Elmann, A., Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Telerman, A., Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Mordechay, S., Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Erlank, H., Department of Food Quality and Safety, Volcani Center, Agricultural Research Organization, P.O. Box 6, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
Ofir, R., Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, 84105 Beersheba, Israel

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Astrocytes, the most abundant glial cells in the brain, protect neurons from reactive oxygen species (ROS) and provide them with trophic support, such as glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Thus, any damage to astrocytes will affect neuronal survival. In the present study, an infusion prepared from the desert plant Pulicaria incisa (Pi) was tested for its protective and antioxidant effects on astrocytes subjected to oxidative stress. The Pi infusion attenuated the intracellular accumulation of ROS following treatment with hydrogen peroxide and zinc and prevented the Hinduced death of astrocytes. The Pi infusion also exhibited an antioxidant effect in vitro and induced GDNF transcription in astrocytes. It is proposed that this Pi infusion be further evaluated for use as a functional beverage for the prevention and/or treatment of brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress plays a role. © 2012 Anat Elmann et al.