Evaluation of the Effect of Rosmarinic Acid in Induction of Neural Differentiation in Wharton’s Jelly Stem Cells

Abstract

Background: Rosemarinic acid is a phenolic compound that has neuroprotective properties. It has beneficial effect in neurological diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Rosmarinic acid increases the expression of neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which can contribute in neuronal differentiation of stem cells. Methods: After isolation and proliferation, Wharton’s jelly stem cells were placed in inductive culture medium containing Rosmarinic acid. MTT assay was used to evaluate toxicity. After 4 days, induction of neuronal differentiation in Wharton’s jelly stem cells was evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) via analyzing the expression of Nestin and β-Tubulin III genes. Findings: MTT assay showed was no significant difference in viability between cells cultured in culture medium with Rosmarinic acid and control group (P < 0.05). Real-time PCR showed that adding Rosmarinic acid to culture medium increased the expression of Nestin and β-Tubulin III genes (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Increasing the expression of β-Tubulin III and Nestin, when there is Rosmarinic acid, may indicate a greater induction of neuronal differentiation in Wharton’s jelly stem cells. The results show that Rosmarinic acid induces the neuronal differentiation of Wharton’s jelly stem cells.

Keywords

• Cell differentiation
• Wharton's jelly cells
• Rosmarinic acid