Sodium metavanadate induced cognitive decline, behavioral impairments, oxidative stress and down regulation of myelin basic protein in mice hippocampus: Ameliorative roles of β-spinasterol, and stigmasterol

APOE ε4 allele modifies the associations of toxic metals and their mixture with cognitive impairment among older adults

BACKGROUND

The evidence of interactive effect of the toxic metal (TM) mixture and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 gene on cognitive impairment in older adults is scarce. We aimed to explore whether the associations of single TMs and their mixture with cognitive impairment depend on APOE ε4 in Chinese community-dwelling older people.

METHODS

A total of 1148 older adults from a subset of the baseline survey of a cohort study were included. Blood arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), strontium (Sr), and vanadium (V) were detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. APOE gene (rs429358, rs7412) polymorphisms were analyzed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction instrument. Mixed effects logistic regression was applied to estimate the relationships of single TMs and APOE genotype with cognitive impairment. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were performed to examine joint impacts of the TM mixture, as well as the interaction of the TM mixture with APOE ε4 genotype on cognitive impairment.

RESULTS

Pb displayed a significant linear association with an increased odds of cognitive impairment after adjustment for covariates (Ptrend = 0.045). While APOE genotype did not show a significant correlation with cognitive impairment. WQS showed that the TM mixture was associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment by 31.0% (OR=1.31, 95% CI: 0.92, 1.87) while no significance was found. BKMR exhibited a significant linear association between the TM mixture and cognitive impairment. Moreover, both WQS and BKMR indicated that Pb contributed the most to cognitive impairment within the mixture. Significant interactions of Pb or the TM mixture and APOE genotype on cognitive impairment were observed, contributing to 38.1% and 38.2% of total effects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

APOE ε4 allele amplifies the associations of single Pb or the TM mixture with cognitive impairment. These findings may help to develop precision prevention.

Unveiling the molecular mechanisms: dietary phytosterols as guardians against cardiovascular diseases

Until recently, the main pharmaceuticals used to control cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) were statin-related drugs, known for their historical side effects. Therefore, there is growing interest in exploring alternatives, such as nutritional and dietary components, that could play a central role in CVD prevention. This review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how natural phytosterols found in various diets combat CVDs. We begin with a description of the overall approach, then we explore in detail the different direct and indirect mechanisms that contribute to reducing cardiovascular incidents. Phytosterols, including stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, ergosterol, and fucosterol, emerge as promising molecules within nutritional systems for protection against CVDs due to their beneficial effects at different levels through direct or indirect cellular, subcellular, and molecular mechanisms. Specifically, the mentioned phytosterols exhibit the ability to diminish the generation of various radicals, including hydroperoxides and hydrogen peroxide. They also promote the activation of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione, while inhibiting lipid peroxidation through the activation of Nrf2 and Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathways. Additionally, they demonstrate a significant inhibitory capacity in the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, thus playing a crucial role in regulating the inflammatory/immune response by inhibiting the expression of proteins involved in cellular signaling pathways such as JAK3/STAT3 and NF-κB. Moreover, phytosterols play a key role in reducing cholesterol absorption and improving the lipid profile. These compounds can be used as dietary supplements or included in specific diets to aid control cholesterol levels, particularly in individuals suffering from hypercholesterolemia.

Implication of Oxysterols and Phytosterols in Aging and Human Diseases

Cholesterol is easily oxidized and can be transformed into numerous oxidation products, among which oxysterols. Phytosterols are plant sterols related to cholesterol. Both oxysterols and phytosterols can have an impact on human health and diseases.Cholesterol is a member of the sterol family that plays essential roles in biological processes, including cell membrane stability and myelin formation. Cholesterol can be metabolized into several molecules including bile acids, hormones, and oxysterols. On the other hand, phytosterols are plant-derived compounds structurally related to cholesterol, which can also have an impact on human health. Here, we review the current knowledge about the role of oxysterols and phytosterols on human health and focus on the impact of their pathways on diseases of the central nervous system (CNS), autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), vascular diseases, and cancer in both experimental models and human studies. We will first discuss the implications of oxysterols and then of phytosterols in different human diseases.

Inhibition of calcium imbalance protects hepatocytes from vanadium exposure-induced inflammation by mediating mitochondrial-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes in ducks

Vanadium (V) is an essential mineral element in animals, but excessive V can lead to many diseases, affecting the health of humans and animals. However, the molecular crosstalk between mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) and inflammation under V exposure is still at the exploratory stage. This study was conducted to determine the molecular crosstalk between MAMs and inflammation under V exposure in ducks. In this study, duck hepatocytes were treated with NaVO3 (0 μM, 100 μM, and 200 μM) and 2-aminoethyl diphenyl borate (2-APB) (IP3R inhibitor) alone or in combination for 24 h. The data showed that V exposure-induced cell vacuolization, enlarged intercellular space, and decreased density and viability. Meanwhile, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malonaldehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were upregulated under V treatment. In addition, excessive V could lead to a marked reduction in the MAMs structure, destruction of the membrane structure and overload of intracellular Ca2+ and mitochondrial Ca2+. Moreover, V treatment resulted in notable upregulation of the levels of MAMs-relevant factors (IP3R, Mfn2, Grp75, MCU, VDAC1) but downregulated the levels of IL-18, IL-1β, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the cell supernatant. Additionally, it also significantly elevated the levels of inflammation-relevant factors (NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, MAVS, IL-18, IL-1β, and TXNIP). However, the inhibition of IP3R expression attenuated the V-induced variations in the above indicators. Collectively, our results revealed that the maintenance of calcium homeostasis could protect duck hepatocytes from V-induced inflammation injury via MAMs.

Linking Metallic Micronutrients and Toxic Xenobiotics to Atherosclerosis and Fatty Liver Disease-Postmortem ICP-MS Analysis of Selected Human Tissues

Dyslipidaemia is a disorder of the lipid metabolism, caused mainly by poor eating habits. The most severe consequence of an inappropriate diet is the development of atherosclerosis and hepatic steatosis. It is generally believed that a change in nutrition, and increased physical activity can eliminate these health problems. The contemporary research and therapies used to treat dyslipidemia mainly focus on lowering the triglyceride and cholesterol levels. However, disturbances in trace element homeostasis or the accumulation of toxic elements can also affect physiological processes, and be involved in the development of metabolically mediated diseases. The present study aimed to determine the mineral profiles of liver and brain tissues collected at autopsy (n = 39) in groups of people with hepatic steatosis (n = 5), atherosclerosis (n = 9), hepatic steatosis, and atherosclerosis (n = 16), and others without the selected disorders (n = 9). Concentrations of 51 elements were analysed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after the initial wet mineralisation of the samples with nitric acid. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the hepatic steatosis group suffers from a deficiency of important trace elements, such as copper, zinc, and molybdenum (p < 0.05), whereas the group with atherosclerosis is characterised by elevated levels of cadmium in the liver tissue (p = 0.01). Analysing the mean values of the element concentrations measured in 11 brain areas, statistically significant higher levels of calcium and copper (p < 0.001) were found in the atherosclerosis group, compared to the hepatic steatosis group, confirming the involvement of these elements in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In addition, an accumulation of cadmium, lead, titanium, and strontium in the brain tissue was observed in the atherosclerosis group. While the accumulation of individual elements differs in different parts of the brain, the differences in the cadmium content (p < 0.05) between the study groups apply to the whole brain, except for the nucleus accumbens septi area, where a statistically significant titanium accumulation occurs in the atherosclerosis and steatosis groups, compared to the others (p < 0.05). In addition, the disruption of elemental homeostasis in the brain of a single case with bipolar disorder, and a case with hip replacement was observed. Our results confirm the involvement of chemical elements in the pathogenesis of selected metabolic diseases, and the need for further studies in larger populations.

Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to explore the potential mechanism of Long Mu Qing Xin mixture for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background: Long Mu Qing Xin Mixture (LMQXM) has shown potentially positive effects in alleviating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, the action mechanism is still not fully understood. This study aimed to predict the potential mechanism of LMQXM for ADHD using network pharmacology and molecular docking, which were then validated using animal experiments.

Methods: Network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques were used to predict the core targets and potential pathways of LMQXMQ for ADHD, and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed the potential significance of dopamine (DA) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathways. To verify the hypothesis, we conducted an animal experiment. In the animal experiment, the young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were randomly divided into the model group (SHR), the methylphenidate hydrochloride group (MPH, 4.22 mg/kg), and 3 LMQXM groups (low-dose (LD) group, 5.28 ml/kg; medium-dose (MD) group, 10.56 ml/kg; and high-dose (HD) group, 21.12 ml/kg), and administered by gavage for 4 weeks; the WKY rats were set as the control group. The open field test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the behavioral performance of rats, high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analyze DA levels in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum of rats, ELISA was used to detect cAMP concentrations in the PFC and striatum, and immunohistochemistry and qPCR were used to analyze positive cell expression and mRNA expression for indicators related to DA and cAMP pathways.

Results: The results showed that beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, rhynchophylline, baicalein, and formononetin might be key components of LMQXM for ADHD and that these components bind well to the core targets, DA receptors (DRD1 and DRD2). Furthermore, LMQXM might act through the DA and cAMP signaling pathways. In the animal experiment, we found that MPH and LMQXM-MD controlled hyperactivity and improved learning and memory in SHRs, while LMQXM-HD only controlled hyperactivity in SHRs; meanwhile, MPH and LMQXM-MD upregulated DA and cAMP levels, mean optical density (MOD) of cAMP, and MOD and mRNA expression of DRD1 and PKA in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and striatum of SHRs, while LMQXM-LD and LMQXM-HD upregulated DA and cAMP levels in the striatum, MOD of cAMP in the PFC, and mRNA expression of PKA in the PFC. However, we did not find a significant regulatory effect of LMQXM on DRD2.

Conclusion: To sum up, this study demonstrated that LMQXM may increase DA levels mainly by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway through DRD1, thereby controlling the behavioral disorders of SHRs, which is most effective at moderate doses, and this may be a key mechanism for LMQXM in the treatment of ADHD.

Vanadium improves memory and spatial learning and protects the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus in juvenile hydrocephalic mice

Background

Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition known to cause learning and memory disabilities due to its damaging effect on the hippocampal neurons, especially pyramidal neurons. Vanadium at low doses has been observed to improve learning and memory abilities in neurological disorders but it is uncertain whether such protection will be provided in hydrocephalus. We investigated the morphology of hippocampal pyramidal neurons and neurobehavior in vanadium-treated and control juvenile hydrocephalic mice.

Methods

Hydrocephalus was induced by intra-cisternal injection of sterile-kaolin into juvenile mice which were then allocated into 4 groups of 10 pups each, with one group serving as an untreated hydrocephalic control while others were treated with 0.15, 0.3 and 3 mg/kg i.p of vanadium compound respectively, starting 7 days post-induction for 28 days. Non-hydrocephalic sham controls (n = 10) were sham operated without any treatment. Mice were weighed before dosing and sacrifice. Y-maze, Morris Water Maze and Novel Object Recognition tests were carried out before the sacrifice, the brains harvested, and processed for Cresyl Violet and immunohistochemistry for neurons (NeuN) and astrocytes (GFAP). The pyramidal neurons of the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus were assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Data were analyzed using GraphPad prism 8.

Results

Escape latencies of vanadium-treated groups were significantly shorter (45.30 ± 26.30 s, 46.50 ± 26.35 s, 42.99 ± 18.44 s) than untreated group (62.06 ± 24.02 s) suggesting improvements in learning abilities. Time spent in the correct quadrant was significantly shorter in the untreated group (21.19 ± 4.15 s) compared to control (34.15 ± 9.44 s) and 3 mg/kg vanadium-treated group (34.35 ± 9.74 s). Recognition index and mean % alternation were lowest in untreated group (p = 0.0431, p=0.0158) suggesting memory impairments, with insignificant improvements in vanadium-treated groups. NeuN immuno-stained CA1 revealed loss of apical dendrites of the pyramidal cells in untreated hydrocephalus group relative to control and a gradual reversal attempt in the vanadium-treated groups. Astrocytic activation (GFAP stain) in the untreated hydrocephalus group were attenuated in the vanadium-treated groups under the GFAP stain. Pyknotic index in CA1 pyramidal layer of untreated (18.82 ± 2.59) and 0.15mg/kg vanadium-treated groups (18.14 ± 5.92) were significantly higher than control (11.11 ± 0.93; p = 0.0205, p = 0.0373) while there was no significant difference in CA3 pyknotic index across all groups.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that vanadium has a dose-dependent protective effect on the pyramidal cells of the hippocampus and on memory and spatial learning functions in juvenile hydrocephalic mice.

Cobalt exposure triggers impairments in cognitive and anxiety-like behaviors, brain oxidative stress and inflammation, and hippocampo-amygdala histomorphological alterations: Protective role of aqueous Prosopis africana seed extract

Objectives

Cobalt toxicity has become a health concern in recent years, due to overexposure resulting in neurological impairments. With a growing interest in the therapeutic roles of herbs, in toxicity research, it's worth looking into the curative effects of aqueous Prosopis africana seed extract, a plant rich in flavonoids on cobalt-induced neurotoxicity.

Materials and Methods

We treated rats with CoCl₂ or CoCl₂ in combination with aqueous PA seed extract (PAE) orally for 14 days. Control rats received distilled water for the same period. Following treatments, behavioral experiments, analysis for oxidative stress, inflammation, and histological and immunohistochemical analysis were performed.

Results

Results revealed that CoCl₂ reduced the exploration time, recognition index in the novel object recognition test, percentage spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze tests, and reduced open arm entry and duration in elevated plus-maze. However, treatment with PAE improved these parameters to levels comparable with those of the control group. Furthermore, PAE therapy reduced CoCl₂-induced surge in hydrogen peroxide, malondialdehyde, TNF-α and IL-1β levels in brain homogenate, while also increasing superoxide dismutase and reduced reduced-glutathione activities. CoCl₂ exposure resulted in obvious features of neurodegeneration like nuclear disintegration, nuclear shrinkage, and cytoplasmic vacuolations of the cells of the hippocampus and amygdala, with an increased expression of GFAP. The hippocampal and amygdala histology improved after PAE administration, while exacerbated GFAP expressions were attenuated.

Conclusion

These findings imply that PAE may be anxiolytic and can help reduce cognitive impairments and hippocampal damage caused by CoCl₂ neurotoxicity, via mechanisms that involve attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Vanadium in Bipolar Disorders-Reviving an Old Hypothesis

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and common chronic mental illness. The biological basis of the disease is poorly understood and its treatment is unsatisfactory. Our previous studies supported the notion that alterations in Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity were involved in the etiology of BD. As various chemical elements inhibit Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase, we determined the concentration of 26 elements in the serum of BD patients before and after treatment and in postmortem brain samples from BD patients, and compared them with matched controls. The only element that was reduced significantly in the serum following treatment was vanadium (V). Furthermore, the concentration of V was significantly lower in the pre-frontal cortex of BD patients compared with that of the controls. Intracerebroventricular administration of V in mice elicited anxiolytic and depressive activities, concomitantly inhibited brain Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity, and increased extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation. A hypothesis associating V with BD was set forth decades ago but eventually faded out. Our results are in accord with the hypothesis and advocate for a thorough examination of the possible involvement of chemical elements, V in particular, in BD.

Health Benefits and Pharmacological Properties of Stigmasterol

Stigmasterol is an unsaturated phytosterol belonging to the class of tetracyclic triterpenes. It is one of the most common plant sterols, found in a variety of natural sources, including vegetable fats or oils from many plants. Currently, stigmasterol has been examined via in vitro and in vivo assays and molecular docking for its various biological activities on different metabolic disorders. The findings indicate potent pharmacological effects such as anticancer, anti-osteoarthritis, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, immunomodulatory, antiparasitic, antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Indeed, stigmasterol from plants and algae is a promising molecule in the development of drugs for cancer therapy by triggering intracellular signaling pathways in numerous cancers. It acts on the Akt/mTOR and JAK/STAT pathways in ovarian and gastric cancers. In addition, stigmasterol markedly disrupted angiogenesis in human cholangiocarcinoma by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) signaling down-regulation. The association of stigmasterol and sorafenib promoted caspase-3 activity and down-regulated levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in breast cancer. Antioxidant activities ensuring lipid peroxidation and DNA damage lowering conferred to stigmasterol chemoprotective activities in skin cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) regulation also contributes to the neuroprotective effects of stigmasterol, as well as dopamine depletion and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The anti-inflammatory properties of phytosterols involve the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, the decrease in inflammatory mediator release, and the inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Stigmasterol exerts anti-diabetic effects by reducing fasting glucose, serum insulin levels, and oral glucose tolerance. Other findings showed the antiparasitic activities of this molecule against certain strains of parasites such as Trypanosoma congolense (in vivo) and on promastigotes and amastigotes of the Leishmania major (in vitro). Some stigmasterol-rich plants were able to inhibit Candida albicans, virusei, and tropicalis at low doses. Accordingly, this review outlines key insights into the pharmacological abilities of stigmasterol and the specific mechanisms of action underlying some of these effects. Additionally, further investigation regarding pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and toxicology is recommended.

Pharmacology of α-spinasterol, a phytosterol with nutraceutical values: A review

α-Spinasterol is a phytosterol found in various edible and non-edible plant sources. The edible plant materials containing α-spinasterol include spinach leaves, cucumber fruits, seeds of pumpkin and watermelon, argan seed oil, cactus pear seed oil and Amaranthus sp. It is a bioavailable nutraceutical, and it can cross the blood-brain barrier. It possesses several important pharmacological properties such as anti-diabetes mellitus, antiinflammation, hypolipidemic, antiulcer, neuroprotection, anti-pain and antitumour activities. For this review, literature search was made focusing on the pharmacological properties of α-spinasterol using PubMed and Google Scholar data bases. Recent studies show the promising antidiabetic properties of α-spinasterol. Its anti-diabetic mechanisms include enhancement of insulin secretion, reduction in insulin resistance, anti-diabetic nephropathy, increase in glucose uptake in muscle cells and inhibition of glucose absorption from intestine. Besides, it is a safe antiinflammatory agent, and its antiinflammatory mechanisms include inhibition of cyclooxygenases, antagonism of TRPV1 receptor and attenuation of proinflammatory cytokines and mediators. It is a promising and safe nutraceutical molecule for human health care. Food supplements, value-added products and nutraceutical formulations can be developed with α-spinasterol for the management of diabetes, chronic inflammatory diseases and improving general health. This review provides all scattered pharmacological studies on α-spinasterol in one place and highlights its immense value for human health care.

Medication Rules in Herbal Medicine for Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Network Pharmacology and Data Mining Study

Background

Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has good efficacy in the treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), especially memory improvement and safety, its substance basis and intervention mechanism are particularly complex and unknown. Therefore, based on network pharmacology and data mining, this study aims to explore the rules, active ingredients and mechanism of TCM in the treatment of MCI.

Methods

By searching the GeneCard, OMIM, DisGeNET and DrugBank databases, we obtained the critical targets associated with MCI. We matched the components and herbs corresponding to the important targets in the TCMSP platform. Using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software, we constructed a target-component-herb network and conducted a network topology analysis to obtain the core components and herbs. Molecular docking was used to preliminarily analyze and predict the binding activities and main binding combinations of the core targets and components. Based on the analysis of the properties, flavor and meridian distribution of herbs, the rules of herbal therapy for MCI were summarized.

Results

Twenty-eight critical targets were obtained after the screening. Using the TCMSP platform, 492 components were obtained. After standardization, we obtained 387 herbs. Based on the target-composition-herb network analysis, the core targets were ADRB2, ADRA1B, DPP4, ACHE and ADRA1D. According to the screening, the core ingredients were beta-sitosterol, quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol and luteolin. The core herbs were matched to Danshen, Yanhusuo, Gancao, Gouteng and Jiangxiang. It was found that the herbs were mainly warm in nature, pungent in taste and liver and lung in meridian. The molecular docking results showed that most core components exhibited strong binding activity to the target combination regardless of the in or out of network combination.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that herbs have great potential in the treatment of MCI. This study provides a reference and basis for clinical application, experimental research and new drug development of herbal therapy for MCI.

The Genus Alternanthera: Phytochemical and Ethnopharmacological Perspectives

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The genus Alternanthera (Amaranthaceae) comprises 139 species including 14 species used traditionally for the treatment of various ailments such as hypertension, pain, inflammation, diabetes, cancer, microbial and mental disorders.

Aim of the review: To search research gaps through critical assessment of pharmacological activities not performed to validate traditional claims of various species of Alternanthera. This review will aid natural product researchers in identifying Alternanthera species with therapeutic potential for future investigation.

Materials and methods: Scattered raw data on ethnopharmacological, morphological, phytochemical, pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical studies of various species of the genus Alternanthera have been compiled utilizing search engines like SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Open J-Gate for 100 years up to April 2021.

Results: Few species of Alternanthera genus have been exhaustively investigated phytochemically, and about 129 chemical constituents related to different classes such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins, alkaloids, triterpenoids, glycosides, and phenolic compounds have been isolated from 9 species. Anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, CNS depressive, antidiabetic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulator effects have been explored in the twelve species of the genus. A toxicity study has been conducted on 3 species and a clinical study on 2 species.

Conclusions: The available literature on pharmacological studies of Alternanthera species reveals that few species have been selected based on ethnobotanical surveys for scientific validation of their traditional claims. But most of these studies have been conducted on uncharacterized and non-standardized crude extracts. A roadmap of research needs to be developed for the isolation of new bioactive compounds from Alternanthera species, which can emerge out as clinically potential medicines.

Network pharmacology and in vitro studies reveal the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of Shenzhi Jiannao prescription against vascular dementia

Background

Shenzhi Jiannao (SZJN) prescription is a type of herbal formula adopted in the management of cognitive impairment and related disorders. However, its effects and related regulatory mechanisms on vascular dementia (VD) are elusive. Herein, network pharmacology prediction was employed to explore the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of SZJN prescription on VD using network pharmacology prediction, and validated the results through in vitro experiments.

Methods

Through a search in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) database, chemical composition and targets for SZJN prescription were retrieved. The potential targets for VD were then obtained from the GeneCards and DisGeNET databases. The network was constructed that depicted the interactions between putative SZJN prescription and known therapeutic targets for VD using Cytoscape 3.7.1. Analysis of protein-protein interaction was achieved via STRING 11.0 software, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment and Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway analyses. To validate the computer-predicted results, in vitro experiments based on an excitotoxic injury model were designed using glutamate-exposed PC12 cells, and treated with varying concentrations (low, 0.05; medium, 0.1 and high, 0.2 mg/mL) of SZJN prescription. Cell viability and cell death were detected using the IncuCyte imaging system. Moreover, the expression profiles of Caspase-3 were analyzed through qRT-PCR.

Results

Twenty-eight potentially active ingredients for SZJN prescription, including stigmasterol, beta-sitosterol, and kaempferol, plus 21 therapeutic targets for VD, including PTGS2, PTGS1, and PGR were revealed. The protein-protein interaction network was employed for the analysis of 20 target proteins, including CASP3, JUN, and AChE. The enrichment analysis demonstrated candidate targets of SZJN prescription were more frequently involved in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, calcium, apoptosis, and cholinergic synaptic signaling pathways. In vitro experiments revealed that SZJN prescription could significantly reverse glutamate-induced cell viability loss and cell death, and lower the levels of Caspase-3 mRNA in glutamate-induced PC12 cells.

Conclusions

Collectively, this study demonstrated that SZJN prescription exerted the effect of treating VD by regulating multi-targets and multi-channels with multi-components through the method of network pharmacology. Furthermore, in vitro results confirmed that SZJN prescription attenuated glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.

Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Chlorophytum Comosum (Green Type) (Thunb.) Jacq

Chlorophytum genus has been extensively studied due to its diverse biological activities. We evaluated the methanolic extract of leaves of Chlorophytum comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques, the species that is less studied compared to C. borivilianum. The aim was to identify phytoconstituents of the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum and biological properties of its different fractions. Water fraction was analyzed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Nineteen compounds belonging to different chemical classes were identified in the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques. In addition to several fatty acids, isoprenoid and steroid compounds were found among the most abundant constituents. One of the identified compounds, 4'-methylphenyl-1C-sulfonyl-β-d-galactoside, was not detected earlier in Chlorophytum extracts. The water fraction was toxic to HeLa cells but not to Vero cells. Our data demonstrate that methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum can be a valuable source of bioactive constituents. The water fraction of the extract exhibited promising antitumor potential based on a high ratio of HeLa vs. Vero cytotoxicity.

Taurine and Camel Milk Modulate Neurobehavioral and Biochemical Changes in Aluminum Chloride-Induced Alzheimer's Disease in Rats

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease associated with deficiency in motor coordination, cognitive impairment, and excessive reactive oxygen species production in the brain.

OBJECTIVE

The study evaluated effects of taurine and camel milk (CM) on neurobehavior, amyloid-beta peptide 1-42 (Aβ) expression, acetylcholinesterase, and superoxide dismutase activities in aluminum chloride (AlCl3) model of Alzheimer's disease in rats.

METHODS

Thirty-five female Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 5): Normal saline (0.2 mL/kg body weight); AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) (AD); CM (33 mL/kg); Taurine (50 mg/kg); AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) + CM (33 mL/kg); AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) + Taurine (50 mg/kg); and AlCl3 (100 mg/kg) + CM (33 mL/kg) + Taurine (50 mg/kg). The administration lasted for eight weeks via oral gavage. After the eighth week, neurobehavior assessments were performed. Rats were sacrificed, and brain and blood samples collected for analysis.

RESULTS

There was a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in the duration of motor endurance in AD + CM rats, compared to AD rats. Duration of forced swimming time was lowest (p < 0.0001) in AlCl3 + Taurine rats, compared to that of AD rats. Concentration of Aβ peptide decreased (p < 0.05) in AD rats, treated with CM and/or combination. In taurine-treated rats, superoxide dismutase activity was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than in AD rats. Treatment with taurine + CM increased (p < 0.05) acetylcholinesterase activity compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

Taurine and CM enhanced cognition and sensorimotor activity by decreasing Aβ peptide concentration and increasing superoxide dismutase and acetylcholinesterase activities in AD rats.

Application of lipidomics strategy to explore aging-related biomarkers and potential anti-aging mechanisms of ginseng

Aging often leads to an increase risk of age-related diseases, and the development of anti-aging drugs have become the trend and focus of the current scientific research. In this experiment, serum samples from healthy people of different ages were analyzed based on clinical lipidomics, and a total of 10 potential biomarkers in middle-aged and youth group, 20 biomarkers in the youth and the elderly group were obtained. Furthermore, dhSph and dhCer involved above may affect the aging process through sphingolipid metabolic pathway. As the first and rate-limiting step of catalyzing de novo sphingolipid pathway, SPT may play a key role in human anti-aging, which is revealed by lipidomics liposome tracer analysis. The potential active components in ginseng on SPT was further verified by molecular docking virtual screening and atomic force microscope. Four ingredients of ginseng may reduce the levels of metabolites dhSph and dhCer by inhibiting the activity of SPT, and play an anti-aging effect by affecting the sphingolipid metabolism pathway.A clinical trials registration number: ChiCTR1900026836.

A network pharmacological approach to investigate the pharmacological effects of CZ2HF decoction on Alzheimer's disease

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, which brings tremendous burden to the sufferers and society. However, ideal tactics are unavailable for AD. Our previous study has shown that CZ2HF, a Chinese herb preparation, mitigates cognitive impairment in AD rats; whereas, its detailed mechanism has not been elucidated.

Methods

Public databases were applied to collect and identify the chemical ingredients of eight herbs in CZ2HF. Criteria of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion was used to screen oral bio-availability and drug-likeness. STITCH database and Therapeutic Target Database were applied to decipher the relationship between compounds and genes related to AD. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology term analyses were used to identify the involved signaling pathways. Cytoscape was adopted to establish the networks The molecular docking was used to validate the interactions between the candidate compounds and their potential targets.

Results

914 compounds were identified in eight herbal medicines of CZ2HF. Among them, 9 compounds and 28 genes were highly involved in the pathologic process of AD. Furthermore, the mechanism of CZ2HF to AD was based on its anti-inflammatory effects mainly through lipopolysaccharide-mediated signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. Core genes in this network were TNF, ICAM1, MMP9 and IL-10.

Conclusion

This study predicts the active compounds in CZ2HF and uncovers their protein targets using holistic network pharmacology methods. It will provide a insight into the underlying mechanism of CZ2HF to AD from a multi-scale perspective.

Neuroprotective effects on amyloid-beta induced cytotoxicity of Pandanus clementis Merr

The present study determined the neuroprotective potential of the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Pandanus clementis Merr. (Pandanaceae) to protect the neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells against amyloid-beta _1-42 (Aβ) cytotoxicity. Inhibition of Aβ aggregation was determined by Thioflavin T (ThT) assay, and in vitro neuroprotective cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were evaluated with human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells insulted with Aβ. Chromatographic separation on the alcoholic extract yielded known phytosterols. Results showed that pretreatment of the SH-SY5Y cells with the P. clementis extracts increased cell viability and MMP, and decreased ROS, suggesting protective effects. Hence, P. clementis extract has promising neuroprotective therapeutic potential.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02889-3.

Heliotropium indicum L.: From Farm to a Source of Bioactive Compounds with Therapeutic Activity

This study aimed to summarize the available data on the ethnomedicinal and phytopharmacological activities of Heliotropium indicum L. based on database reports. For this purpose, an up-to-date literature search was carried out in the Google Scholar, Scopus, Springer Link, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, PubMed, Chem Spider, Elsevier, BioMed Central, and patent offices (e.g., USPTO, CIPO, NPI, Google patents, and Espacenet) for the published materials. The findings suggest that the plant contains many important phytochemicals, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids, indicine, echinitine, supinine, heleurine, heliotrine, lasiocarpine, acetyl indicine, indicinine, indicine N-oxide, cynoglossine, europine N-oxide, heleurine N-oxide, heliotridine N-oxide, heliotrine N-oxide, heliotrine, volatile oils, triterpenes, amines, and sterols. Scientific reports revealed that the herb showed antioxidant, analgesic, antimicrobial, anticancer, antituberculosis, antiplasmodial, anticataract, antifertility, wound healing, antiinflammatory, antinociceptive, antihyperglycemic, anthelmintic, diuretic, antitussive, antiglaucoma, antiallergic, and larvicidal activity. In conclusion, in vitro studies with animal models seem to show the potential beneficial effects of H. indicum against a wide variety of disorders and as a source of phytotherapeutic compounds. However, clinical studies are necessary to confirm the effects observed in animal models, determine the toxicity of the therapeutic dose and isolate the truly bioactive components.

Polyphenols and IUGR Pregnancies: Effects of the Antioxidant Hydroxytyrosol on Brain Neurochemistry and Development in a Porcine Model

Supplementation of a mother’s diet with antioxidants, such as hydroxytyrosol (HTX), has been proposed to ameliorate the adverse phenotypes of fetuses at risk of intrauterine growth restriction. In the present study, sows were treated daily with or without 1.5 mg of HTX per kilogram of feed from day 35 of pregnancy (at 30% of total gestational period), and individuals were sampled at three different ages: 100-day-old fetuses and 1-month- and 6-month-old piglets. After euthanasia, the brain was removed and the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex were dissected. The profile of the catecholaminergic and serotoninergic neurotransmitters (NTs) was characterized and an immunohistochemical study of the hippocampus was performed. The results indicated that maternal supplementation with HTX during pregnancy affected the NT profile in a brain-area-dependant mode and it modified the process of neuron differentiation in the hippocampal CA1 and GD areas, indicating that cell differentiation occurred more rapidly in the HTX group. These effects were specific to the fetal period, concomitantly with HTX maternal supplementation, since no major differences remained between the control and treated groups in 1-month- and 6-month-old pigs.

Environmental toxicants, oxidative stress and health adversities: interventions of phytochemicals

OBJECTIVES

Oxidative stress is the most common factor mediating environmental chemical-induced health adversities. Recently, an exponential rise in the use of phytochemicals as an alternative therapeutics against oxidative stress-mediated diseases has been documented. Due to their free radical quenching property, plant-derived natural products have gained substantial attention as a therapeutic agent in environmental toxicology. The present review aimed to describe the therapeutic role of phytochemicals in mitigating environmental toxicant-mediated sub-cellular and organ toxicities via controlling cellular antioxidant response.

METHODS

The present review has covered the recently related studies, mainly focussing on the free radical scavenging role of phytochemicals in environmental toxicology.

KEY FINDINGS

In vitro and in vivo studies have reported that supplementation of antioxidant-rich compounds can ameliorate the toxicant-induced oxidative stress, thereby improving the health conditions. Improving the cellular antioxidant pool has been considered as a mode of action of phytochemicals. However, the other cellular targets of phytochemicals remain uncertain.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing the therapeutic value of phytochemicals to mitigate the chemical-induced toxicity is an initial stage; mechanistic understanding needs to decipher for development as therapeutics. Moreover, examining the efficacy of phytochemicals against mixer toxicity and identifying the bioactive molecule are major challenges in the field.

Potential benefits of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against neurological disorders

Azadirachta indica or Neem has been extensively used in the Indian traditional medical system because of its broad range of medicinal properties. Neem contains many chemically diverse and structurally complex phytochemicals such as limonoids, flavonoids, phenols, catechins, gallic acid, polyphenols, nimbins. These phytochemicals possess vast array of therapeutic activities that include anti-feedant, anti-viral, anti-malarial, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer properties. In recent years, many phytochemicals from Neem have been shown to be beneficial against various neurological disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, mood disorders, ischemic-reperfusion injury. The neuroprotective effects of the phytochemicals from Neem are primarily mediated by their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities along with their ability to modulate signaling pathways. However, extensive studies are still required to fully understand the molecular mechanisms involved in neuropotective effects of phytochemicals from Neem. This review is an attempt to cover the neuroprotective properties of various phytochemicals from Neem along with their mechanism of action so that the potential of the compounds could be realized to reduce the burden of neurodegenerative diseases.

Linking phytosterols and oxyphytosterols from food to brain health: origins, effects, and underlying mechanisms

Phytosterols and their oxidation products, namely oxyphytosterols, are natural compounds present in plant foods. With increased intake of phytosterol-enriched functional food products, the exposure of both phytosterols and oxyphytosterols is rising. Over the past ten years, researches have been focused on their absorption and metabolism in human body, as well as their biological effects. More importantly, recent studies showed that phytosterols and oxyphytosterols can traverse the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain. As brain health problems resulting from ageing being more serious, attenuating central nervous system (CNS) disorders with active compounds in food are becoming a hot topic. Phytosterols and oxyphytosterols have been shown to implicated in cognition altering and the pathologies of several CNS disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. We will overview these findings with a focus on the contents of phytosterols and oxyphytosterols in food and their dietary intake, as well as their origins in the brain, and illustrate molecular pathways through which they affect brain health, in terms of inflammation, cholesterol homeostasis, oxidative stress, and mitochondria function. The existing scientific gaps of phytosterols and oxyphytosterols to brain health in knowledge are also discussed, highlighting research directions in the future.

In vitro effect of vanadyl sulfate on cultured primary astrocytes: cell viability and oxidative stress markers

Exposure to vanadium has been associated with deleterious effects on the central nervous system in animals and humans. Although vanadium-derived pro-oxidant species were reported to be involved in vanadium-mediated neurotoxicity, the ability of this metal to induce oxidative stress markers in glial cells remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) by mouse primary astrocytes after treatment with vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄ ) at concentrations of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 μM. The resazurin assay revealed that treatment with VOSO₄ for 24 and 48 h at concentrations of 50 and 100 μM, respectively, or higher substantially induced astrocytic cytotoxicity. Intracellular ROS increased after 6-h exposure to the lowest concentration tested (20 μM VOSO₄ ) and tended to intensify after 24- and 48-h treatments reaching significant values for 20 and 500 μM VOSO₄ . In turn, NO production in the examined cells was elevated after exposure to all concentrations at the 6-, 24-, and 48-h incubation periods. Our study demonstrated the ability of VOSO₄ to induce H₂ O₂ generation in cell-free DMEM/F12 medium. The H₂ O₂ levels were in the micromolar range (up to 5 μM) and were detected mostly during the first few minutes after VOSO₄ addition, suggesting that the generated H₂ O₂ could not induce toxic effects on the cells. Taken together, these results show VOSO₄ induced cytotoxicity in primary astrocyte cells, which may have resulted from vanadyl-stimulated intracellular ROS and NO generation in these cells.

Protective Effects of Dietary Antioxidants against Vanadium-Induced Toxicity: A Review

Vanadium (V) in its inorganic forms is a toxic metal and a potent environmental and occupational pollutant and has been reported to induce toxic effects in animals and people. In vivo and in vitro data show that high levels of reactive oxygen species are often implicated in vanadium deleterious effects. Since many dietary (exogenous) antioxidants are known to upregulate the intrinsic antioxidant system and ameliorate oxidative stress-related disorders, this review evaluates their effectiveness in the treatment of vanadium-induced toxicity. Collected data, mostly from animal studies, suggest that dietary antioxidants including ascorbic acid, vitamin E, polyphenols, phytosterols, and extracts from medicinal plants can bring a beneficial effect in vanadium toxicity. These findings show potential preventive effects of dietary antioxidants on vanadium-induced oxidative stress, DNA damage, neurotoxicity, testicular toxicity, and kidney damage. The relevant mechanistic insights of these events are discussed. In summary, the results of studies on the role of dietary antioxidants in vanadium toxicology appear encouraging enough to merit further investigations.

Neuroprotection by luteolin and gallic acid against cobalt chloride-induced behavioural, morphological and neurochemical alterations in Wistar rats

Cobalt (Co) intoxication arising from occupational exposures and ion release from metal implants has been associated with neurological alterations such as cognitive decline, incoordination and depression. The present study evaluated the mechanisms of neuro-protection exerted by Luteolin (Lut; 100 mg/kg) and Gallic acid (GA; 120 mg/kg) in Wistar rats exposed to cobalt chloride (CoCl₂) at 150 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days. Results indicate that CoCl₂ induced neuro-behavioural deficits specifically by decreasing exploratory activities of CoCl₂-exposed rats, increased anxiety, as well as significant reduction in hanging latency. Co-treatment with Lut or GA, however, restored these parameters to values near those of normal controls. Moreover, Lut and GA prevented CoCl₂-induced increases in hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in the brain, while also restoring the activities of acetylcholinesterase, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). In addition, Lut and GA produced significant reversal of CoCl_2-induced elevation in levels of serum Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β) and Tumor necrosis factor (TNFα). Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry revealed increased astrocytic expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), with intense calbindin (CB) D-28k staining and pronounced dendrites in the Purkinje cells. In contrast, the CoCl₂ group was characterized by decreased number of neurons expressing CB and dendritic loss. Taken together, mechanisms of luteolin and/or gallic acid protection against Co toxicity involved restoration of Ca²⁺ homeostasis, acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as inhibition of lipid peroxidation in the brain.

Βeta-sitosterol enhances motor coordination, attenuates memory loss and demyelination in a vanadium-induced model of experimental neurotoxicity

Environmental discharge of vanadium causes cognitive and behavioral impairments in humans and animals via production of reactive oxygen species leading to lipid peroxidation and alteration in antioxidant defence system. The current study was carried out to investigate the cognitive-enhancing ability of β-sitosterol in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity. Forty eight mice were randomly assigned into 4 groups (A-D) with the following treatments: group A; distilled water, B; α-tocopherol + sodium metavanadate (NaO₃V), C; β-sitosterol + NaO₃V and D; only NaO₃V. NaO₃V was administered intraperitoneally while other treatments were administered through gavage for 7 consecutive days. Neurobehavioral parameters measuring cognition, locomotion, anxiety and grip strength were evaluated at day 8. Following sacrifice, brain levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, malonaldehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) were measured. Immunohistochemical expression of Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) in the brain was also investigated. The results showed that deficits in spatial learning, locomotor efficiency, and motor coordination, induced by acute vanadium neurotoxicity were mitigated by beta-sitosterol. Significantly (α ≤ 0.05) decreased in vivo antioxidant enzyme activities, increased brain levels of MDA and H₂O₂, structural damage to myelin sheaths and decreased expression of MBP were also observed in the NaO₃V group (D), however, co-administration of β-sitosterol reduced these pathologic features. It is concluded that β-sitosterol alleviates vanadium-induced neurotoxicity by enhancing cognition and improving motor co-ordination via its antioxidant and myelo-protective activities.

Pharmacological effects of medicinal components of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC

Atractylodes lancea Thunb. DC. (AL) has a long history as one of the important herbs used in East Asia. This review is on the purpose of providing a comprehensive summary of the pharmacological effects of AL and its extractions. The publication from PubMed, ScienceDirect, Springer, and Wiley database was collected and summarized. The potential application of AL on the disease could be attributed to its pharmacological properties such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and other essential effects. Hence, this review aims at providing evidence of the pharmacological activities of AL as one of natural products used in clinical trial.

Sodium metavanadate induced cognitive decline, behavioral impairments, oxidative stress and down regulation of myelin basic protein in mice hippocampus: Ameliorative roles of β-spinasterol, and stigmasterol

INTRODUCTION

Exposures to toxic levels of vanadium and soluble vanadium compounds cause behavioral impairments and neurodegeneration via free radical production. Consequently, natural antioxidant sources have been explored for effective and cheap remedy following toxicity. Grewia carpinifolia has been shown to improve behavioral impairments in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity, however, the active compounds implicated remains unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate ameliorative effects of bioactive compounds from G. carpinifolia on memory and behavioral impairments in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity.

METHODS

Sixty BALB/c mice were equally divided into five groups (A-E). A (control); administered distilled water, B (standard); administered α-tocopherol (500 mg/kg) every 72 hr orally with daily dose of sodium metavanadate (3 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, test groups C, and D; received single oral dose of 100 μg β-spinasterol or stigmasterol (bioactive compounds from G. carpinifolia), respectively, along with sodium metavanadate and the model group E, received sodium metavanadate only for seven consecutive days. Memory, locomotion and muscular strength were accessed using Morris water maze, Open field and hanging wire tests. In vivo antioxidant and neuroprotective activities were evaluated by measuring catalase, superoxide dismutase, MDA, H₂ O₂ , and myelin basic protein (MBP) expression in the hippocampus.

RESULTS

In Morris water maze, stigmasterol significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased escape latency and increased swimming time in target quadrant (28.01 ± 0.02; 98.24 ± 17.38 s), respectively, better than α-tocopherol (52.43 ± 13.25; 80.32 ± 15.21) and β-spinasterol (42.09 ± 14.27; 70.91 ± 19.24) in sodium metavanadate-induced memory loss (112.31 ± 9.35; 42.35 ± 11.05). β-Spinasterol and stigmasterol significantly increased exploration and latency in open field and hanging wire tests respectively. Stigmasterol also increased activities of antioxidant enzymes, decreased oxidative stress markers and lipid peroxidation in mice hippocampal homogenates, and increased MBP expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study indicate a potential for stigmasterol, a bioactive compound from G. carpinifolia in improving cognitive decline, motor coordination, and ameliorating oxidative stress in vanadium-induced neurotoxicity.