Neuroprotective effects of the hot aqueous extract of Paullinia cupana seed in a cell model of LPS-induced neuroinflammation

• Grant number: 25/11242-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Ethnopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Fulvio Rieli Mendes
• Grantee: Beatriz Silva Piristrello
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12675-1 - Potential therapeutic action and mechanisms of action of adaptogenic plants in neurodegenerative diseases, AP.BTA.R

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are among the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide, characterized by the progressive loss of neuronal structures and functions. Several studies indicate that neuroinflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of these diseases, involving chronic microglial activation, exacerbated release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increased oxidative stress. Guarana (Paullinia cupana Kunth), a plant native to the Amazon, has been traditionally used for its stimulant and medicinal properties, including potential antioxidant effects. Neuroinflammation is also a key component of various psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, which are among the most prevalent mental disorders globally and are often associated with neuronal dysfunction.This study proposes to investigate the effects of the hot aqueous extract of P. cupana seeds in a cellular model of LPS-induced neuroinflammation, analyzing parameters related to the modulation of the inflammatory response. For this purpose, glial BV-2 cells will be incubated with LPS to produce the conditioned medium, which will subsequently be incubated with SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. The potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects of the guarana extract will be evaluated after the treatment of both glial and neuronal cells through different assays, such as MTT cell viability assay, reactive oxygen species production monitored by the DCFH-DA probe, lipid peroxidation, as well as monitoring the levels of pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-alpha, NF-kB, IL-6, and IL-1beta. (AU)