Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidative Effects of Centella asiatica Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglial Cells

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate the anti‑inflammatory and anti‑oxidative effects of Centella asiatica extract (CA) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Methods: BV2 microglial cells were treated with LPS in the presence or absence of CA extract. The levels of nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor‑α (TNF‑α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using Griess reagent assay, enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay and CM‑H2DCFDA, respectively. The nuclear levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF‑kB) p65 were detected using immunofluorescence and ELISA assay. Results: CA treatment resulted in significant and concentration‑dependently reduced the LPS‑induced production of NO, TNF‑α, and ROS compared to the untreated group. CA treatment exerted an anti‑inflammatory effect by suppressing NF‑kB p65 translocation and the activation of Akt and the extracellular‑signal‑regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in LPS‑stimulated BV2 cells. Conclusion: Taken together, these results show that CA exerts antioxidative activity by suppressing ROS production and that it exerts anti‑inflammatory activity by suppressing LPS‑induced NO and TNF‑α production in BV2 microglial cells. These effects may occur through inhibition of Akt and the ERK1/2‑mediated NF‑kB pathway. The results presented here, coupled with traditional therapeutic claims, suggest that CA may be beneficial for treating neurodegenerative diseases mediated by microglial cells.