Biological properties of seed oil of Azadirachta indica: investigation of the antioxidant action and its effects on cell viability

• Grant number: 11/04883-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date until: March 01, 2012
• End date until: January 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Pharmacognosy
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Rodrigues
• Grantee: Paloma Caroline Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), known as Neem, is used as therapeutic alternative in folk medicine. Recent works have shown that Neem extracts are able to promote uncoupling of the oxidative phosphorylation and decrease of ATP levels in mitochondria associated to its cytotoxicity. Moreover, other studies described the antioxidant acitivity of Neem. In this work the effects of Neem oil seed on mitochondrial bioenergetics and redox state will be investigated. Also, the molecular mechanisms involved in the antioxidant action and the possible cytotoxic or cytoprotective effect of Neem will be addressed. Mitochondrial respiration will be estimated by changes in the oxygen consumption and the ATP levels by chemiluminescence. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential, NAD(P)H, GSH and ROS generations will be evaluated fluorimetrically and the oxidation of the mitochondrial membrane by TBARS formation. The effects of Neem oil on cell viability will be measured by MTT reduction test.