Neuroprotective and antioxidant activities of saponins' mixture from Astragalus glycyphylloides in a model of 6-hydroxydopamine-induced oxidative stress on isolated rat brain synaptosomes

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the possible neuroprotective and antioxidant activity of purified saponins'mixture (PSM), isolated from Astragalus glycyphylloides (Fabaceae), in a model of 6-hydroxydipamine (6-OHDA)-induced oxidative stress on isolated rat brain synaptosomes. Synaptosomes were incubated with 3 different concentrations of PSM: 60 μg/mL; 6 μg/mL; 0.6 μg/ mL. The effects of PSM were compared to those of silymarin (S), at the same concentrations. The main parameters, characterized functional and metabolic status of synaptosomes, were investigated: viability (MTT-test) and level of reduced glutathione (GSH). At isolated rat brain synaptosomes, in conditions of 6-OHDA-induced oxidative stress (150 μM), PSM revealed statistically significant, concentration-dependent, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects, compared to those of silymarin. Effects were most prominent at concentration 60 μg/mL. These neuroprotective effects of PSM might be due to the possible activity as scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), produced by p-quinone (toxic metabolite of 6-OHDA).