β amyloid protein (Aβ) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and possibly in Aβ -induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Aβ can directly cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Overproduction of ROS is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration of AD. Here, we investigated 9 kinds of ramie (Boehmeria nivea, (L.) Gaud., BN; hereafter denoted as BN) for their protective action against oxidative stress in a cellular system using C6 glial cells. We observed loss of cell viability and high levels of ROS generation after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Aβ25-35. However, treatments with BN extracts led to an increase in cell viability and decrease in ROS production induced by H2O2 and Aβ25-35. In particular, the extracts of BN-01 (seobang variety from Seocheon) and BN-09 (local variety from Yeonggwang) showed excellent anti-oxidative properties. This indicates that BN extracts could prevent neurodegeneration by reducing oxidative stress in cells.

• Xiaoning Wang(Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University)
• Sunghun Cho(Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University)
• Ho Bang Kim(Life Sciences Research Institute, Biomedic Co. Ltd.)
• Yong-Su Jung(Yeong-Gwang Agricultural Technology Center)
• Eun Ju Cho(Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Pusan National University)
• Sanghyun Lee(Department of Integrative Plant Science, Chung-Ang University) Corresponding author