Investigating the effect of Berberine and alcoholic root extract of Berberis vulgaris on Alzheimer's cell model (SH-SY۵Y)

Background and objectives: Oxidative stress is a key player in the both chronic and acute brain disease and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease. The current study was designed to prove the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry extract on H۲O۲-induced apoptosis in human dopaminergic SH-SY۵Y cells. Methods: The plant extraction was performed and berberine was purchased from sigma (UK). The neuroprotective effect on H۲O۲-induced oxidative stress was investigated using human dopaminergic SH-SY۵Y cells by MTT assay. SH-SY۵Y cells pretreated with IC۵۰ of berberine, barberry extract and H۲O۲ and anti-apoptotic effects of all components in SH-SY۵Y cells were investigated using RT-PCR technique. Results: SH-SY۵Y cells viability increased in the both groups exposed to ۷۵ and ۱۵۰ ppm of barberry extract compared to H۲O۲-treated group. Data indicate that exposure of SH-SY۵Y cells with ۳۰ ppm of berberine dramatically increased cell viability in comparison with H۲O۲-treated group. ۱۵۰ and ۳۰۰ ppm of beberine treatment and H۲O۲ treatment significantly decreased SH-SY۵Y cell viability, shows berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at ۳۰ ppm in comparison with control group and a significant increase in the expression of Bcl۲ was observed only using the treatment of IC۵۰ of berberine. Expression level of Bcl۲ exposed to both berberine and barberry extract also was significantly higher than Bcl۲ expression level in groups exposed to H۲O۲. Conclusion: The outcomes of this study propose that treatment of SH-SY۵Y cells with barberry extract and barberine could block H۲O۲-induced apoptosis by regulating Bcl-۲ family members.