In vitro effects of rooibos herbal tea (Aspalathus linearis) against methamphetamine on the mouse blood brain barrier

>Magister Scientiae - MScMethamphetamine (MA), also known as ‘Tik’, has detrimental short- and long-term psychological and morphological effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The lipophilic nature of MA allows it to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which normally plays a protective role in limiting solute exchange (including narcotics) into the neuronal tissue. Numerous studies have indicated that MA not only crosses the BBB but is implicated in distorting its crucial role in that it increases the permeability of the endothelial cells and thereby compromises its core homeostatic function. The speculated mechanism by which MA elicits its effects involves elevated ROS production which may be reversed by antioxidant treatment. Rooibos herbal tea (Aspalathus linearis) which is well documented for its antioxidative properties and ROS scavenging abilities may therefore be the ideal candidate to reverse the harmful ROS-induced effects of MA. The aim of the study was to investigate the in vitro ameliorating potential of fermented rooibos (Rf) against the MA-induced effects on mouse brain endothelial (bEnd5) cells by utilizing various assays (trypan blue exclusion and XTT viability assays) and physiological parameters (cell numbers, viability, monolayer permeability and cell cycle phases) over a period of 96 hrs. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test with P