Optimizing SH-SY5Y cell differentiation into neurons and investigating the effects of flavonoids on neurodegeneration

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease both in Turkey and in the world. The studies show the effects of inflammatory mechanisms and reactive oxygen species in the neurodegenerative diseases. In this respect, studying anti-inflammatory and antioxidant drugs on the models of Parkinson's is of great importance. Sideritis brevibracteata (P.H. Davis) is a plant endemic to Turkey that is being consumed by local people as tea to treat rheumatic pain, gastrointestinal tract problems and the common cold. Previous studies show the water-soluble flavonoids of the plant have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells are commonly used in the literature as neuronal models, however, there is no agreed-upon differentiation protocol to conduct reliable research. In this thesis, differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells into neurons was optimized, then Parkinson's Disease was modeled in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells using rotenone. Then, S. brevibracteata extract was investigated to see whether or not it has an effect on these cells in terms of protection, using a cell viability assay. Results showed that 1 μg/mL S. brevibracteata can protect the cells against 20 μM rotenone induced toxicity.