Gholamreza Khaksar, Su Lwin Lwin Myint, Hasriadi, Pasarapa Towiwat, Supaart Sirikantaramas, Ratchanee Rodsiri. 

Sci Rep.; 2024 Jul 2; 14(1):15153. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-65219-6.

Abstract

Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) fruit pulp is a rich source of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC), a direct precursor to the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). This study elucidated the in vitro neuroprotective potential of unripe durian fruit pulp extract (UDE) against H₂O₂-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and neuroinflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells. Treatments with γ-EC, GSH standards, or UDE exhibited no cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y and BV-2 cells, except at high concentrations. A 4-h pretreatment with 100 µM γ-EC or UDE containing 100 µM γ-EC significantly increased SH-SY5Y cell viability post H₂O₂ induction. Moreover, a similar pretreatment reduced LPS-stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokines in BV-2 cells. The neuroprotective effect of UDE is primarily attributed to γ-EC provision and the promotion of GSH synthesis, which in turn elevates intracellular GSH levels and reduces proinflammatory cytokines. This study identifies γ-EC in UDE as a potential neuroprotective biomarker boosting intracellular GSH levels, providing insights into UDE's therapeutic potential.

See https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38956206/

Figure 1

Impact of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC) and glutathione (GSH) standards and the unripe durian fruit pulp extract (UDE) on SH-SY5Y cell viability. The in vitro cytotoxicity of varying concentrations of γ-EC (A) and GSH (B) standards and the UDE containing different concentrations of γ-EC (C) were evaluated. Data are presented as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM) (n = 3). ***p < 0.001 vs control (0 µM).