Nat Prod Sci.  2025 Mar;31(1):49-54. 10.20307/nps.2025.31.1.49.

Therapeutic Potential of Methanol Extract of Euonymus alatus in HT22 Cells Through Neuroprotective Mechanisms

• Jung YS
• Ma CJ

• KMID: 2566713
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20307/nps.2025.31.1.49

Abstract

Oxidative stress, a key factor in the progression of brain diseases, induces apoptosis through multiple pathways. This study investigates the protective effects of Euonymus elatus, a traditional Korean remedy for conditions such as atherosclerosis, dysmenorrhea, and pain, on neuronal cells under oxidative stress. Excess glutamate was used to model oxidative stress, resulting in elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased intracellular calcium (Ca²⁺), reduced mitochondrial membrane potential, and decreased activity of glutathionerelated enzymes, including glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Experimental results revealed that E. elatus extract provided significant cytoprotective effects. The extracts improved cell viability in MTT assays, reduced ROS and Ca²⁺ levels, restored mitochondrial membrane potential, and enhanced the activity of GR and GPx. These findings highlight the potential of E. elatus as a therapeutic candidate for mitigating oxidative stress and treating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Keyword

Euonymus alatus; Alzheimer’s disease; HT22 cell; Oxidative stress; Glutathione