Aim To investigate the neuroprotective e ffect of echinacoside, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from Cistanche salsa, on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-induced apoptosis in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. Methods Cell viability was analyzed using MTT assay. Apoptotic cells were detected using DNA fragmentation and flow cytometric analys is. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS) and the potential of mitochondrial membrane were determined by laser scanning confocal microscopy (L SCM). The activity of caspase-3 was measured with microplate spectrofluorometer . Results Treatment of cultured SH-SY5Y cells with 100 μg· L -1 TNFα for 36 h induced a significant decrease of cell viability, and t he percentage of apoptosis increased to 37%. The level of intracellular ROS and activity of caspase-3 enhanced, and the red/green ratios of mitochondrial membr ane decreased to 0.35 from 5.97. However, simultaneous treatment with echinac oside (1, 10, or 100 mg·L -1) exhibited cytoprotective effects, reduced fo rmation of the DNA ladder, prevented the accumulation of ROS and caspase-3, reconverted the potential of mitochondrial membrane, and the percentage of apoptosis/necrosis neurons was significantly decreased to 25.9%, 18.3% and 8.2% in a dose-dependent manner . Conclusion These results demonstrate that echinacoside has the neuroprotective capacity to antagonize TNFα-induced apoptosi s in SH-SY5Y cells. The antiapoptotic action of echinacoside may be partially d ependent on an anti-oxidative stress effects, inhibition of caspase-3 activity , and maintain of mitochondria function.

Echinacoside rescues the SHSY5Y neuronal cells from TNFα- induced apoptosis

Physiological stress is one major environmental factor that influences fertility and longevity. Stress management has been shown to improve both fertility and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). C. elegans is commonly used as an in vivo model of human diseases such as stress and used in pharmaceutical research. Adaptogens are plant species that contain phytochemicals that assist the body via the HPA axis and heat shock proteins to manage stress, with species including; Withania (W. somnifera), Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), and Echinacea (E. purpurea, E. angustifolia). Stress reduction, fertility and longevity and thought to be inter-connected. In this study commercial extracts of four adaptogens were exposed to wild-type C. elegans worms (N2) at dosages suggested for human use and adjusted for the live weight of the worms. The worms were grown at 20 oC using ‘C. elegans Habitation and Reproduction media (CeHR) until the worms reproduced (21 days - L4 stage). Treatment with all adaptogens mentioned significantly improved fecundity compared to control by 186%, 164%, 169% and 205% with W. somnifera, E. senticosus, with Echinacea Regular, and Echinacea Premium, respectively. A positive association exists between fertility and longevity, and thus these practitioner adaptogenic formulas display potential for fertility and anti-aging therapies with further
research required to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which these changes in fertility and longevity occur.

https://www.florajournal.com/archives/2017/vol5issue3/PartB/4-2-1-832.pdf

Effect of commercial Adaptogen preparations of Withania somnifera, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Echinacea species on fertility of Caenorhabditis elegans

SM Tegegne

Papers

Effect of commercial Adaptogen preparations of Withania somnifera, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Echinacea species on fertility of Caenorhabditis elegans