The neuroprotective properties of a novel variety of passion fruit

• The neuroprotective potential of a new line of passion fruit was tested in vitro and in vivo.
• An extract of the new fruit prevented cultured neurons from dying after a glutamate challenge.
• This extract preserved mitochondria and glutathione in glutamate-challenged neurons.
• This extract reduced the death of dopamine neurons in mice subjected to a neurotoxin (MPTP).

Passion fruit is a commercially important crop. The neuroprotective activity of fruit extracts from two hybrid lines of antioxidant ester thiol-rich Passiflora edulis Sims, the commercial “Passion Dream” and novel cultivar 428 (“Dena”) line were studied. Crude extracts from line 428 displayed the strongest dose-dependent neuroprotective activity, preventing glutamate induced cell-death, mitochondrial depolarization and glutathione depletion, when added to the medium of cultured HT4 neurons (p < 0.05). Supplementing diet of mice with the 428 fruit-extract improved survival of dopaminergic neurons by 60% in mice injected with the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MTPT) compared to control-fed MPTP-injected mice (p < 0.05). The neuroprotection conferred by passion fruit extracts in vivo and in vitro shows promise for further research into their bioactive potential for medical exploitation.