Kogilavani Subermaniam - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, ۵۰۶۰۳ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sze Yuen Lew - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, ۵۰۶۰۳ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Yoon Yow - Department of Biological Sciences, School of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, ۴۷۵۰۰ Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Siew Huah Lim - Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, ۵۰۶۰۳ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Wing Shan Yu - Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, ۲۱ Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Lee Wei Lim - Neuromodulation Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, ۲۱ Sassoon Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
Kah Hui Wong - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Malaya, ۵۰۶۰۳ Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Objective(s): Neuroinflammation and microglial activation are pathological features in central nervous system disorders. Excess levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in exacerbation of neuronal damage during chronic activation of microglial cells. Padina australis, a brown macroalga, has been demonstrated to have various pharmacological properties such as anti-neuroinflammatory activity. However, the underlying mechanism mediating the anti-neuroinflammatory potential of P. australis remains poorly understood. We explored the use of Malaysian P. australis in attenuating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated neuroinflammation in BV۲ microglial cells. Materials and Methods: Fresh specimens of P. australis were freeze-dried and subjected to ethanol extraction. The ethanol extract (PAEE) was evaluated for its protective effects against ۱ µg/ml LPS-stimulated neuroinflammation in BV۲ microglial cells. Results: LPS reduced the viability of BV۲ microglia cells and increased the levels of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E۲ (PGE۲), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-۲ (COX-۲), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-۶ (IL-۶). However, the neuroinflammatory response was reversed by ۰.۵–۲.۰ mg/ml PAEE in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of PAEE subfractions revealed five compounds; methyl α-eleostearate, ethyl α-eleostearate, niacinamide, stearamide, and linoleic acid. Conclusion: The protective effects of PAEE against LPS-stimulated neuroinflammation in BV۲ microglial cells were found to be mediated by the suppression of excess levels of intracellular ROS and pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines, denoting the protective role of P. australis in combating continuous neuroinflammation. Our findings support the use of P. australis as a possible therapeutic for neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Brown algae, BV۲ microglial, Cytokines, Major compounds, Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Damage