Neuroprotective effect of myrmecodia platytyrea aqueous extract on H2O2-induced astrocytes (C8-D1A) / Nur Farhanah Dini Zubir

Neurodegenerative diseases have become one of the major health concerns in many countries. There are about 5.1 million of Alzheimer disease patients in the Unites States, and by the year 2050 the number may increase up to 20 million. In Malaysia, it is estimated that there are currently about 50,000 people with the disease. Studies showed that the prevalence of the disease is highly increased after age of 60. Myrmecodia platytyrea is a medicinal plant originated from Papua New Guinea which has been claimed to have many potential uses in treating ailments. The effects of aqueous extract of this plant as a neuroprotective agent are not known. In this study, the cytotoxic and neuroprotective effect of M. platytyrea aqueous extract was evaluated against astrocyte cell lines (C8-D1A) using MTT assay after 48 hours of incubation. After determination of ICso of M platytyrea aqueous extract, the neuroprotective activity was determined against oxidative stress-induced astrocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (lmM) and iron (II) sulfate (0.5 mM) were used as inducer of oxidative stress in this experiment either solely or in combination. Results showed that the aqueous extract exhibited neuroprotective properties through the Fenton reaction. As a conclusion, this study suggested that M platytyrea aqueous extract has potential neuroprotective effect that requires further investigation.