Comprehensive Chemical Profiling and Multidirectional Biological Investigation of Two Wild <i>Anthemis</i> Species (<i>Anthemis tinctoria</i> var. <i>Pallida</i> and <i>A. cretica</i> subsp. <i>tenuiloba)</i>: Focus on Neuroprotective Effects

• Main Authors: Giustino Orlando, Gokhan Zengin, Claudio Ferrante, Maurizio Ronci, Lucia Recinella, Ismail Senkardes, Reneta Gevrenova, Dimitrina Zheleva-Dimitrova, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Sheila Leone, Simonetta Di Simone, Luigi Brunetti, Carene Marie Nancy Picot-Allain, Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally, Kouadio Ibrahime Sinan, Luigi Menghini
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-07-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: <i>Anthemis</i>; oxidative stress; neurotransmission; proteomic; phytomedicine
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/14/2582

Ethyl acetate (EA), methanol (MeOH), and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of <i>Anthemis tinctoria</i> var. <i>pallida</i> (ATP) and <i>A. cretica</i> subsp. <i>tenuiloba</i> (ACT) were investigated for their phenol and flavonoid content, antioxidant, and key enzyme inhibitory potentials. All extracts displayed antiradical effects, with MeOH and aqueous extracts being a superior source of antioxidants. On the other hand, EA and MeOH extracts were potent against AChE and BChE. Enzyme inhibitory effects against tyrosinase and &#945;-glucosidase were observed, as well. We also studied <i>Anthemis</i> extracts in an ex vivo experimental neurotoxicity paradigm. We assayed extract influence on oxidative stress and neurotransmission biomarkers, including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and serotonin (5-HT), in isolated rat cortex challenged with K⁺ 60 mM Krebs-Ringer buffer (excitotoxicity stimulus). An untargeted proteomic analysis was finally performed in order to explore the putative mechanism in the brain. The pharmacological study highlighted the capability of ACT water extract to blunt K⁺ 60 mM increase in LDH level and 5-HT turnover, and restore physiological activity of specific proteins involved in neuron morphology and neurotransmission, including NEFMs, VAMP-2, and PKC&#947;, thus further supporting the neuroprotective role of ACT water extract.