In vitro neuroprotective effect of charantin from Momordica charantia against neurotoxin and endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells

Abstract

Aim: The study deals with the evaluation of neuroprotective effect of charantin. Charantin was isolated from Momordica charantia (MC) L. (Bitter gourd) and characterized by performing infrared (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). As it was earlier proved that amyloid beta deposition and cognition are inter-related, neuroblastoma cell lines SH-SY5Y were utilized in this study to prove the effectiveness of charantin on the against neurotoxin and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced cell death. Materials and Methods: Charantin was isolated from MC and characterized using IR, NMR spectroscopy studies. The cell viability analysis and IC50 determination for charantin in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line were performed by MTT assay and neuronal red uptake assay. The neuroprotective effect in SH-SY5Y cells against the MPP+ and ER stress damage was evaluated. The cell viability assays were performed at various concentration ranges from 0.5 to 1 mg/ml. Charantin was added at 0 h, 8 h, and 16 h post the neurotoxin treatment. Brine shrimp lethality assay and MTT assay were also performed to observe the cytotoxicity of charantin at different doses. Results and Discussion: Charantin was found to have a significant IC50 value in SH-SY5Y cells. IN case of MPP+ treatment 0.5 mg, 1 mg/ml concentration of charantin showed significant neuroprotection and improvement in cell viability. In tunicamycin-induced damage, the protection was seen at 0 h and not at 8 h and 16 h post-treatment. At the same time, it has less/no toxicity at therapeutic doses; very high doses may pronounce cytotoxicity. Conclusion: The present investigation shows the neuroprotective effect of MC and charantin obtained from the plant can be employed as a memory enhancer in Alzheimer’s related dementias; further to be evaluated clinically by formulating charantin.