Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species may be linked to neurodegenerative diseases. Fresh Red Delicious apples, having 232.9 mg/100 g vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity, protected the rat pheochromocytoma neuronal (PC-12) cells from H 2 O 2 -induced oxidative toxicity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) reduction assay showed significant increase in cell viability when PC-12 cells were treated with apple extracts. This indicates that the apple phenolics protected oxidative stress-induced neurotoxicity. Because oxidative stress is also known to increase neuronal cell membrane breakdown, we further investigated by lactate dehydrogenase and trypan blue exclusion assays. Apple phenolics inhibited oxidative stress-induced membrane damage in neuronal cells. Therefore, these results may suggest that naturally occurring antioxidants, such as phenolic phytochemicals in fresh apples, may reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders.
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