Studying the neuroprotective effect of chokeberry extract

The extract of chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) has been revealed to have potent antioxidant properties. An in vitro study published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine investigated the extract’s ability to protect HT22 cells from glutamate-induced oxidative damage.

• Glutamate is an important neurotransmitter which, in excessive levels, is linked to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.
• The researchers obtained extracts from the chokeberry, which they then administered to HT22 mouse hippocampal cells. They noted oxidative stress parameters that included levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), intracellular Ca2+ level, glutathione levels, and antioxidant enzyme activity in the HT22 cells.
• They found that the extract was able to reduce cellular death caused by excessive glutamate. They also noted reduced levels of both ROS and Ca2+.
• The researchers found increases in both glutathione and antioxidant enzyme levels, indicating strong antioxidant activity.

The researchers concluded based on their findings that chokeberry extracts exert a potent antioxidant effect that can protect HT22 cells from oxidative damage.

Get the full text of the study at this link.

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Journal Reference:

Lee HY, Weon JB, Ryu G, Yang WS, Kim NY, Kim MK, Ma CJ. NEUROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF ARONIA MELANOCARPA EXTRACT AGAINST GLUTAMATE-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS IN HT22 CELLS. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 11 April 2017;17(207). DOI: 10.1186/s12906-017-1716-1