Neuroprotective effect ofH. perforatumextracts on β-amyloid-induced neurotoxicity

In the present study we assessed the neuroprotective role of aHypericum perforatumethanolic extract and obtained fractions in amyloid-β peptide (Aβ)(25–35)-induced cell death in rat cultured hippocampal neurons. Lipid peroxidation was used as a marker of oxidative stress by following the formation of TBARS in rat cortical synaptosomes, after incubation with ascorbate/Fe2+, alone or in the presence of EC97effective concentrations ofH. perforatumfractions. Induced lipid peroxidation was significantly inhibited by fractions containing flavonol glycosides, flavonol and biflavone aglycones, and by a fraction containing several phenols, mainly chlorogenic acid-type phenolics (21%,77%and 98%, respectively). Lipid peroxidation evaluated after incubation with 25 μM Aβ(25–35), was significantly inhibited byH. perforatumextract.