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

Sep 30, 2026

Moltkia coerulea extracts were investigated for their role in neuroinflammation by testing whether they protect BV-2 microglial cells against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis. Aqueous and methanol extracts (5–50 µg/mL) were evaluated using MTT viability assays, ROS measurements, and fluorescence-based caspase-3 activity assays, with mechanistic work focused on 10 µg/mL. Both extracts increased survival, lowered ROS, and reduced caspase-3 activation, while LC/MS/MS identified chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillin, and rutin as key phenolic constituents.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

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Background/aim

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusion

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Introduction

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences | Volume 55 Number 6 | Article 26 | | --- | --- | | 12-12-2025
Moltkia coerulea extracts alleviate caspase-3 activity via reducing
oxidative stress in LPS-induced neurotoxicity in BV-2 cells ASLI CAN AĞCA
DERYA ALTAY
HÜDAVERDİ KUL
ASLI F. CEYLAN
BETÜL SEVER YILMAZ
Follow this and additional works at: [https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical](https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical)
Part of the Medical Sciences Commons | | Recommended Citation CAN AĞCA, A, ALTAY, D, KUL, H, CEYLAN, A. F, & SEVER YILMAZ, B (2025) . Moltkia coerulea extracts alleviate caspase-3 activity via reducing oxidative stress in LPS-induced neurotoxicity in BV-2 cells. Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 55 (6): 1584-1594 . [https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.61](https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0144.61)17 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. It has been accepted for inclusion in Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences by an authorized editor of TÜBİTAK Academic Journals. For more information, please contact [academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr](academic.publications@tubitak.gov.tr) |
| Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences [http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/](http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/medical/)

Research Article | Turk J Med Sci
(2025) 55: 1584-1594 © TÜBİTAK
doi:10.55730/1300-0144.6117 | | --- | --- | --- | Moltkia coerulea extracts alleviate caspase-3 activity via reducing oxidative stress in LPS-induced neurotoxicity in BV-2 cells Aslı CAN AĞCA1,*􀁋, Derya ALTAY2􀁋, Hüdaverdi KUL3􀁋, Aslı F. CEYLAN3􀁋, Betül SEVER YILMAZ4􀁋 1 Department of Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Institute of Public Health, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkiye 2 Department of Medical Services and Techniques, Vocational School of Health Services, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkiye 3 Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkiye 4 Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkiye Received: 10.07.2025 Accepted/Published Online: 29.09.2025 Final Version: 12.12.2025 Background/aim: 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 ofM. coeruleamay protect microglial cells from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caspase-3 activity. Materials and methods: 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) . Results: 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. Conclusion: 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 evaluat

FAQs

What question does the study address about Moltkia coerulea?

The study tests whether Moltkia coerulea extracts can protect microglial cells from LPS-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by modulating ROS and caspase-3 activity.

How were the extracts and cellular responses evaluated?

Aqueous and methanol extracts were tested in BV-2 cells, with viability measured by MTT, and ROS generation and caspase-3 activity measured using fluorescence-based kits.

What were the main findings regarding caspase-3 and oxidative stress?

Both extracts improved cell survival, reduced ROS levels, and attenuated caspase-3 activation in LPS-treated BV-2 cells.

Which phenolic compounds were identified in the extracts?

LC/MS/MS showed chlorogenic acid, rosmarinic acid, vanillin, and rutin in the methanolic extract, while chlorogenic acid and rutin were most abundant in the aqueous extract.

Sep 30, 2026

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