Neuroprotective Effects of Different Lavandula stoechas L. Extracts Against Hydrogen Peroxide Toxicity in vitro

Mumin Alper Erdogan, Ceylin Bayar, Ekim Ozkaya, Aysegul Metin, Dervis Birim, Guliz Armagan, Serdar Demir and Gozde Elgin Cebe

Background and Objective: Cell damage caused by oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms that has been implicated for a long time in various neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Lavandula stoechas has been used in European-Iranian traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases, primarily cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, the neuroprotective effects of Lavandula stoechas L. extracts against H₂O₂ toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells were investigated in vitro. Materials and Methods: Several extracts were prepared from the flowering branches of the L. stoechas. The neuroprotective activity of the extracts against H₂O₂ damage in SH-SY5Y cells and their effects on apoptotic processes were evaluated based on cell viability against H₂O₂ toxicity, colony formation capacity and effect on apoptotic protein levels. Results: It was determined that pretreatment with 1-10 ppm doses of L. stoechas extracts (2-24 hrs) had a significant protective effect against 250 μM H₂O₂ toxicity. It was shown for the first time that L. stoechas extracts exhibited a significant protective effect for colony formation at 1-10 ppm doses and protected the colony numbers by 50% against H₂O₂ toxicity. In addition, it was determined that they were able to exert anti-apoptotic effects by decreasing Bax levels and increasing Bcl-2, thereby decreasing the Bax/Bcl-2 protein ratio. Conclusion: In this study, neuroprotective activities of different L. stoechas extracts were compared for the first time. Total methanol, ethyl acetate and water (infusion) extracts have shown potent neuroprotective effects and the cellular processes underlying its effects have been proven by these preliminary data.

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