Pretreatment by evodiamine is neuroprotective in cerebral ischemia: up-regulated pAkt, pGSK3β, down-regulated NF-κB expression, and ameliorated BBB permeability

Effects of Evodiamine on Behavior and Hippocampal Neurons through Inhibition of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Modulation of the Renin Angiotensin Pathway in a Mouse Model of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a persistent psychiatric condition that arises following exposure to traumatic events such as warfare, natural disasters, or other catastrophic incidents, typically characterized by heightened anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cognitive dysfunction. In this study, animals subjected to single prolonged stress (SPS) were administered evodiamine (EVO) and compared to a positive control group receiving sertraline. The animals were then assessed for alterations in anxiety, depression, and cognitive function. Histological analysis was conducted to examine neuronal changes in the hippocampus. In order to predict the core targets and related mechanisms of evodiamine intervention in PTSD, network pharmacology was used. The metabolic markers pre- and post-drug administration were identified using nontargeted serum metabolomics techniques, and the intersecting Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways were screened. Finally, the core targets were validated through molecular docking, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and immunofluorescence staining to confirm the anti-PTSD effects and mechanisms of these targets. As well as improving cognitive impairment, evodiamine reversed anxiety- and depression-like behaviors. It also inhibited the reduction in the number of hippocampal neuronal cells and Nissl bodies in SPS mice inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) levels in the hippocampus of SPS mice, and modulated the renin angiotensin pathway and its associated serum metabolites in brain tissue. Evodiamine shows promise as a potential candidate for alleviating the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Evodiamine and its nano-based approaches for enhanced cancer therapy: recent advances and challenges

Evodiamine is a bioactive alkaloid extracted from the Evodia rutaecarpa plant. It has various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-obesity, anti-neurodegenerative, anti-depressant, and cardiac protective properties. Evodiamine demonstrates potent anti-cancer activity by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Despite the health-promoting properties of evodiamine, its clinical use is hindered by low water solubility, poor bioavailability, and toxicity. Thus, there is a need to develop alternative drug delivery systems for evodiamine to enhance its solubility, permeability, and stability, as well as to facilitate targeted, prolonged, and controlled drug release. Nanocarriers can increase the therapeutic potential of evodiamine in cancer therapy while reducing adverse side effects. To date, numerous attempts have been made through the development of smart nanocarriers to overcome the drawbacks of evodiamine. This review focuses on the pharmacological applications, anti-cancer mechanisms, and limitations of evodiamine. Various nanocarriers, including lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, cyclodextrins, and so forth, have been discussed extensively for evodiamine delivery. Nano-drug delivery systems could increase the solubility, bioavailability, stability, and therapeutic efficacy of evodiamine. This review aims to present a comprehensive and critical evaluation of several nano-formulations of evodiamine for cancer therapy. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Therapeutic Effects of the major alkaloid constituents of Evodia rutaecarpa in Alzheimer's disease

Since the report of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in 1907, it has garnered widespread attention due to its intricate pathogenic mechanisms, significant impact on patients' lives, and the substantial burden it places on society. Presently, effective treatments for AD remain elusive. Recent pharmacological studies on the traditional East Asian herb, Evodia rutaecarpa, have revealed that the bioactive alkaloid components within it can ameliorate AD-related cognitive impairments and neurological damage through various pathways, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities. Consequently, this article provides an overview of the pharmacological effects and research status of the four main alkaloid components found in Evodia concerning AD. We hope this article will serve as a valuable reference for experimental and clinical research on the use of Evodia in AD prevention and treatment.

The role and therapeutic potential of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in ischemic stroke

Stroke is a prevalent cerebrovascular condition with a global impact, causing significant rates of illness and death. Despite extensive research, the available treatment options for stroke remain restricted. Hence, it is crucial to gain a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with the onset and advancement of stroke in order to establish a theoretical foundation for novel preventive and therapeutic approaches. NF-κB, also known as nuclear factor κB, is a transcription factor responsible for controlling the expression of numerous genes and plays a crucial role in diverse physiological processes. NF-κB is triggered and regulates neuroinflammation and other processes after stroke, promoting the generation of cytokine storms and contributing to the advancement of ischemic stroke (IS). Therefore, NF-κB could potentially play a vital role in stroke by regulating diverse pathophysiological processes. This review provides an overview of the functions of NF-κB in stroke and its governing mechanisms. In addition, our attention is directed towards various potential therapies that aim to inhibit the NF-κB signaling pathway in order to offer valuable insights for the advancement of innovative treatment approaches for stroke.

The study of therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa combined treatment in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Schisandra chinensis and Evodia rutaecarpa are traditional Chinese herbs used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the combined effects of SC and ER on learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease rat model and their underlying mechanisms.

Methods

High-performance liquid chromatography was employed to analyze the primary active constituents of Schisandra and Evodia. The effects of the combined treatment of Schisandra and Evodia on learning and memory in an Alzheimer's disease rat model were evaluated through Morris water maze and Hematoxylin-Eosin staining experiments. Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to investigate the impact of S-E on Aβ1-42 and P-tau proteins. Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction were utilized to quantify the expression of pivotal proteins and genes within the BDNF/TRKB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau pathways.

Results

The treatment group exhibited significant neuroprotective effects, ameliorating learning and memory impairments in the Alzheimer's disease rat model. The treatment regimen modulated the activity of the BDNF/TRKB/CREB and GSK-3β/Tau pathways by influencing the expression of relevant genes, thereby reducing the generation of Aβ1-42 and P-Tau proteins and inhibiting the deposition of senile plaques. Furthermore, among the three treatment groups, the combined treatment demonstrated notably superior therapeutic effects on Alzheimer's disease compared to the single-drug treatment groups.

Folate Functionalized and Evodiamine-Loaded Pluronic Nanomicelles for Augmented Cervical Cancer Cell Killing

Evodiamine (Evo) is a natural, biologically active plant alkaloid with wide range of pharmacological activities. In the present study Evo-loaded folate-conjugated Pluronic F108 nano-micelles (ENM) is synthesized to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Evo against cervical cancer. ENM are synthesized, physicochemically characterized and in vitro anticancer activity is performed. The study demonstrates that ENM have nanoscale size (50.33 ± 3.09 nm), monodispersity of 0.122 ± 0.072, with high drug encapsulation efficiency (71.30 ± 3.76%) and controlled drug release at the tumor microenvironment. ENM showed dose-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxicity against HeLa human cervical cancer cells. The results of in vitro anticancer studies demonstrated that ENM have significant anticancer effects and greatly induce apoptosis as compared to pure Evo. The cellular uptake study suggests that increased anticancer activity of ENM is due to the improved intracellular delivery of Evo through overexpressed folate receptors. Overall, the designed ENM can be a potential targeted delivery system for hydrophobic anticancer bioactive compound like Evo.

Targeting Cell Signaling Pathways in Lung Cancer by Bioactive Phytocompounds

Lung cancer is a heterogeneous group of malignancies with high incidence worldwide. It is the most frequently occurring cancer in men and the second most common in women. Due to its frequent diagnosis and variable response to treatment, lung cancer was reported as the top cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2020. Many aberrant signaling cascades are implicated in the pathogenesis of lung cancer, including those involved in apoptosis (B cell lymphoma protein, Bcl-2-associated X protein, first apoptosis signal ligand), growth inhibition (tumor suppressor protein or gene and serine/threonine kinase 11), and growth promotion (epidermal growth factor receptor/proto-oncogenes/phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase). Accordingly, these pathways and their signaling molecules have become promising targets for chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agents. Recent research provides compelling evidence for the use of plant-based compounds, known collectively as phytochemicals, as anticancer agents. This review discusses major contributing signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of lung cancer, as well as currently available treatments and prospective drug candidates. The anticancer potential of naturally occurring bioactive compounds in the context of lung cancer is also discussed, with critical analysis of their mechanistic actions presented by preclinical and clinical studies.

Better Bioactivity, Cerebral Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics of Natural Medicine and Its Advanced Version

Currently, many people are afflicted by cerebral diseases that cause dysfunction in the brain and perturb normal daily life of people. Cerebral diseases are greatly affected by cerebral metabolism, including the anabolism and catabolism of neurotransmitters, hormones, neurotrophic molecules and other brain-specific chemicals. Natural medicines (NMs) have the advantages of low cost and low toxicity. NMs are potential treatments for cerebral diseases due to their ability to regulate cerebral metabolism. However, most NMs have low bioavailability due to their low solubility/permeability. The study is to summarize the better bioactivity, cerebral metabolism and pharmacokinetics of NMs and its advanced version. This study sums up research articles on the NMs to treat brain diseases. NMs affect cerebral metabolism and the related mechanisms are revealed. Nanotechnologies are applied to deliver NMs. Appropriate delivery systems (exosomes, nanoparticles, liposomes, lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, protein conjugation and nanosuspensions, etc.) provide better pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics of NMs. The structure-based metabolic reactions and enzyme-modulated catalytic reactions related to advanced versions of NMs alter the pharmacological activities of NMs.

Evodiamine Relieve LPS-Induced Mastitis by Inhibiting AKT/NF-κB p65 and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Evodiamine, an alkaloid component in the fruit of Evodia, has been shown to have biological functions such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. But whether evodiamine plays an improvement role on mastitis has not been studied. To investigate the effect and mechanism of evodiamine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mastitis was the purpose of this study. In animal experiments, the mouse mastitis model was established by injecting LPS into the canals of the mammary gland. The results showed that evodiamine could significantly relieve the pathological injury of breast tissue and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibit the activation of inflammation-related pathways such as AKT, NF-κB p65, ERK1/2, p38, and JNK. In cell experiments, the mouse mammary epithelial cells (mMECs) were incubated with evodiamine for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS. Next, pro-inflammatory mediators and inflammation-related signal pathways were detected. As expected, our results showed that evodiamine notably ameliorated the inflammatory reaction and inhibit the activation of related signaling pathways of mMECs. All the results suggested that evodiamine inhibited inflammation by inhibiting the phosphorylation of AKT, NF-κBp65, ERK1/2, p38, and JNK thus the LPS-induced mastitis was ameliorated. These findings suggest that evodiamine maybe a potential drug for mastitis because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Neuritin improves the neurological functional recovery after experimental intracerebral hemorrhage in mice

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) being the most lethal subtype. Neuritin (Nrn) is a neurotropic factor that has been reported to have neuroprotective effects in acute brain and spinal cord injury. However, whether Nrn has a protective role in ICH has not been investigated. In this study, ICH was induced in C57BL/6 J mice by injection of collagenase VII, while the overexpression of Nrn in the striatum was induced by an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vector. We found that compared with GFP-ICH mice, Nrn-ICH mice showed improved performance in the corner, cylinder and forelimb tests after ICH, and showed less weight loss and more rapid weight recovery. Overexpression of Nrn reduced brain lesions, edema, neuronal death and white matter and synaptic integrity dysfunction caused by ICH. Western blot results showed that phosphorylated PERK and ATF4 were significantly inhibited, while phosphorylation of Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin was increased in the Nrn-ICH group, compared with the GFP-ICH group. Whole cell recording from motor neurons indicated that overexpression of Nrn reversed the decrease of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and action potential frequencies induced by ICH. These data show that Nrn improves neurological deficits in mice with ICH by reducing brain lesions and edema, inhibiting neuronal death, and possibly by increasing neuronal connections.

Neuroprotective Studies of Evodiamine in an Okadaic Acid-Induced Neurotoxicity

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease, and it manifests as progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. However, there are no effective therapies for AD, which is an urgent problem to solve. Evodiamine, one of the main bioactive ingredients of Evodia rutaecarpa, has been reported to ameliorate blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability and improve cognitive impairment in ischemia and AD mouse models. However, whether evodiamine alleviates tauopathy remains unclear. This study aimed to examine whether evodiamine ameliorates tau phosphorylation and cognitive deficits in AD models. Methods: A protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor, okadaic acid (OA), was used to induce tau phosphorylation to mimic AD-like models in neuronal cells. Protein expression and cell apoptosis were detected using Western blotting and flow cytometry, respectively. Spatial memory/cognition was assessed using water maze, passive avoidance tests, and magnetic resonance imaging assay in OA-induced mice models, and brain slices were evaluated further by immunohistochemistry. Results: The results showed that evodiamine significantly reduced the expression of phosphor-tau, and further decreased tau aggregation and neuronal cell death in response to OA treatment. This inhibition was found to be via the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β, cyclin-dependent kinase 5, and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. In vivo results indicated that evodiamine treatment ameliorated learning and memory impairments in mice, whereas Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis of the mouse brain also confirmed the neuroprotective effects of evodiamine. Conclusions: Evodiamine can decrease the neurotoxicity of tau aggregation and exhibit a neuroprotective effect. Our results demonstrate that evodiamine has a therapeutic potential for AD treatment.

Anti-Inflammatory and Tau Phosphorylation-Inhibitory Effects of Eupatin

Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is among the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, manifests as increasing memory loss and cognitive decline. Tau phosphorylation and aggregation are strongly linked to neurodegeneration, as well as associated with chronic neuroinflammatory processes. The anti-inflammation effects of natural products have led to wide recognition of their potential for use in treating and preventing AD. This study investigated whether eupatin, a polymethoxyflavonoid found in Artemisia species, has inhibitory effects on neuroinflammation and tau phosphorylation. We treated mouse macrophages and microglia cells with lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) to activate inflammatory signals, and we treated neuronal cells with a protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor, okadaic acid (OA), or transfection with pRK5-EGFP-Tau P301L plasmid to induce tau phosphorylation. The results indicated that eupatin significantly reduced the LPS-induced protein expression and phosphorylation of p65 and inducible nitric oxide synthase as well as downstream products interleukin 6 and nitrite, respectively. Furthermore, eupatin markedly inhibited the expression of phospho-tau in response to OA treatment and plasmid transfection. We discovered that this inhibition was achieved through the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and molecular docking results suggested that eupatin can sufficiently bind to the GSK3β active site. Our results demonstrate that eupatin has neuroprotective effects, making it suitable for AD treatment.

Evodiamine: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity, pharmacokinetics and preparation researches

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Evodia rutaecarpa, a well-known herb medicine in China, is extensively applied in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The plant has the effects of dispersing cold and relieving pain, arresting vomiting, and helping Yang and stopping diarrhea. Modern research demonstrates that evodiamine, the main component of Evodia rutaecarpa, is the material basis for its efficacy.

AIMS OF THE REVIEW

This paper is primarily addressed to summarize the current studies on evodiamine. The progress in research on the pharmacology, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, preparation researches and clinical application are reviewed. Moreover, outlooks and directions for possible future studies concerning it are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information of this systematic review was conducted with resources of multiple literature databases including PubMed, Google scholar, Web of Science and Wiley Online Library and so on, with employing a combination of keywords including "pharmacology", "toxicology", "pharmacokinetics" and "clinical application", etc. RESULTS: As the main component of Evodia rutaecarpa, evodiamine shows considerable pharmacological activities, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, heart protection and metabolic disease regulation. However, it is also found that it has significant hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, thereby it should be monitored in clinical. In addition, available data demonstrate that the evodiamine has a needy solubility in aqueous medium. Scientific and reasonable pharmaceutical strategies should be introduced to improve the above defects. Meanwhile, more efforts should be made to develop novel efficient and low toxic derivatives.

CONCLUSIONS

This review summarizes the results from current studies of evodiamine, which is one of the valuable medicinal ingredients from Evodia rutaecarpa. With the assistance of relevant pharmacological investigation, some conventional application and problems in pharmaceutical field have been researched in recent years. In addition, unresolved issues include toxic mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, novel pharmaceutical researches and relationship between residues and intestinal environment, which are still being explored and excavate before achieving integration into clinical practice.

Rutaecarpine Ameliorated High Sucrose-Induced Alzheimer's Disease Like Pathological and Cognitive Impairments in Mice

High sucrose can induce tau hyperphosphorylation and cognitive dysfunction/memory impairment as observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rutaecarpine, a specific (transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 [TRPV1]) agonist, is neuroprotective against high sucrose diet-induced impairment, but detailed mechanisms are still elusive. In this study, we investigated whether rutaecarpine mitigates high sucrose diet-induced pathological alterations and cognitive in AD-like mice. Mice were administered fodder containing 0.01% rutaecarpine and 20% sucrose solution. Our results showed that rutaecarpine significantly attenuated high sucrose diet-induced spatial memory impairment and enhanced synaptic plasticity; rutaecarpine prevented high sucrose diet-induced tau hyperphosphorylation by decreasing glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity; activation of GSK-3β reversed the protective effect of rutaecarpine on learning and memory deficits, synaptic plasticity, and tau hyperphosphorylation induced by high-glucose diet significantly, suggesting that GSK-3β activation is required for high glucose-induced tau hyperphosphorylation. These results demonstrated that rutaecarpine can mitigate high sucrose diet-induced hyperphosphorylation of AD-associated tau protein and cognitive impairment by inhibiting GSK-3β, which supported that dietary rutaecarpine might have a promising use for therapeutic intervention of AD.

Hypercapnia exacerbates the disruption of the blood‑brain barrier by inducing interleukin‑1β overproduction in the blood of hypoxemic adult rats

Refractory hypoxemia is the main symptom of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Low tidal volume ventilation is routinely applied in clinical practice to correct hypoxemia, which aims to prevent ventilator‑induced lung injury. However, this ventilation strategy inevitably leads to hypercapnia. Our previous study demonstrated that hypercapnia aggravated cognitive impairment in hypoxemic rats; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether hypercapnia exacerbates the blood‑brain barrier (BBB) disruption through inducing interleukin (IL)‑1β overproduction in the blood of hypoxemic rats. The BBB permeability in a rat model of hypercapnia/hypoxemia was evaluated. The levels of IL‑1β in the blood of rats and human whole‑blood cultures were assessed. The expression of IL‑1 receptor 1 (IL‑1R1), phosphorylated IL‑1R1‑associated kinase (p‑IRAK‑1) and tight junctional proteins in cerebral vascular endothelial cells was examined in vitro and in vivo. In addition, IL‑1Ra, an IL‑1 receptor antagonist, was used to determine whether hypercapnia affects tight junctional protein expression in hypoxic cerebral vascular endothelial cells through inducing IL‑1β overproduction. It was observed that hypercapnia alone did not disrupt the BBB, but aggravated the damage to the BBB integrity in hypoxemic rats. Hypercapnia increased IL‑1β expression in the blood of hypoxemic rats as well as in hypoxic human whole‑blood cultures. IL‑1R1 and p‑IRAK‑1 expression was increased, while that of tight junctional proteins was reduced by hypercapnia in hypoxemic cerebral vascular endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, the expression of tight junctional proteins was markedly increased following treatment with IL‑1Ra. These results suggest that hypercapnia‑induced IL‑1β overproduction in the hypoxemic blood may decrease tight junctional protein expression in cerebrovascular endothelial cells via the IL‑1R1/p‑IRAK‑1 pathway, further disrupting BBB integrity, and eventually resulting in increased BBB permeability.

The Neurovascular Unit: Effects of Brain Insults During the Perinatal Period

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a relatively recent concept in neuroscience that broadly describes the relationship between brain cells and their blood vessels. The NVU incorporates cellular and extracellular components involved in regulating cerebral blood flow and blood-brain barrier function. The NVU within the adult brain has attracted strong research interest and its structure and function is well described, however, the NVU in the developing brain over the fetal and neonatal period remains much less well known. One area of particular interest in perinatal brain development is the impact of known neuropathological insults on the NVU. The aim of this review is to synthesize existing literature to describe structure and function of the NVU in the developing brain, with a particular emphasis on exploring the effects of perinatal insults. Accordingly, a brief overview of NVU components and function is provided, before discussion of NVU development and how this may be affected by perinatal pathologies. We have focused this discussion around three common perinatal insults: prematurity, acute hypoxia, and chronic hypoxia. A greater understanding of processes affecting the NVU in the perinatal period may enable application of targeted therapies, as well as providing a useful basis for research as it expands further into this area.

WZY-321, a novel evodiamine analog, inhibits glioma cell growth in an autophagy-associated manner

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive types of brain tumor. The median survival rate of patients with glioblastoma (World Health Organization grade IV) is <15 months. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for the development of novel and efficient therapeutic agents against glioma. In previous studies, WZY-321 (10-hydroxy-1-methyl-8,13b-dihydro-5H,7H-benzo[e]benzofuro[2',3':3,4]pyrido[2,1-b][1,3]oxazin-5-one), a novel evodiamine (Evo) analog, was reported to exhibit enhanced pharmacological properties and improved cytotoxicity against a number of human cancer cell lines compared with Evo. In the current study, the anti-proliferative effect of WZY-321 on SHG-44 and SWO-38 glioma cells was further studied, and its mechanism of action investigated. The results indicated that WZY-321 inhibited the proliferation of SHG-44 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner by enhancing cellular apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest at the G2-M phase. Treatment of glioma cells with WZY-321 concomitantly increased the expression levels of microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3α and Beclin1, indicating enhanced autophagy. Overall, the results of the present study revealed the anti-proliferative potential of WZY-321 in glioma cells, thus providing a possible autophagy-based therapeutic strategy for the treatment of glioblastoma.

Evodiamine prevents dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine experimental colitis via the regulation of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome

Evodiamine (EVO), an extraction from the traditional Chinese medicine Evodia rutaecarpa, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and other pharmacological activities. However, the effectiveness of EVO to relieve dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been evaluated. In this study, the protective effects and mechanisms of EVO on DSS-induced UC mice were investigated. The results indicated that treatment with EVO ameliorated DSS-induced UC mice body weight loss, disease activity index (DAI), colon length shortening, colonic pathological damage, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. The production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 was also significantly inhibited by EVO. Further mechanistic results showed that EVO restrained the inflammation by regulating NF-κB signal and NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, results also showed that EVO contributed to the tight junction (TJ) architecture integrity by modulating the expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and occludin during colitis. Surprisingly, treatment with EVO reduced the concentration of plasmatic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and re-balanced the levels of Escherichia coli and Lactobacillus. These findings suggested that EVO may have a potential protective effect on DSS-induced colitis and may be useful for the prevention and treatment of UC.

Evodiamine inhibits RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis and prevents ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is a progressive bone disease characterized by the over‐production and activation of osteoclasts in elderly women. In our study, we investigated the anti‐osteoclastogenic effect of evodiamine (EVO) in vivo and in vitro, as well as the underlying mechanism. By using an in vitro bone marrow macrophage (BMM)‐derived osteoclast culture system, we found that EVO inhibited osteoclast formation, hydroxyapatite resorption and receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclast marker gene and protein expression. Mechanistically, we found that EVO inhibited the degradation and RANKL‐induced transcriptional activity of IκBα. RANKL‐induced Ca²⁺ oscillations were also abrogated by EVO. In vivo, an ovariectomized (OVX) mouse model was established to mimic PMO, and OVX mice received oral administration of either EVO (10 mg/kg) or saline every other day. We found that EVO can attenuate bone loss in OVX mice by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, our findings suggest that EVO suppresses RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis through NF‐κB and calcium signalling pathways and has potential value as a therapeutic agent for PMO.

Evodiamine Reduces Caffeine-Induced Sleep Disturbances and Excitation in Mice

Worldwide, caffeine is among the most commonly used stimulatory substances. Unfortunately, significant caffeine consumption is associated with several adverse effects, ranging from sleep disturbances (including insomnia) to cardiovascular problems. This study investigates whether treatment with the Evodia rutaecarpa aqueous extract (ERAE) from berries and its major molecular component, evodiamine, can reduce the adverse caffeine-induced sleep-related and excitation effects. We combined measurements from the pentobarbital-induced sleep test, the open field test, and the locomotor activity test in mice that had been dosed with caffeine. We found that ERAE and evodiamine administration reduced the degree of caffeine-induced sleep disruption during the sleep test. Additionally, we found that evodiamine significantly inhibits caffeine-induced excitation during the open field test, as well as decreasing hyperlocomotion in the locomotor activity test. Additional in vitro experiments showed that caffeine administration decreased the expression of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)_A receptor subunits in the mouse hypothalamus. However, evodiamine treatment significantly reversed this expression reduction. Taken together, our results demonstrate that ERAE and its major compound, evodiamine, provide an excellent candidate for the treatment or prevention of caffeine-induced sleep disturbances and excitatory states, and that the mechanism of these beneficial effects acts, at least in part, through the GABA_A-ergic system.

Evodiamine inhibits gastrointestinal motility via CCK and CCK1 receptor in water-avoidence stress rat model

AIM

Evodiamine (EVO) has been reported to play an important role in regulating gastrointestinal motility, but the evidence is insufficient, and the mechanism remains unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible role of EVO in stress-induced colonic hypermotility and the potential mechanisms via both in vivo and in vitro investigations.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to water avoidance stress (WAS) for 1 h or sham WAS daily for 10 consecutive days to construct the rat model. The colonic contractile activity was studied in an organ bath system. The serum CCK-8 level was detected using an enzyme immunoassay kit, and gastrointestinal transit was detected by intragastric administration of India ink.

RESULTS

WAS induced gastrointestinal hypermotility in male rats. EVO significantly inhibited the contractile activity of colonic muscle strips; this effect was not blocked by TTX and the CCK₁ receptor antagonist devazepide. Chronic WAS induced a slight but nonsignificant increase in the serum CCK-8 level, while EVO elevated the serum CCK-8 level in the WAS rats in a dose-dependent manner. Exogenous CCK-8 significantly inhibited the contractile activity of the colonic muscle strips; this effect was not blocked by TTX but was completely blocked by devazepide. Both EVO and CCK-8 inhibited gastrointestinal transit, and the effect of EVO could be partially blocked by devazepide.

SIGNIFICANCE

EVO can reverse stress-induced gastrointestinal hypermotility. This effect may partially occur as a result of promoting the release of CCK and then activating the CCK₁ receptor instead of directly activating the CCK₁ receptor.

Mesencephalic Astrocyte-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (MANF) Protects Against Neuronal Apoptosis via Activation of Akt/MDM2/p53 Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Neuronal apoptosis plays key roles in secondary brain injury caused by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). This study first reported the role of mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) in alleviating secondary brain injury through anti-apoptosis in rat model of ICH. The recombinant human-MANF (rh-MANF) and selective Akt inhibitor MK2206 was administrated intracerebroventricularly 1 h after ICH. Brain water content, behavioral assessment, BBB (blood brain barrier) leakage was evaluated 24 h after the induction of ICH. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression level of target proteins (MANF, mouse 3T3 cell double-minute 2 (MDM2), P53, Akt, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was applied to evaluate the neuronal cell death. Besides, whether MANF was expressed in neurons was verified with double immunofluorescence staining. The results suggested that the level of MANF, and its downstream proteins, Akt, MDM2 was upregulated and reached peak at 24 h after ICH. MANF was mainly expressed in neurons. The administration of rh-MANF could significantly increase the level of p-Akt, p-MDM2, Bcl/Bax ratio, but reduce the expression of p53, caspase-3 and neuronal death, thus ameliorate the neurological functions at 24 h after ICH. However, these effects of rh-MANF could be obviously reversed by MK2206. MANF could exert its neuronal anti-apoptotic effects via Akt/MDM2/P53 pathways. Therefore, MANF could be a valuable drug target in the treatment of ICH.

Protective effects of evodiamine in experimental paradigm of Alzheimer's disease

Evodiamine, a major component of Evodia rutaecarpa, has been reported to possess various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and neuroprotective effects. Our previous study has shown that the potential effects of evodiamine on the learning and memory impairments in the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate neuroprotective mechanism and therapeutic potential of evodiamine against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced experimental sporadic Alzheimer's disease in mice. STZ was injected twice intracerebroventrically (3 mg/kg ICV) on alternate days (day 1 and day 3) in mice. Daily oral administration with evodiamine (50 or 100 mg/kg per day) starting from the first dose of STZ for 21 days showed an improvement in STZ induced cognitive deficits as assessed by novel object recognition and Morris water maze test. Evodiamine significantly decreased STZ induced elevation in acetylcholinesterase activity and malondialdehyde level, and significantly increased STZ induced reduction in glutathione activities and superoxide dismutase activities in the hippocampus compared to control. Furthermore, evodiamine inhibited significantly glial cell activation and neuroinflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels) in the hippocampus. Moreover, evodiamine increased the activity of AKT/GSK-3β signalling pathway and inhibited the activity of nuclear factor κB. In summary, our study suggests that evodiamine can be a novel therapeutic agent for the management of sporadic AD.

Radiosynthesis and in Vivo Evaluation of [11C]A1070722, a High Affinity GSK-3 PET Tracer in Primate Brain

Dysfunction of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) is implicated in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, diabetes, pain, and cancer. A radiotracer for functional positron emission tomography (PET) imaging could be used to study the kinase in brain disorders and to facilitate the development of small molecule inhibitors of GSK-3 for treatment. At present, there is no target-specific or validated PET tracer available for the in vivo monitoring of GSK-3. We radiolabeled the small molecule inhibitor [11C]1-(7-methoxy- quinolin-4-yl)-3-(6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl)urea ([11C]A1070722) with high affinity to GSK-3 (Ki = 0.6 nM) in excellent radiochemical yield. PET imaging experiments in anesthetized vervet/African green monkey exhibited that [11C]A1070722 penetrated the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and accumulated in brain regions, with highest radioactivity binding in frontal cortex followed by parietal cortex and anterior cingulate, and with the lowest bindings found in caudate, putamen, and thalamus, similarly to the known distribution of GSK-3 in human brain. Our studies suggest that [11C]A1070722 can be a potential PET radiotracer for the in vivo quantification of GSK-3 in brain.

GSK-3Beta-Dependent Activation of GEF-H1/ROCK Signaling Promotes LPS-Induced Lung Vascular Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction and Acute Lung Injury

The bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) leads to the extensive vascular endothelial cells (EC) injury under septic conditions. Guanine nucleotide exchange factor-H1 (GEF-H1)/ROCK signaling not only involved in LPS-induced overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediator in ECs but also implicated in LPS-induced endothelial hyper-permeability. However, the mechanisms behind LPS-induced GEF-H1/ROCK signaling activation in the progress of EC injury remain incompletely understood. GEF-H1 localized on microtubules (MT) and is suppressed in its MT-bound state. MT disassembly promotes GEF-H1 release from MT and stimulates downstream ROCK-specific GEF activity. Since glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3beta) participates in regulating MT dynamics under pathologic conditions, we examined the pivotal roles for GSK-3beta in modulating LPS-induced activation of GEF-H1/ROCK, increase of vascular endothelial permeability and severity of acute lung injury (ALI). In this study, we found that LPS induced human pulmonary endothelial cell (HPMEC) monolayers disruption accompanied by increase in GSK-3beta activity, activation of GEF-H1/ROCK signaling and decrease in beta-catenin and ZO-1 expression. Inhibition of GSK-3beta reduced HPMEC monolayers hyper-permeability and GEF-H1/ROCK activity in response to LPS. GSK-3beta/GEF-H1/ROCK signaling is implicated in regulating the expression of beta-catenin and ZO-1. In vivo, GSK-3beta inhibition attenuated LPS-induced activation of GEF-H1/ROCK pathway, lung edema and subsequent ALI. These findings present a new mechanism of GSK-3beta-dependent exacerbation of lung micro-vascular hyper-permeability and escalation of ALI via activation of GEF-H1/ROCK signaling and disruption of intracellular junctional proteins under septic condition.

Evodiamine Prevents Glioma Growth, Induces Glioblastoma Cell Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest through JNK Activation

Evodiamine (EVO) is an active medicinal compound derived from the traditional herbal medicine Evodia rutaecarpa. It has been reported that evodiamine has several beneficial biological properties, including anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities of EVO against the growth of glioblastoma cells remain undefined. EVO induced significant decreases in the viability of U87 and C6 glioma cells, but not of primary astrocytes, according with the occurrence of apoptotic characteristics including DNA ladders, caspase-3 and poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein cleavage, and hypodiploid cells. The disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was detected, and it was found that the peptidyl caspase-9 inhibitor, Z-LEHD-FMK, significantly prevented glioma cells from EVO-induced apoptosis. Increased c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) protein phosphorylation by EVO was observed, and the addition of JNK inhibitors, SP600125 and JNKI inhibited the EVO-induced apoptosis was inhibited. Additionally, EVO treatment induced G2/M arrest with increased polymerized tubulin protein expression in U87 and C6 cells. Elevated expressions of the cyclin B1, p53, and phosphorylated (p)-p53 proteins were detected in EVO-treated glioma cells, and these were inhibited by JNK inhibitors. An in vivo study showed that EVO significantly reduced the growth of gliomas elicited by the subcutaneous injection of U87 cells with increases in cyclin B1, p53, and p-p53 protein expressions in tumors. An analysis of eight EVO-related chemicals showed that alkyl groups at position 14 in EVO are important for its anti-glioma effects which involve both apoptosis and G2/M arrest. Evidence is provided that supports EVO induction of apoptosis and G2/M arrest via the activation of JNK-mediated gene expression and disruption of MMP in glioblastoma cells. EVO was shown to penetrate the blood-brain barrier; EVO is therefore predicted to be a promising compound for the chemotherapy of glioblastomas and deserves further investigations.

Evodiamine attenuates TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation and endothelial to mesenchymal transition

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of evodiamine on fibroblast activation in cardiac fibroblasts and endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts were stimulated with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) to induce fibroblast activation. After co-cultured with evodiamine (5, 10 μM), the proliferation and pro-fibrotic proteins expression of cardiac fibroblasts were evaluated. HUVECs were also stimulated with TGF-β1 to induce EndMT and treated with evodiamine (5, 10 μM) at the same time. The EndMT response in the HUVECs was evaluated as well as the capacity of the transitioned endothelial cells migrating to surrounding tissue. As a result, Evodiamine-blunted TGF-β1 induced activation of cardiac fibroblast into myofibroblast as assessed by the decreased expressions of α-SMA. Furthermore, evodiamine reduced the increased protein expression of fibrosis markers in neonatal and adult rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by TGF-β1. HUVECs stimulated with TGF-β1 exhibited lower expression levels of CD31, CD34, and higher levels of α-SMA, vimentin than the control cells. This phenotype was eliminated in the HUVECs treated with both 5 and 10 μM evodiamine. Evodiamine significantly reduced the increase in migration ability that occurred in response to TGF-β1 in HUVECs. In addition, the activation of Smad2, Smad3, ERK1/2, and Akt, and the nuclear translocation of Smad4 in both cardiac fibroblasts and HUVEC were blocked by evodiamine treatment. Thus, evodiamine could prevent cardiac fibroblasts from activation into myofibroblast and protect HUVEC against EndMT. These effects may be mediated by inhibition of the TGFβ pathway in both cardiac fibroblasts and HUVECs.

Evodiamine and Its Role in Chronic Diseases

Evodiamine (EVO) is a major alkaloid compound extracted from the dry unripened fruit Evodiae fructus (Evodia rutaecarpa Benth., Rutaceae). EVO has a variety of pharmacological activities, such as anti-obesity, anti-allergenic, analgesic, anti-tumor, anti-ulcerogenic, and neuroprotective activities. EVO has varying efficacies in animal models and humans. Here, the physicochemical properties of EVO are presented, and the EVO's functions and mechanisms of action in various chronic diseases are reviewed. EVO is worth exploring in more depth in the future for its potential use in various chronic diseases.

Totarol prevents neuronal injury in vitro and ameliorates brain ischemic stroke: Potential roles of Akt activation and HO-1 induction

The natural product totarol, a phenolic diterpenoid and a major constituent isolated from the sap of Podocarpus totara, has been reported to have a potent antimicrobial activity. In this study, we determined whether totarol possessed an additional neuroprotective activity in vitro and in vivo. We found that totarol prevented glutamate- and oxygen and glucose deprivation-induced neuronal death in primary rat cerebellar granule neuronal cells and cerebral cortical neurons. Totarol increased Akt and GSK-3β phosphorylation, Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expressions and suppressed oxidative stress by increasing GSH and SOD activities. The PI3K/Akt inhibitor LY294002 prevented totarol neuroprotective effect by suppressing the totarol-induced changes in HO-1 expression and the activities of GSH and SOD. The HO-1 inhibitor ZnPPIX also prevented totarol-increased GSH and SOD activities. In a model of acute cerebral ischemic injury in Sprague-Dawley rats, produced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 2h followed by 22 h or 46 h of reperfusion, totarol significantly reduced infarct volume and improved the neurological deficit. In this model, totarol increased HO-1 expression and the activities of GSH and SOD. These observations suggest that totarol may be a novel activator of the Akt/HO-1 pathway protecting against ischemic stroke through reduction of oxidative stress.

Neuroprotective Strategies after Neonatal Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy

Neonatal hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a devastating disease that primarily causes neuronal and white matter injury and is among the leading cause of death among infants. Currently there are no well-established treatments; thus, it is important to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and elucidate complications that are creating a gap between basic science and clinical translation. In the development of neuroprotective strategies and translation of experimental results in HIE, there are many limitations and challenges to master based on an appropriate study design, drug delivery properties, dosage, and use in neonates. We will identify understudied targets after HIE, as well as neuroprotective molecules that bring hope to future treatments such as melatonin, topiramate, xenon, interferon-beta, stem cell transplantation. This review will also discuss some of the most recent trials being conducted in the clinical setting and evaluate what directions are needed in the future.

Kolaviron, a Garcinia kola biflavonoid complex, protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury: pertinent mechanistic insights from biochemical and physical evaluations in rat brain

The pathophysiology of stroke is characterized by biochemical and physical alterations in the brain. Modulation of such aberrations by therapeutic agents affords insights into their mechanism of action. Incontrovertible evidences that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of neurologic disorders have brought antioxidative compounds, especially plant phytochemicals, under increasing focus as potential remedies for the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases. Kolaviron, a biflavonoid complex isolated from Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) was evaluated for neuroprotectivity in brains of male Wistar rats submitted to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion-induced global ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R). Animals were divided into six groups: sham treated, vehicle (I/R), 50 mg/kg kolaviron + I/R, 100 mg/kg kolaviron + I/R, 200 mg/kg kolaviron + I/R and quercetin (20 mg/kg i.p.) + I/R. The common carotid arteries were occluded for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Relative brain weight and brain water content were determined and oxidative stress and neurochemical markers were also evaluated. I/R caused significant decreases in glutathione level and the activities of enzymic antioxidants, the sodium pump and acetylcholinesterase while significant increases were recorded in relative brain weight, brain water content, lipid peroxidation and the activities of glutamine synthetase and myeloperoxidase. There was a remarkable ablation of I/R induced oxidative stress, neurochemical aberrations and brain edema in animals pretreated with kolaviron. The results suggested that the protection afforded by kolaviron probably involved regulation of redox and electrolyte homeostasis as well as anti-inflammatory and antiexcitotoxic mechanisms.