Chemical constituents from a and their antioxidant and neuroprotective activities.

Background: A few bioactivities of constituents from , which has been collected in Vietnam, have been reported until now. There is no report about the effects of constituents from although the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2)-mediated heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) antioxidant defense system is involved in neuroprotection in the brain. Therefore, we investigated whether quercetin (), benzoic acid () and their analogues (, - and ) from have the antioxidant and neuroprotective activities and also their underlying mechanism.

Methods: To examine their neuroprotective and antioxidant activities, oxytosis, total oxidant scavenging capacity (TOSC), 2,7-dichlorofluorescein (DCFDA), dihydroethidium (DHE), antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase reporter gene assays, Western blot analysis, real time-PCR, immunocytochemistry and in silico 3D molecular docking simulation were performed.

Results: The study of constituents using chromatographic techniques and spectroscopic analysis showed that contained an abundance of quercetin (), benzoic acid () and their analogues (, - and ). Our data demonstrated that quercetin () and its analogue () among the constituents from showed the strongest neuroprotective effect against oxytosis triggered by the excessive amount of glutamate. Compounds , , and exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitory and ARE transcriptional activities in immortalized hippocampal HT22 cell line. Among them, compound , a second active compound, induced Nrf2/HO-1 activation. They were also fit stable onto the Tramtrack and Bric-à-Brac (BTB) domain of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), a known Nrf2 inhibitor protein, based on the results of docking and interaction energies. Overall, these data suggest that -OH and -OCH groups of quercetin and its analogues are responsible for their neuroprotective effect.

Conclusions: In summary, the major constituents of had strong antioxidant and neuroprotective activities so that they could consider as a natural antioxidant supplement. Furthermore, might be used beneficially in reducing oxidative complications with the further deep investigation in vivo.