Neuroprotective Effects of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Ocimum sanctum Against H2O2 Induced Neuronal Cell Damage in SH-SY5Y Cells via Its Antioxidative Defence Mechanism

Oxidative stress mediates the cell damage in several ailments including neurodegenerative conditions. Ocimum sanctum is widely used in Indian ayurvedic medications to cure various ailments. The present study was carried out to investigate the antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effects of hydroalcoholic extract of O. sanctum (OSE) on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced oxidative challenge in SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells. The extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity against DPPH, 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical and hydroxyl radicals with IC₅₀ values of 395 ± 16.2, 241 ± 11.5 and 188.6 ± 12.2 μg/ml respectively, which could be due to high amount of polyphenols and flavonoids. The observed data demonstrates 41.5 % cell survival with 100 μM H₂O₂ challenge for 24 h, which was restored to 73 % by pre-treatment with OSE for 2 h. It also decreased the lactate dehydrogenase leakage and preserved the cellular morphology. Similarly OSE inhibited lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, reactive oxygen species generation and depolarization of mitochondrial membrane. The extract restored superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme/protein levels and further downregulated HSP-70 over-expression. These findings suggest that OSE ameliorates H₂O₂ induced neuronal damage via its antioxidant defence mechanism and might be used to treat oxidative stress mediated neuronal disorders.