An apolar Pistacia lentiscus leaf extract (Pl-C) was prepared.
Pl-C was rich in pentacyclic triterpenes and α-tocopherol.
Pl-C inhibited dose-dependently SH-SY5Y cell viability.
Pl-C (100 μg/mL) activated caspase-3 and induced disturbance in cell redox balance.
Apoptotic DNA fragments were detected in Pl-C (100 μg/mL)-treated SH-SY5Y cells.