Effects of Hypericum perforatum extract on 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxicity in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells

Background and objective Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. In our study, PD model was created as a result of exposure to 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in SH-SY5Y cells, which is a human neuroblastoma cell line. The protective effect of Hypericum perforatum on PD was investigated. Materials and methods Phytochemical analysis of H. perforatum extract was performed. Then, SH-SY5Y cells were differentiated using retinoic acid and then administered 6-OHDA neurotoxin. To determine the protective effects of H. perforatum extract, we investigated the changes in the mRNA expression level of caspase-3, total oxidant status, and antioxidant levels in differentiated SH-SY5Y. Results and conclusion According to our results, H. perforatum extract contains glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, and carbohydrates as the major secondary metabolites. H. perforatum extract significantly reduced caspase-3 gene expression against 6-OHDA toxicity in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that total oxidant status level increased significantly in the 6-OHDA experimental group compared with the control and H. perforatum experimental groups. It was found that H. perforatum extract has an inhibitory effect on caspase-3 gene expression, which plays an important role in apoptosis. Therfore, H. perforatum extract has been shown to have a therapeutic potential against 6-OHDA toxicity.