Green Synthesis of Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles, Characterization, and Their Neuroprotective Effect on Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Injury in Human Neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) Cell Line

Abstract

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO₂NPs) have a broad scale of applications in the biomedical field due to their excellent physicochemical and catalytic properties. The present study aims to synthesize the CeO₂NPs from <i>Centella asiatica</i> (<i>C. asiatica</i>) leaf extract, which has been used in Indian traditional medicine for its neuroprotective properties. The CeO₂NPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy- energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The antioxidant property was evaluated by 2,2-di (4-<i>tert</i>-octyl phenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl and OH radical assays. The neuroprotective potential was assessed against the oxidative stress (OS) induced by H₂O₂ in the human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cell line. CeO₂NPs exhibited significant DPPH and OH radical scavenging activity. Our results revealed that CeO₂NPs significantly increased H₂O₂-induced cell viability, decreased lactate dehydrogenase, protein carbonyls, reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, and upregulated antioxidant enzyme activity. Our findings suggest that the CeO₂NPs protect the SH-SY5Y cells from OS and apoptosis, which could potentially counter OS-related neurodegenerative disorders.