Preprint / Version 1

Neuroprotective effects of Bhilawanol and Anacardic acid during glutamate-induced neurotoxicity

Authors

  • Fadwa Mughairbi aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Rukhsana Nawaz aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Faisal Khan bPanjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan
  • Amina Hassan aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Nailah Mahmood aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Heba Ahmed aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Alia Alshamali aDep. of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicines and Health Sciences, UAE University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
  • Sagheer Ahmed cShifa College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Asma Bashir dEndodontic Department, Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Keywords:

Anacardic acid, Bhilawanol, Semecarpus anacardium, MTT assay, LDH assay, Caspase-3, Bcl-2

Abstract

Bhilawanol (Bh) and anacardic acid (AA) are two lipid-soluble compounds mostly found in the nut of Semecarpus anacardium (SA). This herb has many medicinal properties including enhancing learning and memory, yet its active compounds have not been studied for neuroprotective effects. We investigated the neuroprotective effects of Bh and AA against glutamate induced cell death in the adrenal pheochromocytoma cell line of rats (PC12 cells). Cell viability, toxicity and calcium influx were determined by MTT assay, LDH release assay and Fluo-3 imaging while apoptosis was assayed by caspase-3 and Bcl-2 gene expression. Our results showed that Bh and AA treatments significantly increased cell viability, reduced cell toxicity and calcium influx in PC12 cells in addition to suppressing the reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, AA treatment decreased caspase-3 expression level whereas both Bh and AA enhanced the expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 in PC12 cells. Both compounds potently inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) in a dose and time dependent manner. These findings suggest that the traditional use of SA may be explained on the basis of both Bh and AA showing neuroprotective potential due to their effects on enhancing cell viability, reducing cell toxicity most probably by reducing excessive calcium influx and suppression of ROS as well as by decreasing the expression of proapoptotic caspase 3 gene and increasing the expression of antiapoptotic gene Bcl2. Traditional use in enhancing learning and memory was justified in part by inhibition of AChE. Keywords: Anacardic acid, Bhilawanol, Semecarpus anacardium, MTT assay, LDH assay, Caspase-3, Bcl-2

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