minor and Ferulago angulata on betaamyloid (Aβ)induced toxicity in primary neural cell culture.Methods: Cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs) were cultured according to standard protocols. The cultured neurons were incubated with Aβ alone or in combination with different concentrations of extracts for 24 hours. Cell viability was measured by methylthiazolyldiphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. In addition acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress markers were measured after incubation. Also, the effects of different concentrations of the extracts on AChE activity of the cultured neurons were investigated. For measuring the acute toxicity of the extract, LD50 was estimated by limit test.Results: Both extracts could protect CGNs against Aβinduced cell death. Aβinduced oxidative stress and increase of AChE activity were ameliorated by both extracts. S. minor extract dosedependently reduced AChE activity in cultured CGNs. LD50 of both extracts was estimated above 2000 mg/kg and considered as safe.Conclusion: Both studied extracts protected CGNs against Aβinduced toxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress mechanism. According to these results, these extracts are recommended for further investigation in AD treatment.