CLINICAL RESEARCH
Enhanced neuroprotection against Alzheimer’s disease by combining Inula viscosa with curcumin: an in vitro study
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1
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Türkiye
2
Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Science, Sinop University, Sinop, Türkiye
3
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Türkiye
4
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Türkiye
5
Department of Pharmacology, Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye
6
Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Türkiye
Submission date: 2024-05-31
Final revision date: 2025-01-30
Acceptance date: 2025-02-10
Online publication date: 2025-03-21
Corresponding author
Menderes Yusuf Terzi
Department of Medical Biology
Faculty of Medicine
Hatay Mustafa
Kemal University
Hatay, Turkey
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most prevalent type of dementia among older individuals, is characterized by severe neurodegeneration with symptoms of progressive loss of cognitive capacity. We aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin (Curc) and Inula viscosa (IV) plant extracts on apoptosis and oxidative stress in an amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced in vitro AD model.
Material and methods:
The human glioblastoma cell line (U87) was treated with Aβ to produce an in vitro AD model. Treatment groups were: Aβ + Curc, Aβ + IV, and Aβ + IV + Curc. Cell viability assay was performed to analyze cytotoxicity. Caspase-3 (CASP3) levels were measured to evaluate apoptosis. For oxidative stress, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant (TAS), and total oxidant (TOS) levels were analyzed spectrophotometrically.
Results:
Combinatory application of IV and Curc post-Aβ treatment increased cell viability of U87 cells. Aβ-upregulated CASP3 levels were markedly reduced upon IV and Curc co-treatment. Anti-oxidant parameters, i.e., SOD, CAT, GPx, and TAS levels, were significantly elevated in the IV + Curc-treated group compared to the Aβ group. The elevated TOS level after Aβ exposure returned to its basal level upon Curc + IV co-treatment.
Conclusions:
IV + Curc co-treatment reduced apoptosis-related neurodegeneration and supported antioxidant activity in an Aβ-induced AD model of U87 cells. IV and Curc co-treatment can be a promising therapeutic strategy against AD.
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