Protective effects of Carthamus tinctorius L. Seed on C6 glial cells treated with ethanol

Abstract

Chronic alcohol is responsible for oxidative stress and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity and protective effects of seed of Carthamus tinctorius L. on ethanol-induced C6 glial cells. Antioxidant effect of seed of C. tinctorius L. was measured by scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-prcrylhydrazy (DPPH), hydroxyl radical (·OH), superoxide radical, and nitric oxide. The seed of C. tinctorius L. extract showed significant radical scavenging activities in a concentration-dependent manner. In particular, it revealed strong DPPH and ·OH scavenging activity, displaying more than 80% at 500 and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Treatment of 500 mM ethanol to C6 glial cell led to decline of cell viability and elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. However, seed of C. tinctorius L.-treated groups significantly increased cell viability and decreased ROS levels, compared to ethanol-induced control group. These results suggest that seed of C. tinctorius L. would have protective effect against neuronal oxidative stress induced by alcohol. ? 2021, Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry. All rights reserved.