Fatsia japonica extract exerts antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects on neuronal cells and a zebrafish model

Fatsia japonica is a traditional medicine used to treat various diseases, including inflammation-related disorders. However, its antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of F. japonica extract to identify the underlying mechanisms. The components of F. japonica extract were profiled using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The effects of F. japonica extract were investigated in BV2 microglia and HT22 hippocampal cells. Furthermore, in vivo effects of F. japonica extract were assessed using zebrafish models treated with H2O2 and LPS to evaluate the effects of in vivo. We identified 27 compounds in the F. japonica extract. F. japonica extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing LPS-induced inflammatory responses in both BV2 cells and zebrafish, along with inhibiting the activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB (p65) pathway. The protective effects of this extract were also observed on glutamate-treated HT22 cells and in H2O2-induced zebrafish. Furthermore, F. japonica extract upregulated nuclear factor E2-related (Nrf) 2/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression in BV2 and HT22 cells. F. japonica extract exerted anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects through Nrf2/HO-1 and the NF-κB pathway. [Display omitted] •Fatsia japonica exerted anti-neuroinflammatory effect on LPS-induced BV2 cell.•Fatsia japonica exerted antioxidant effect on glutamate-induced HT22 cell.•Fatsia japonica exerted antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects on zebrafish.•Fatsia japonica can regulate the Nrf2/HO-1 and NF-κB pathways.