Ursolic Acid of Origanum majorana L. Reduces Aâ-induced Oxidative Injury

Amyloid â protein (Aβ) increases free radical production and lipid peroxidation in PC12 nerve cells, leading to apoptosis and cell death. The effect of ursolic acid from Origanum majorana L. on Aâ-induced neurotoxicity was investigated using PC12 cells. Pretreatment with isolated ursolic acid and vitamin E prevented the PC12 cell from reactive oxygen species (ROS) toxicity that is mediated by Aâ. The ursolic acid resulted in decreased Aâ toxicity assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and trypan blue assay. Thus, treatment with these antioxidants inhibited the Aâ-induced neurotoxic effect. Therefore, these results indicate that micromolar Aâ-induced oxidative cell death is reduced by ursolic acid from Origanum majorana L.