Antioxidant and neurotrophic effects of silibinin extracted from Silybum marianum on olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in rat pups: An invitro study

Background and Aim : The olfactory nerve is the only cranial nerve that is renewed for the lifespan due to the presence of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs). These cells secrete neurotrophic factors, such as NGF, BDNF to facilitate nerve regeneration, so transplantation of OECs has a high therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases. Silibinin, active ingredient of the silybum marianum, has antioxidant, neurotrophic, and neuroprotective properties. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the antioxidant, neurotrophic effects of Silibinin on OECs extracted from rat pups.Methods : The amount of silibinin in the extract Was evaluated by HPLC. OECs were extracted and cultured from the olfactory mucosal lamina propria of eight-day-old rat pups. Different concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 μM silibinin were added to OECs cultures and its toxic and protective doses were determined by MTT assay. Protective and toxic concentrations of silibinin were then added to plates containing cultured cells and ROS and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured by fluorimetric and griess methods, respectively. At the end, expression of NGF and BDNF proteins in OECs was also assessed by Western blotting.Results : According to the HPLC method, the amount of silibinin in the concentration of 1.50 silymarin was 79.787 μg / ml. MTT assay showed that silibinin inhibited OEC cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Also, protective concentrations of silibinin decreased NO, ROS production and increased expression of BDNF and NGF neuroprotective proteins in cultured OECs.Conclusion : The results of the present study confirm the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of silibinin in the OECs in the invitro condition. Therefore, it seems that this substance can be used as a neuroprotective enhancer in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases.

کلیدواژه ها:

Neurological disorders ، oxidative stress ، olfactory ensheathing cells ، neurotrophic factors ، silibinin