Effects of a tartary buckwheat-lactoferrin formulation on cell viability under H₂O₂- and LPS-induced injury

Background: Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation impair stem cell survival and limit the therapeutic efficacy of regenerative medicine. This study evaluated the cytoprotective effects of a newly developed tartary buckwheat-lactoferrin formulation (TbLF) under H₂O₂-induced oxidative and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory stress conditions in vitro.Methods: TbLF was prepared using enzymatic hydrolysis, ball milling, and high-pressure homogenization. Cytotoxicity was assessed using a WST-8 assay in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs), SH-SY5Y neuronal cells, and RAW264.7 macrophages. Cell viability was evaluated using neutral red uptake (NRU) assays following exposure to H₂O₂ or LPS.Results: TbLF showed no significant cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 5 mg/mL in any tested cell line. Pretreatment with TbLF significantly improved cell viability under H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in hMSCs, hADSCs, SH-SY5Y, and RAW264.7 cells. TbLF also significantly attenuated LPS-induced inflammatory damage in RAW264.7 cells. Microscopic observations further demonstrated reduced morphological damage and increased cell density following TbLF treatment.Conclusions: TbLF pretreatment partially enhanced NRU in various cell types subjected to H₂O₂- and LPS-induced stress. These findings suggest that TbLF can partially support cell viability under stress conditions, indicating its potential for further research and use as an adjuvant therapeutic agent affecting stem cells.