# Moltkia coerulea extracts alleviate caspase-3 activity via reducing oxidative stress in LPS-induced neurotoxicity in BV-2 cells

## TL;DR

Moltkia coerulea plant extracts reduce oxidative stress and cell death in brain cells, suggesting potential neuroprotective benefits.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific phenolic compounds in M. coerulea that reduce oxidative stress and caspase-3 activity in microglial cells.

## Key findings

- M. coerulea extracts reduced ROS levels and caspase-3 activation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells.
- Chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillin, and rutin were identified as key phenolic compounds in the extracts.
- Both aqueous and methanolic extracts showed neuroprotective effects in microglial cells.

## Abstract

Moltkia coerulea, a medicinal plant traditionally used for its neuroprotective properties, contains diverse phenolic compounds. However, its mechanisms of action in neuroinflammation remain unclear. We hypothesized that extracts of M. coerulea may protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity.

Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 μg/mL) were tested in BV-2 microglial cells. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay, while ROS generation and caspase-3 activity were measured using fluorescence-based kits. The effective concentration (10 μg/mL) was selected for mechanistic assays based on viability data and previous studies. The phenolic profile of the plant extracts was determined by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

Both extracts improved cell survival, reduced ROS levels, and attenuated caspase-3 activation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells. LC/MS/MS analysis identified chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillin, and rutin as predominant in the methanolic extract, while chlorogenic acid and rutin were most abundant in the aqueous extract; all are associated with antioxidant and antiapoptotic potential.

M. coerulea extracts alleviated LPS-induced apoptosis in BV-2 cells by reducing oxidative stress and caspase-3 activity. These findings suggest a potential neuroprotective role of phenolic compounds present in M. coerulea that may translate into beneficial effects in animal models and warrant further preclinical evaluation.