# Standardization of Germinated Oat Extracts and Their Neuroprotective Effects Against Aβ1-42 Induced Cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells

## TL;DR

This study shows that germinated oat extracts can protect brain cells from damage caused by a protein linked to Alzheimer's disease.

## Contribution

The study provides standardized germinated oat extracts with quantified avenanthramides and demonstrates their neuroprotective effects against Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity.

## Key findings

- Germinated oat extracts significantly reduced Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells.
- Avenanthramides and germinated oat extracts decreased reactive oxygen species generation and inflammation-related gene expression.
- The extracts showed potential as functional ingredients to enhance memory by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.

## Abstract

The present study aimed to standardize germinated oat extracts (GOEs) by profiling avenanthramides (AVNs) and phenolic acids and evaluate their neuroprotective effects against Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. GOEs were standardized to contain 1652.56 ± 3.37 µg/g dry weight (dw) of total AVNs, including 468.52 ± 17.69 µg/g AVN A, 390.33 ± 10.26 µg/g AVN B, and 641.22 ± 13.89 µg/g AVN C, along with 490.03 ± 7.83 µg/g dw of ferulic acid, using a validated analytical method. Treatment with AVN C and GOEs significantly inhibited Aβ1-42-induced cytotoxicity (p < 0.05). Furthermore, both AVNs and GOEs markedly reduced Aβ1-42-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in SH-SY5Y cells, showing significant scavenging activity at concentrations of 25 μg/mL (AVNs) and 50 μg/mL (GOEs) (p < 0.05). RT-PCR analysis revealed that AVNs and GOEs effectively downregulated the expression of inflammation- and apoptosis-related genes triggered by Aβ1-42 exposure. These findings suggest that GOEs rich in AVNs may serve as a potential functional ingredient for enhancing memory function through the inhibition of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress.