COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ELLAGIC ACID AND 4-HYDROXYISOPHTHALIC ACID: ANTIOXIDANT, ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, AND NEUROPROTECTIVE ASSESSMENT AGAINST GLUTAMATE TOXICITY IN SH-SY5Y CELLS

Abstract

Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation play a substantial role in the progression of various chronic
illnesses. Ellagic acid (EA) and 4-hydroxyisophthalic acid (4-HIA) are the natural phenolic compounds
which possesses several therapeutic properties. This study comparatively assessed the antioxidant, anti-
inflammatory, and neuro-protective properties of EA and 4-HIA using several assays like DPPH, ABTS
scavenging, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity, bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation
assay. Further, the neuro-protective efficacy was determined in SH-SY5Y cells by MTT assay. Our
results revealed that both EA and 4-HIA exhibited concentration-dependent scavenging activity in all
the antioxidant assays performed. EA consistently exhibited superior antioxidant potential compared to
4-HIA and standard ascorbic acid. Further, the EA also demonstrated greater anti-inflammatory activity
than 4-HIA. The findings of MTT assay revealed that EA offered superior protection against glutamate
induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. However, further mechanistic studies are needed to validate their
therapeutic efficacy.