Abstract
Amyloid beta- (Aβ-) mediated ROS overproduction disrupts intraneuronal redox balance and exacerbates mitochondrial dysfunction which leads to neuronal injury. Polyphenols have been investigated as therapeutic agents that promote neuroprotective effects in experimental models of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the neuroprotective effects of morin and mangiferin against Aβ oligomers in cultured cortical neurons and organotypic slices as well as their mechanisms of action. Cell death caused by Aβ oligomers in neuronal cultures was decreased in the presence of micromolar concentrations of mangiferin or morin, which in turn attenuated oxidative stress. The neuroprotective effects of antioxidants against Aβ were associated with the reduction of Aβ-induced calcium load to mitochondria; mitochondrial membrane depolarization; and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, a key trigger of apoptosis. Additionally, we observed that both polyphenols activated the endogenous enzymatic antioxidant system and restored oxidized protein levels. Finally, Aβ induced an impairment of energy homeostasis due to a decreased respiratory capacity that was mitigated by morin and mangiferin. Overall, the beneficial effects of polyphenols in preventing mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal injury in AD cell models suggest that morin and mangiferin hold promise for the treatment of this neurological disorder.
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