In Vitro Neuroprotective Activities of Natural Products Isolated from Senecio Graciliflorus DC against Corticosterone Induced Impairment in SH-SY5Y Cells

Abstract Senecio graciliflorus DC root extract was studied for secondary metabolite composition following bioactivity guided isolation technique. The ethyl acetate extract of Senecio graciliflorus root yielded nine chemical constituents: 3,4-di-tert-butyl toluene, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, 2β-(angeloyloxy)furanoeremophilane, gallic acid, 2β-{[(Z)-2-hydroxymethylbut-2-enoyl]oxy}furanoeremophilane,1-Hydroxypentan-2-yl-4-methylbenzoate, sarcinnic acid, and sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The structures of the chemical constituents were elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis in the light of literature. All the compounds are being reported for the first time from this plant. The isolated constituents were screened for in-vitro neuroprotective effects against corticostereone induced impairment. Among various isolated compounds, three natural products (sarcinnic acid, gallic acid and β-sitosterol) displayed robust neurotropic activity. These three compounds increased neuronal cell survival in differentiated neuroblastoma cells from high dose corticosterone (400µM) induced cell death. The studies are aimed to explore small molecules for treating neurodegeneration underlying various neurological disorders to restore neuronal cell plasticity.