(L.) DC., a Traditional Herbal Tea, Exerts Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Properties in Different and Systems.

In traditional medicine, (L.) DC or rock tea (RT) has been mainly used to treat digestive and respiratory pathologies but also as an antimicrobial or an antidepressant herbal remedy. An ethanolic extract of RT has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which may be explained by its phytochemical profile, rich in polyphenols and pigments. The aim of this study is to investigate the neuroprotective potential of RT. For this purpose, the ethanolic extract of RT is assayed in as an model, and through assays using monoamine oxidase A, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase as enzymes. The RT extract reduces juglone-induced oxidative stress in worms and increases the lifespan and prevents paralysis of CL4176, a model of Alzheimer's disease; the extract is also able to inhibit enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase A and tyrosinase . Together these results demonstrate that is a good candidate with antioxidant and neuroprotective potential for the development of new products with pharmaceutical interests.