Comparative Neuroprotective Activities of the Ethanol Extracts of Washingtonia filifera

Abstract

The present study aimed to the in vitro investigation of the ethanol extracts of Washingtonia filifera roots (W.R), barks (W.B), leaves (W.L), fruitless bunches (W.F) and seeds (W.S) for their neuroprotective activities including the phenolic content, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory activity and the potentiality to protect mouse neuroblastoma (neuro-2A) cells against H 2 O 2 and A β 1 - 42 -induced neurotoxicity. Among the extracts, W.L and W.F had the highest phenolic content; 226.7 and 172.3 GAE, respectively. Consequently, W.L and W.F showed pronounced DPPH radical scavenging activity with IC 50 values of 19.95 and 30.46 µg/mL, respectively. The highest inhibitory potential of COX-2 was achieved by W.F then W.L with IC 50 values of 111.62 and 191.77 µg/mL. The most efficient extract for the neuroprotection against H 2 O 2 and A β 1 - 42 -induced neurotoxicity was W.F which had more potent activity than the positive control in A β 1 - 42 assay. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to indicate the neuroprotective activities of W. filifera leaf and the fruitless bunch extracts.