Author/Authors :
Hassanzadeh، Gholamreza نويسنده Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Pasbakhsh، Parichehr نويسنده , , Akbari، Mohammad نويسنده , , Shokri، Saeed نويسنده Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Ghahremani، Mohammadhosein نويسنده Toxicology - Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , AMIN، GHOLAMREZA نويسنده , , Kashani، Iraj نويسنده Anatomy Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , , Azami Tameh، Abolfazl نويسنده Anatomy Department, Anatomical Sciences Research Center, School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran ,
Abstract :
Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of
Melissa officinalis, a major antioxidant plant, against neuron toxicity in hippocampal pri- mary culture induced by 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or ecstasy, one of the most abused drugs, which causes neurotoxicity.
Materials and Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2 thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to assess mitochondrial activity, reflecting cell survival. Caspase-3 activity as- say and Hoechst / propiedium iodide (PI) staining were done to show apoptotic cell death. Results: A high dose of ecstasy caused profound mitochondrial dysfunction, around 40% less than the control value, and increased apoptotic neuronal death to around 35% more than the control value in hippocampal neuronal culture. Co-treatment with Melissa of- ficinalis significantly reversed these damages to around 15% and 20% respectively of the MDMA alone group, and provided protection against MDMA-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in neurons.
Conclusion: Melissa officinalis has revealed neuroprotective effects against apoptosis induced by MDMA in the primary neurons of hippocampal culture, which could be due to its free radical scavenging properties and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitory effects.
