Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RO), an aromatic plant used as food condiment and in traditional medicine, exerts numerous beneficial properties including antioxidant, analgesic and neuroprotective effects. Onset and progression of homeostatic imbalances observed in the early phases of a number of neurodegenerative diseases, have been associated with a gap junction (GJ)-dependent increased membrane permeability and alterations of connexins (Cxs), including Cx43. Here, we evaluate spray-dried RO extract (SDROE)-mediated effects on cell viability, apoptosis and Cx43-based intercellular communication using human SH-SY5Y neuron-like and human A-172 glial-like cells in an in vitro model of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. We found that SDROE exerts a protective action in OGD-injured cells, increasing cell viability and metabolic turnover and decreasing Cx43-based cell coupling. These data suggest that SDROE-mediated Cx43 reduction may be the molecular basis for its beneficial effects to be exploited for preventive treatment against the risk of some neurodegenerative disorders.
Keywords: cell coupling; connexin43; gap junction; neuroprotection; spray-dried Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract (SDROE).