Chemical Composition and Neurotherapeutic Potential of Glaucium corniculatum Extracts

Objectives: The present study examines the possible suppressive effects on apoptosis of three different G. corniculatum extracts (chloroform, methanol, and water) in neuronal‑differentiated PC12 (dPC12) cells induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and presents the first association of compound content differences in extracts with the suppressive property. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of these extracts was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography‑mass spectroscopy. The changes caused by the extracts in apoptotic markers were examined by real‑time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Results: Extracts contained alkaloid, fatty acid, alcohol, alkane hydrocarbon, ester, ether, alkane, alkene, aliphatic, aromatic, and phenolic compounds with different relative proportions. In all the three extracts, the major compound was allocriptopine. Oleamide and 2‑monopalmitin were the major fatty acids, respectively, identified in water and methanol extracts. Extracts were suppressed H2O2‑induced apoptosis via decreasing the expression of Bax, Caspase‑3 and ‑9, while increasing Bcl‑2, in a concentration‑dependent manner. The water extract showed the highest apoptosis suppression while methanol was the second. Conclusion: G. corniculatum extracts suppress apoptosis in dPC12 cells and allocriptopine, oleamide, and 2‑monopalmitin may be responsible of apoptosis suppressive effect.