Neuroprotective Activity of Gliricidia Sepium Leaf Extract Against Beta-Amyloid Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cell Line

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by progressive neuronal loss leading to cognitive and memory impairment. Alzheimer’s disease, the most predominant neurodegenerative condition, involves neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, tau accumulation, and β-amyloid–induced neurotoxicity. Current therapies offer only symptomatic relief, highlighting the need for novel neuroprotective agents. This study evaluated the in-vitro neuroprotective activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Gliricidia sepium using SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell lines with β-amyloid to induce neurotoxicity. Cell viability and morphological changes were assessed using the MTT assay and microscopic analysis across five concentrations of the extract. β-amyloid exposure significantly reduced cell viability, whereas treatment with Gliricidia sepium extract resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell viability and improved cellular morphology. Statistical analysis confirmed a highly significant dose-dependent neuroprotective effect (P0.05) effect was observed on comparison with the β-amyloid group. The findings of our study suggest that the ethanolic extract of Gliricidia sepium leaves possesses neuroprotective potential, possibly mediated through the presence of neuroprotective phytochemicals, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, and the ability to overcome β-amyloid-induced toxicity, which warrants further investigation for its clinical applicability