Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences
Abstract
Background/aim: Moltkia coerulea, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its neuroprotective properties, contains diverse phenolic compounds. However, its mechanisms of action in neuroinflammation remain unclear. We hypothesized that extracts of M. coerulea may protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity.
Materials and methods: Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 μg/mL) were tested in BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while ROS generation and caspase-3 activity were measured using fluorescence-based kits. The effective concentration (10 μg/mL) was selected for mechanistic assays based on viability data and previous studies. The phenolic profile of the plant extracts was determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).
Results: Both extracts improved cell survival, reduced ROS levels, and attenuated caspase-3 activation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells. LC/MS/ MS analysis identified chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillin, and rutin as predominant in the methanolic extract, while chlorogenic acid and rutin were most abundant in the aqueous extract; all are associated with antioxidant and antiapoptotic potential.
Conclusion: M. coerulea extracts alleviated LPS-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells by reducing oxidative stress and caspase-3 activity. These findings suggest a potential neuroprotective role of phenolic compounds present in M. coerulea that may translate into beneficial effects in animal models and warrant further preclinical evaluation.
Author ORCID Identifier
ASLI CAN AĞCA: 0000-0002-5710-3479
DERYA ALTAY: 0009-0003-1630-7162
HÜDAVERDİ KUL: 0009-0003-1910-0589
ASLI CEYLAN: 0000-0001-6681-606X
BETÜL SEVER YILMAZ: 0000-0003-2084-9514
DOI
10.55730/1300-0144.6117
Keywords
antioxidant, caspase-3, Moltkia coerulea, neurotoxicity, phenol profile
First Page
1584
Last Page
1594
Publisher
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
CAN AĞCA, A, ALTAY, D, KUL, H, CEYLAN, A. F, & SEVER YILMAZ, B (2025). Moltkia coerulea extracts alleviate caspase-3 activity via reducing oxidative stress in LPS-induced neurotoxicity in BV-2 cells. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 55 (6): 1584-1594. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.6117
