Salvia macilenta exhibits antiglycating activity and protects PC12 cells against H2O2-induced apoptosis

Salvia macilenta is a member of the genus Salvia (Laminaceae) whose antioxidant activity and neuroprotective effect has been shown previously. The present study aimed to examine the antiglycating and antiapoptotic abilities of methanolic extract of this plant. Moreover, the effect of S. macilenta on neurite outgrowth and complexity after exposure to H₂O₂ has been studied. Base on our results, S. macilenta has antiglycating activity and protects PC12 cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death, as examined by Hoechst staining and Western blot analysis of caspase-3, Bax, Bcl-2 and PARP. We further showed that S. macilenta decreased neurite growth and complexity impairment in differentiated PC12 cells exposed to oxidative stress. It caused a decrease in cell body area, neurite width, and the proportion of bipolar cells, while significantly increasing neurite length, the number of primary neurites per cell and the ratio of nodes to primary neuritis. All around, the mentioned results open a new horizon for future works to use this plant as a potential neuroprotective agent.