Blood-brain barrier permeability studies of Centella asiatica extract as potential neuroprotective agent
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1
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Centre for Drug Research, Malaysia
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2
Universiti Teknologi Mara , Atta-ur-Rahman Institute for Natural Product Discovery, Malaysia
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3
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu , Institute of Marine Biotechnology , Malaysia
Centella asiatica (CA) plant has been used to treat eczema, asthma, ulcers, psychiatric disorders, leprosy and to promote wound healing. Notably, it has also been used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Centella asiatica extract (CAE) was found to boost the competency of rats in performing several tasks including passive avoidance test and Morris water maze. In AD transgenic mouse model, the use of CAE was reported to diminish the deposition of amyloid ß (Aß) in hippocampus and improved the behavioural deficits of mice. The bioactivities of CAE could be contributed by its bioactive triterpenes which include asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside and madecassic acid. Based on the central nervous system bioactivities, CA bioactive compounds are assumed to be able to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Nevertheless, research on effects of CAE on the BBB function and BBB permeability of CAE is still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of CAE on primary brain endothelial cells (PBECs) which make up the BBB and its ability to cross the BBB. MTT assay was carried out to study the cytotoxicity effect of CAE towards the PBECs. The effect of CAE on PBEC tight junction function was determined by conducting real-time transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER). The permeability assay was conducted to determine the ability of CAE to cross the BBB. Results showed that CAE was not toxic towards the PBECs at all concentrations tested up to 100 µg/ml, and the BBB tight junction function is maintained in presence of the CAE. Our study reveals that CAE showed no adverse effects on the PBECs and showed promise to be developed further as a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords:
Blood-Brain Barrier,
Permeability,
Neuroprotection,
neurodegeneration,
natural product
Conference:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 Aug - 30 Aug, 2016.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation Session
Topic:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry
Citation:
Hanapi
N,
Yusof
S,
Adenan
M and
Tengku Muhammad
T
(2016). Blood-brain barrier permeability studies of Centella asiatica extract as potential neuroprotective agent.
Conference Abstract:
14th Meeting of the Asian-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry.
doi: 10.3389/conf.fncel.2016.36.00142
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Received:
04 Aug 2016;
Published Online:
11 Aug 2016.
*
Correspondence:
Dr. Tengku Sifzizul Tengku Muhammad, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Institute of Marine Biotechnology, Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia, TengkuSifzizul.TengkuMuhammad@frontiersin.org