Effects of the aqueous extract of Bryothamnion triquetrum on chemical hypoxia and aglycemia-induced damage in GT1-7 mouse hypothalamic immortalized cells

The neuroprotective ability of the aqueous crude extract of Bryothamnion triquetrum (S. G. Gmelin) Howe and its cinnamic acids was studied in GT1-7 cells exposed to the combination of chemical hypoxia (KCN 3 mM) and aglycemia conditions. These ischemia-like conditions provoked acute and delayed cytotoxicity in GT1-7 cells if extended for more than 90 min. The extract was able to protect from the cell death produced by severe (180 min) chemical hypoxia/aglycemia insult, which cannot be related to its glucose content, and also reduced the cytotoxicity and early production of free radicals produced by mild (105 min) insult. Results showed that some of these protective effects of the extract are partially related to the presence of ferulic acid. The data additionally suggest that neuroprotection exerted by the extract is related to its ability to reduce free-radical generation by mechanisms different from the direct scavenging of the radical entities.