Behavioral and biochemical studies of total furocoumarins from seeds of Psoralea corylifolia in the forced swimming test in mice

Antidepressant effects of coumarins and their derivatives: A critical analysis of research advances

Coumarins and their derivatives are non-flavonoids polyphenols with diverse pharmacological activities including anti-depressant effects. This study systematically examines the antidepressant effects of coumarins and their derivatives in relation to time series of research progress in the pharmacological pathways, association with other diseases, toxicity and bibliometric analysis. The review was approached using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) coupled with R package involving Biblioshiny, a web interface for Bibliometrix analysis and VOSviewer software analytic tools. Literature searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed from the inception through January 21, 2023. Coumarins, depression, coumarin derivatives and treatment were the main search terms used which resulted in the inclusion of 46 eligible publications. Scopoletin, psoralen, 7-hydroxycoumarin, meranzin hydrate, osthole, esculetin/umbelliferone were the most studied coumarins with antidepressant effects. Coumarins and their derivatives exerted antidepressant effects with a stronger affinity for monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibition and, their inhibitory effect via neurotransmitter pathway on MAO is well-studied. However, epigenetic modification, neuroendocrine, neurotrophic pathways are understudied. Recent research focuses on their antidepressant effects which targeted cytokines and fibromyalgia. There is a link between the gut microbiome, the brain, and depression; meranzin hydrate exerts an antidepressant activity by remodelling the gastrointestinal system. We established that empirical data on some coumarins and their derivatives to support their antidepressant effects are limited. Likewise, the safe dose range for several coumarins and their derivatives is yet to be fully determined.

Norlignans and phenolics from genus Curculigo protect corticosterone-injured neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-mitochondria pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The plants of genus Curculigo are divided into the Section Curculigo and the Section Capitulata, which are mainly distributed in southeastern and southwestern China. Various ancient chinese books record that these plants were used as an important herb for tonifying kidney yang. Traditional Chinese medicine often draws on this property to treat depression syndrome. Thus genus Curculigo has potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases (ND). The study showed that phenolics were the main characteristic components of plants in the Section Curculigo, represented by orcinol glucoside and curculigoside; the norlignans, with Ph-C5-Ph as the basic backbone, were the main characteristic components of the Section Capitulata. However, there is a lack of sufficient scientific evidence as to whether these two types of ingredients have neuroprotective effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To determine the neuroprotective effects of phenolics and norlignans in genus Curculigo on human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y. To discuss their structure-activity relationship and screen for compounds with high activity and neuroprotective effects. To reveal that the amelioration of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by two classes of compounds is mediated by the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The cytotoxicity of 17 compounds was assayed by MTT. SH-SY5Y cells were damaged by corticosterone (Cort) (200 μM) for 24 h and then co-administered with 17 compounds (0.1-100 μM) and Cort (200 μM) for 24 h. Cell survival was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected using flow cytometry. Intracellular Ca²⁺ levels were detected using a fluorescent probe. Cellular mitochondrial and ER damage was observed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). ER stress and apoptotic pathway-related proteins (BiP, CHOP, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, Bax/Bcl-2), and the expression level of PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway was measured via western blot (WB).

RESULTS

The experimental data showed that Cort treatment of SH-SY5Y cells resulted in decreased cell survival and increased apoptosis, mitochondrial depolarization, ROS, and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. The co-action of 17 compounds and Cort for a period of time significantly increased cell survival. Compounds 3, 7, 12, 13 also reduced apoptosis rate, mitochondrial depolarization, ROS and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in the subsequent experiments. In addition, TEM observed that Cort caused mitochondrial and ER damage, and the damage was improved after treatment. WB analysis obtained that Cort increased the expression of apoptotic and ER stress-related proteins and activated pathway expression. However, in the presence of compounds 3, 7, 12, 13, the expression of BiP, CHOP, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, and Bax/Bcl-2 was significantly reduced, and the phosphorylation of PERK and eIF2α and the expression of ATF4 were inhibited.

CONCLUSION

This study found that one phenolic (3) and three norlignans (7, 12, 13) from genus Curculigo have significant neuroprotective effects. The results of the structure-activity relationship indicated that the glucosyl polymeric norlignans and the phenolics with benzoic acid as the parent nucleus were more active. The neuroprotective effect of three norlignans is the latest discovery. This finding has important research value in the field of prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Adrenal Gland Irradiation Causes Fatigue Accompanied by Reactive Changes in Cortisol Levels

BACKGROUND

Incidental radiotherapy (RT) to the adrenal gland may have systemic effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of adrenal RT on fatigue.

METHODS

BALB/c mice were surgically explored to identify the left adrenal gland and delivered intra-operative RT. The swimming endurance test was used for endurance assessment to represent fatigue. Plasma levels of stress hormones and histopathological features were examined. Three patients with inevitable RT to the adrenal gland were enrolled for the preliminary study. Serum levels of cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured before and after RT. Fatigue score by using the fatigue severity scale and RT dosimetric parameters were collected.

RESULTS

In the experimental mouse model, adrenal RT decreased baseline cortisol from 274.6 ± 37.8 to 193.6 ± 29.4 ng/mL (p = 0.007) and swimming endurance time from 3.7 ± 0.3 to 1.7 ± 0.6 min (p = 0.02). In histopathological assessment, the irradiated adrenal glands showed RT injury features in the adrenal cortex. In the enrolled patients, baseline cortisol significantly declined after RT. There were no significant differences in the levels of morning cortisol, aldosterone, and ACTH before and after RT.

CONCLUSIONS

The RT dose distributed to the adrenal gland may correlate with unwanted adverse effects, including fatigue and adrenal hormone alterations.

Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Depression: Evidence from Preclinical Studies

Medicinal plants and their extracts are natural remedies with enormous potential for treating various diseases, including depression and anxiety. In the case of depression, hundreds of plants have traditionally been used in folk medicine for generations. Different plant extracts and natural products have been analyzed as potential antidepressant agents with validated models to test for antidepressant-like effects in animals, although other complementary studies have also been employed. Most of these studies focus on the possible mediators implicated in these potential effects, with dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline being the principal neurotransmitters implicated, both through interference with receptors and with their metabolism by monoamino oxidases, as well as through neuro-endocrine and neuroprotective effects. There are approximately 650 reports of antidepressant-like medicinal plants in PubMed; 155 of them have been compiled in this review, with a relevant group yielding positive results. Saffron and turmeric are the most relevant species studied in both preclinical and clinical studies; St. John's wort or kava have also been tested extensively. To the best of our knowledge, no review to date has provided a comprehensive understanding of the biomolecular mechanisms of action of these herbs or of whether their potential effects could have real benefits. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide an update regarding medicinal plants from the year 2000 to the present to examine the therapeutic potential of these antidepressant-like plants in order to contribute to the development of new therapeutic methods to alleviate the tremendous burden that depression causes worldwide.

Characterizing Tyrosinase Modulators from the Roots of Angelica keiskei Using Tyrosinase Inhibition Assay and UPLC-MS/MS as the Combinatorial Novel Approach

In this study, an in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay in combination with ultra performance liquid chromatography-orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-orbitrap-MS) was developed for the rapid screening and identification of tyrosinase modulators from roots of Angelica keiskei. Of the 15 candidates considered, nine chalcones, xanthoangelols (1), B (2), D (3), E (4), G (5), H (6), 4-hydroxyderricin (7), xanthokeismin B (8) and (2E)-1-[4-hydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-2-propanyl)-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl]-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-propen-1-one (9), five coumarins, umbelliferone (10), selinidin (11), isopimpinellin (12), phellopterin (13) and xanthyletin (14), and one other compound, ashitabaol A (15), were distinguished between the test samples and the controls with statistical significance, and the structure of each compound was determined by comparing with in-house standards and the literature. Among these, six compounds, xanthoangelol (1), xanthoangelol D (3), xanthoangelol H (6), 4-hydroxyderricin (7), laserpitin (16) and isolaserpitin (17), were isolated from roots of A. keiskei. Of the compounds isolated, compounds 1, 7 and 16 were subjected to tyrosinase inhibitory assay, and the IC₅₀ values were 15.87 ± 1.21, 60.14 ± 2.29 and >100 μM, respectively. The present study indicated that the combination of in vitro tyrosinase inhibition assay coupled with UPLC-MS/MS could be widely applied to the rapid screening of active substances from various natural resources.

Genus Psoralea: A review of the traditional and modern uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Psoralea (Fabaceae) harbours 105 accepted species that are extensively used by local peoples and medicinal practitioners of China, India, and other countries for treatment of tooth decay, psoriasis, leucoderma, leprosy, kidney problems, tuberculosis, indigestion, constipation and impotence. Presently, pharmacological research reports are available on only few species namely Bituminaria bituminosa (Syn: P. bituminosa), P. canescens, P. corylifolia, P. esculenta, P. plicata and P. glandulosa which are valued for their chemical constituents and traditional uses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review article provides explicit information on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of selected Psoralea species. The possible trends and perspectives for future research on these plants are also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive and systematic review of the extant literature was carried out, and the data under various sections were identified using a computerized bibliographic search via the PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar, CAB Abstracts, MEDLINE, EMBASE, INMEDPLAN, NATTS as well as several websites.

KEY FINDINGS

A total of 291 bioactive compounds from 06 species of genus Psoralea have been isolated and characterized. However, P. bituminosa alone possess nearly 150 compounds. These bioactive compounds belong to different chemical classes, including flavonoids, coumarins, furanocoumarins, chalcones, quinines, terpenoids and some others due to which these species exhibit significant anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-viral, anti-helmintic, anti-diabetic, diuretic, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer and anti-tumor activities. P. corylifolia L. (Babchi), a Chinese traditional medicinal plant has been used in traditional medicine for many decades for its healing properties against numerous skin diseases such as leprosy, psoriasis and leucoderma.

CONCLUSIONS

The in vitro studies and in vivo models have provided a simple bio-scientific justification for various ethnopharmacological uses of Psoralea species. From the toxicological perspective, the root, leaf, and seed extracts and their preparations have been proven to be safe when consumed in the recommended doses. But, meticulous studies on the pharmaceutical standardization, mode of action of the active constituents, and sustainable conservation of Psoralea species are needed, to meet the growing demands of the pharmaceutical industries, and to fully exploit their preventive and therapeutic potentials.

Research Progress in the Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Invigoration on Neurotransmitter Related Diseases

Tonic traditional Chinese medicine is widely used in clinical practice and is categorized into four main drugs, namely, Qi-supplementing, Blood-enriching, Yin-nourishing, and Yang-tonifying. Neurotransmitters play a coordinating role in the nervous system, visceral function, and stress response. The excitation or suppression of the central nervous system is closely related to various diseases, such as insomnia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and perimenopausal syndrome. An increasing amount of evidence shows that Chinese tonic herb and its active ingredients can delay the occurrence and development of these diseases by modulating related neurotransmitters and their receptors, including norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), acetylcholine (ACh), and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the present report, studies on the treatment of these neurotransmitter related diseases in relation to the application of tonic Chinese medicine are reviewed.

Effects of Chinese Medicine as Adjunct Medication for Adjuvant Chemotherapy Treatments of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

The aim was to evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a combination medication with adjuvant chemotherapy on postoperative early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The 314 patients with completely resected stage IB, II or IIIA cancers were assigned into vinorelbine plus cisplatin/carboplatin (NP/NC) (control, n = 158) and NP/NC with additional TCM (intervention, n = 156) groups. The primary endpoint was QOL scores; secondary endpoints were the toxicity and safety of the regimens. The NP/NC regimen caused mild (grade 1 or 2) non-hematologic toxic effects in the patients comprising vomiting (43.6%), fatigue (36.9%), pain (23%), dry mouth (27.6%) and diarrhea (7.9%). The incidence of adverse events was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (0.57% vs 4.02%, P = 0.037). Transient severe (grade 3 or 4) hematological toxic effects occurred less often (hemoglobin reduction (11.9 vs 22.5 percent) and total bilirubin increased (to 42.1 vs 46.2%) in the intervention compared to the control group during the 2nd chemotherapy cycle. When combined with adjuvant chemotherapy, TCM led to partial relief of symptoms in addition to a reduction of side-effects and adverse events caused by the NP/NC regimens.

Anti-Fatigue Effects of the Unique Polysaccharide Marker of Dendrobium officinale on BALB/c Mice

Dendrobium officinale extract shows potent anti-fatigue effects; however, the active substance responsible for these effects remains undetermined. A glucomannan with a huge molecular size of 730 kDa, called DOP, was identified as the unique authentication marker of this expensive herb. DOP exhibited immunomodulating effects on macrophages and lymphocytes in our previous study. Clinical reports also showed that people with fatigue syndrome have a disturbed immune system. Because DOP is the unique and dominant component of D. officinale, we hypothesize that DOP may also have anti-fatigue activity. The present study aims to evaluate the anti-fatigue activity of DOP on BALB/c mice, with Rhodiola rosea extract as a positive control. DOP and Rhodiola rosea extract were orally administered at doses of 50 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg, respectively, for four weeks, and the anti-fatigue activity of DOP on BALB/c mice was evaluated using the weight-loaded swimming test. The contents of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine phosphokinase (CK), triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), lactic acid (LD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in serum, glycogen of liver and gastrocnemius muscle were also determined. Their effects on variability of T cells and B cells were determined by using tetrazolium compound (MTS) method. The weight-loaded swimming exercise caused fatigue syndrome, mainly including the decreases of serum SOD/GSH-Px and gastrocnemius glycogen, as well as the increases of LDH, BUN, MDA, CK, TG, and LD in serum. All of these indicators of fatigue were inhibited to a certain extent by both DOP and Rhodiola rosea extract; however, the effects of DOP were much stronger than those of Rhodiola rosea extract. Compared to the positive control, mice dosed with DOP showed increases in endurance, body weight, and food intake. Furthermore, DOP-feeding mice significantly increased the cell variability of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes, compared with that of mice in control group. This study indicates that the unique and dominant polysaccharide DOP of D. officinale has stronger anti-fatigue activity than Rhodiola rosea extract. As such, DOP has promising potential for pharmaceutical development into health products to reduce fatigue.

The Benzopyrone Biochanin-A as a reversible, competitive, and selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor

Background

Monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitors are widely used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. They increase vital monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain. However, there is a need for safer natural reversible MAO inhibitors with MAO-B selectivity. Our previous studies showed that Psoralea corylifolia seeds (PCS) extract contains compounds that inhibit monoamine oxidase-B.

Methods

In this study, six of PCS constituents sharing a benzopyrone structure were investigated. The compounds Biochanin-A (BIO-A), isopsoralen, 6-prenylnaringenin, neobavaisoflavone, psoralen, and psoralidin, were tested for their ability to inhibit recombinant human MAO-A and B (hMAO-A and hMAO-B) isozymes. The ability of these compounds to inhibit MAO-A and MAO-B were compared to that of PCS ethanolic extract (PCSEE) using spectrophotometric assays and confirmed by luminescence assays. The highly potent and selective MAO-B inhibitor, BIO-A, was further investigated for both isozymes reversibility and enzyme kinetics. Molecular docking studies were used to predict the bioactive conformation and molecular interactions of BIO-A with both isozymes.

Results

The data obtained indicate that benzopyrones inhibited hMAO-A and hMAO-B with different degrees as confirmed with the luminescence assay. BIO-A inhibited hMAO-B with high potency and selectivity in the present study (IC₅₀ = 0.003 μg/mL) and showing 38-fold more selectivity than PCSEE (hMAO-B IC₅₀ = 3.03 μg/mL, 17-fold selectivity) without affecting hydrogen peroxide. Furthermore, BIO-A reversibly and competitively inhibited both hMAOs with significantly lower inhibitory constant (K_i) in hMAO-B (3.8 nM) than hMAO-A (99.3 nM). Our docking studies indicated that the H-bonds and hydrophobic interactions at the human MAO-A and MAO-B active sites contributed to the reversibility and selectivity of BIO-A.

Conclusions

The data obtained indicate that BIO-A is a potent, reversible and selective MAO-B inhibitor and may be recommended for further investigation in its possible use in the therapeutic management of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases.

The Chemical Constituents and Bioactivities of Psoralea corylifolia Linn.: A Review

Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (P. corylifolia) is an important medicinal plant with thousands of years of clinical application. It has been widely used in many traditional Chinese medicine formulas for the treatment of various diseases such as leucoderma and other skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, nephritis, osteoporosis, and cancer. Phytochemical studies indicated that coumarins, flavonoids, and meroterpenes are the main components of P. corylifolia, and most of these components are present in the seeds or fruits. The extracts and active components of P. corylifolia demonstrated multiple biological activities, including estrogenic, antitumor, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, antidepressant, anti-inflammatory, osteoblastic, and hepatoprotective activities. This paper systematically summarized literatures on the chemical constituents and biological activities of P. corylifolia, which provided useful information for the further research and development toward this potent medicinal plant.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies on the Genus Psoralea: A Mini Review

The genus Psoralea, which belongs to the family Fabaceae, comprises ca. 130 species distributed all over the world, and some of the plants are used as folk medicine to treat various diseases. Psoralea corylifolia is a typical example, whose seeds have been widely used in many traditional Chinese medicine formulas for the treatment of various diseases such as leucoderma and other skin diseases, cardiovascular diseases, nephritis, osteoporosis, and cancer. So, the chemical and pharmacological studies on this genus were performed in the past decades. Here, we give a mini review on this genus about its phytochemical and pharmacological studies from 1910 to 2015.

Lignans-rich extract from Herpetospermum caudigerum alleviate physical fatigue in mice

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain anti-fatigue constituents and mechanisms of Herpetospermum caudigerum.

METHODS

The 80% ethanol extracts of Herpetospermum caudigerum were partitioned with chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively. Male Kunming mice were divided into 13 groups with 16 mice in each group: a control group fed with water, 9 groups treated with 3 fractions of Herpetospermum caudigerum (chloroform fraction, ethyl acetate fraction and n-butanol fraction) at dose of 80, 160 and 320 mg/kg for the low-dose group, medium-dose group and high-dose group, 3 herpetrione (HPE) treated groups fed with HPE at dose of 15, 30, and 60 mg/kg for the low-dose group, medium-dose group and high-dose group. All animals were treated once per day for 30 days. Anti-fatigue activity was assessed through the forced swimming test and serum biochemical parameters including blood lactic acid (BLA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), malondialdehyde (MDA), hepatic glycogen (HG), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) determined following the recommended procedures provided by the commercial kits.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, the lignans extract (ethyl acetate fraction) of Herpetospermum caudigerum and HPE could signifificantly prolonged the exhaustive swimming time (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and also increased the HG levels (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx and LDH, P<0.05 or P<0.01); BLA and MDA levels were decreased considerably in lignans extract and HPE treated groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HPE also could significantly decrease the BUN contents compared with the control group (P<0.05). The chloroform and n-butanol fraction showed no effect on swimming time and biochemical parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

The lignans extract had antifatigue activities and HPE may be partly responsible for the anti-fatigue effects of Herpetospermum caudigerum. The possible mechanisms of anti-fatigue activity were related to the decrease of BUN and BLA, the increase of the HG storage and protecting corpuscular membrane by preventing lipid oxidation via modifying several enzyme activities.

Development and optimization of psychological stress model in mice using 2 level full factorial design

INTRODUCTION

Psychological stress has long been a silent killer, impairing normal physiological functions and leading to a variety of diseased conditions. However, the existing animal models for studying psychological stress have been marred by their inherent limitations warranting further research in their development and optimization.

METHODS

In this study 2⁵ full factorial design was utilized for the development and optimization of psychological stress model in mice by applying different stressors viz., slanted cage(X₁), restraint(X₂), no bedding(X₃), dirty bedding(X₄) and isolation(X₅) at two time duration levels of 30 and 60min. The development of behavioral changes like depression, anxiety and anhedonia was taken as criteria for development of stress. These responses were analyzed using Design Expert 7.1.6. (Stat-Ease, Inc., USA). The maximum effective responses obtained were taken as a criterion for optimization. The optimized model was applied to measure the change in serum cortisol level to confirm the stress development.

RESULTS

The statistical data showed that a quadratic model was fitted to the data obtained. All the factors were found to have a significant role in the development of stress among which restraint, slanted cage and dirty bedding were found to be more causal (p<0.05). Serum cortisol level was increased significantly in the stressed mice of optimized model (p<0.05).

DISCUSSION

Utilizing the magnitude of responses from the quadratic equations, it can be concluded that slanted cage, restraint and dirty bedding stressors should be applied for longer duration than other stressors for psychological stress development in mice. The study could lay a strong platform for the use of quality by design approach in the development of robust, efficient and resourceful animal models.

Natural Products Screening for the Identification of Selective Monoamine Oxidase-B Inhibitors

Aims

Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors (MAO-BIs) are used for the initial therapy of Parkinson’s disease. Also, MAO-BIs have shown to be effective neuroprotective agents in several neurodegenerative diseases. However, some concerns exist regarding the long-term use of these compounds. Meanwhile, natural compounds showed potential MAO-B selective inhibitions. To date, few selective natural MAO-BIs have been identified. Therefore, the current study is designed to identify plants with potent and specific MAO-B inhibition.

Study Design

In this work, we utilized high throughput screening to evaluate the different plants ethanolic extract for their effectiveness to inhibit recombinant human (h)MAO-A and hMAO-B and to determine the relative selectivity of the top MAO-BI.

Methodology

Recombinant human isozymes were verified by Western blotting, and the 155 plants were screened. A continuous fluorometric screening assay was performed followed by two separate hMAO-A and hMAO-B microtiter screenings and IC₅₀ determinations for the top extracts.

Results

In the screened plants, 9% of the extracts showed more than 1.5-fold relative inhibition of hMAO-B (RI_B) and another 9% showed more than 1.5-fold relative inhibition of hMAO-A. The top extracts with the most potent RI_Bs were Psoralea corylifolia seeds, Phellodendron amurense bark, Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots, and Ferula assafoetida roots, with the highest RI_B of 5.9-fold. Furthermore, extensive maceration of the promising extracts led to increase inhibitory effects with a preserved RI_B as confirmed with luminescence assay. The top four extracts hMAO-BIs were equally potent (IC₅₀= 1.3 to 3.8 μg/mL) with highly significant relative selectivities to inhibit hMAO-B (4.1- to 13.4-fold).

Conclusion

The obtained results indicate that Psoralea corylifolia seeds, Ferula assafoetida, Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots, and Phellodendron amurense ethanolic extracts have selective inhibitions for human MAO-B. Investigating these plant extracts as natural resources for novel selective MAO-BIs may lead to the development of molecules that can be used in the therapeutic management of neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease.

Role of cortisol and superoxide dismutase in psychological stress induced anovulation

Stress has been identified as a potential trigger for reproductive dysfunctions, but the psycho-physiological pathway behind the effect of stress on ovulation remains unexplored. The present research work highlights the plausible mechanism of psychological stress on ovulation in mice by targeting superoxide dismutase (SOD), an enzyme involved in ovulation. For this, three consecutive studies were carried out. The first study aimed to determine the effect of psychological stress induced change in cortisol level, behavioral parameters and normal estrous cyclicity. The effect on mRNA expression of SOD subtypes, follicular growth in histological sections of ovaries and the difference in oocyte quality and number, upon superovulation were assessed in the subsequent studies. The results indicate that psychological stress model causes an increase in cortisol level (p⩽0.05) with development of anhedonia, depression and anxiety. An irregular estrous cycle was observed in stressed mice with an upregulation in mRNA expression of SOD subtypes. Histological sections revealed an increase in atretic antral follicle with an impaired follicular development. Moreover, immature oocytes were obtained from superovulated stressed mice. The study concludes that psychological stress results in anovulation which may be due to increase in cortisol level and SOD activity in stressed mice.

Possible involvement of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in N-acetylcysteine-mediated antidepressant-like effects

Advances in depression research have targeted inflammation and oxidative stress to develop novel types of treatment. The JAK/STAT signaling pathway plays pivotal roles in immune and inflammatory responses. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of N-acetylcysteine, a putative precursor of the antioxidant glutathione, in an animal model of depression, with an emphasis on the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. Fluoxetine, a classical antidepressant drug was also under investigation. Male Wistar rats were subjected to forced swimming test and given N-acetylcysteine and fluoxetine immediately after the pre-test session, 5 h later and 1 h before the test session of the forced swimming test. N-acetylcysteine decreased immobility time (P < 0.05), serum corticosterone (P < 0.001), and hydrogen peroxide (P < 0.001), while restored glutathione concentration. Treatment of the rats with N-acetylcysteine produced significant (P < 0.001) down-regulation of STAT3 mRNA expression and protein phosphorylation. On the other hand, N-acetylcysteine significantly (P < 0.001) increased SOCS3 gene expression; however, SOCS3 protein was not changed. In conclusion, our study suggests that modulation of the JAK/STAT pathway might mediate the antidepressant-like effects of N-acetylcysteine. Therefore, depression research may target the JAK/STAT signaling pathway to provide a novel effective therapy.

Dynamics and correlation of serum cortisol and corticosterone under different physiological or stressful conditions in mice

Although plasma corticosterone is considered the main glucocorticoid involved in regulation of stress responses in rodents, the presence of plasma cortisol and whether its level can be used as an indicator for rodent activation of stress remain to be determined. In this study, effects of estrous cycle stage, circadian rhythm, and acute and chronic (repeated or unpredictable) stressors of various severities on dynamics and correlation of serum cortisol and corticosterone were examined in mice. A strong (r = 0.6–0.85) correlation between serum cortisol and corticosterone was observed throughout the estrous cycle, all day long, and during acute or repeated restraints, chronic unpredictable stress and acute forced swimming or heat stress. Both hormones increased to the highest level on day 1 of repeated-restraint or unpredictable stresses, but after that, whereas the concentration of cortisol did not change, that of corticosterone showed different dynamics. Thus, whereas corticosterone declined dramatically during repeated restraints, it remained at the high level during unpredictable stress. During forced swimming or heat stress, whereas cortisol increased to the highest level within 3 min., corticosterone did not reach maximum until 40 min. of stress. Analysis with HPLC and HPLC-MS further confirmed the presence of cortisol in mouse serum. Taken together, results (i) confirmed the presence of cortisol in mouse serum and (ii) suggested that mouse serum cortisol and corticosterone are closely correlated in dynamics under different physiological or stressful conditions, but, whereas corticosterone was a more adaptation-related biomarker than cortisol during chronic stress, cortisol was a quicker responder than corticosterone during severe acute stress.

Neuroprotective effects of Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by 3-nitropropionic acid

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in neuronal apoptosis associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease (HD). Animals that are administered 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP), a mitochondrial toxin that specifically inhibits complex II of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, manifest HD-like symptoms.

METHODS

Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts against 3-NP induced mitochondrial dysfunction in cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, which are used for neurobiological studies.

RESULTS

In this study showed that 3-NP-treated PC12 cells had decreased ATP levels, lower cellular oxygen consumption, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential than those of untreated PC12 cells. Psoralea corylifolia Linn seed extracts stimulated mitochondrial respiration with uncoupling and induced an increased bioenergetic reserve capacity. Furthermore, PC12 cells pretreated with P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts significantly attenuated 3-NP-induced cell death, reduced ATP levels, and lowered the mitochondrial membrane potential.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts have a significant protective effect against 3-NP induced cytotoxicity. Thus, our results indicate that P. corylifolia Linn seed extracts may have potential applications as therapeutic agents for treating neurodegenerative disease.

Antidepressant-like activity of resveratrol treatment in the forced swim test and tail suspension test in mice: the HPA axis, BDNF expression and phosphorylation of ERK

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol enriched in Polygonum cuspidatum and has diverse biological activities. There is only limited information about the antidepressant-like effect of resveratrol. The present study assessed whether resveratrol treatment (20, 40 and 80mg/kg, i.p., 21days) has an antidepressant-like effect on the forced swim test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST) in mice and examined what its molecular targets might be. The results showed that resveratrol administration produced antidepressant-like effects in mice, evidenced by the reduced immobility time in the FST and TST, while it had no effect on the locomotor activity in the open field test. Resveratrol treatment significantly reduced serum corticosterone levels, which had been elevated by the FST and TST. Moreover, resveratrol increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation levels in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. All of these antidepressant-like effects of resveratrol were essentially similar to those observed with the clinical antidepressant, fluoxetine. These results suggest that the antidepressant-like effects of resveratrol in the FST and TST are mediated, at least in part, by modulating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, BDNF and ERK phosphorylation expression in the brain region of mice.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation of physical fatigue-attenuating components from Rubus parvifolius L

Alleviation of fatigue has been emerging as a serious issue that requires urgent attention. Health professionals and sports physiologists have been looking for active natural products and synthetic compounds to overcome fatigue in humans. This study was designed to define the anti-fatigue property of Rubus parvifolius L. (RPL) by characterization of active constituents using a mouse forced swimming test model. Four RPL fractions with different polarities containing anti-fatigue activity were sequentially isolated from the n-butanol RPL extract, followed by elution of 50% ethanol-water fraction from D101 macroporous resin chromatography to obtain nigaichigoside F₁, suavissimoside R₁ and coreanoside F₁. Active constituents of the 50% ethanol-water eluate of RPL were total saponins. The fractions were examined based on the effect on weight-loaded swimming capacity of mice. Serum levels of urea nitrogen (SUN), triglyceride fatty acids (TG), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lactic acid (LA), ammonia and hepatic glycogen (HG) were also examined for potential mechanisms underlying the anti-fatigue effect of RPL extracts. During the experiment, two inflammatory markers, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in serum, were measured. We found that total saponins from RPL possess potent capabilities to alleviate mouse fatigue induced by forced swimming and that nigaichigoside F₁ was responsible for the pharmacological effect. The underlying mechanisms include delays of SUN and LA accumulation, a decrease in TG level by increasing fat consumption, increases in HG and LDH so that lactic acid accumulation and ammonia in the muscle were reduced, and suppression of increased immune activation and inflammatory cytokine production. Our findings will be helpful for functional identification of novel anti-fatigue components from natural medicinal herbs.

Psoralen inhibits bone metastasis of breast cancer in mice

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy and it frequently metastasizes to bone. Metastatic breast cancer continues to be the primary cause of death for women in East and Southeast Asia. Psoralen is a furocoumarin that can be isolated from the seeds of Psoralea corylifolia L. Psoralen exhibits a wide range of biological properties and has been demonstrated as an antioxidant, antidepressant, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral agent. Additionally, it is involved in the formation and regulation of bone. This study investigated whether psoralen can inhibit metastasis of breast cancer to bone in vivo. Histological, molecular biological, and imaging analyses revealed that psoralen inhibits bone metastases in mice. Psoralen may function to inhibit breast cancer cell growth in the bone microenvironment and regulate the function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts in tumor-bearing mice. The results of this study suggest that psoralen is a bone-modifying agent and a potential therapeutic to treat patients with bone metastases.

Psoralea corylifolia L. (Buguchi) - folklore to modern evidence: review

Psoralea corylifolia is an important medicinal plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. The plant extracts have been reported to possess antibacterial, antitumor, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal and immunomodulatory activity. A wide range of chemical compounds including psoralen, isopsoralen, bakuchiol, psoralidin, bakuchalcone, bavachinin, flavones, volatile oils, lipids etc. are found in different parts of the plant. The present review is therefore, an effort to give a detailed survey of the literature on its botany, phytochemistry and ethnopharmacology along with special emphasis given on pharmacological activities of plant P. corylifolia.

Antinociceptive, neurobehavioral and antioxidant effects of Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl on rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl belongs to the Asteraceae family, popularly known as Japana. It is a perennial shrub native to Amazon rainforests of South America. Its leaves are used through infusions, decoctions, baths, and tea. It is largely used in Brazilian folk medicine as sedative, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic and anti-inflammatory.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the putative effects of Eupatorium triplinerve on the central nervous system (CNS), including locomotor and anxiety activity, depression-like behavior, and antinociception and oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two-month-old male Wistar rats (n=7-10 rats/group) and Swiss male and female mice of the species Mus musculus (n=7-10 per group) were administered with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Eupatorium triplinerve (HEET). The behavioral assays included open-field (OF), elevated Plus-maze (EPM), and forced swimming tests (FS). The antinociceptive activity was verified using chemical (acetic acid and formalin) and thermal (hot plate) models of nociception. The oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after behavioral assays and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in vivo.

RESULTS

Oral pretreatment with HEET reduced the locomotion in OF test (200-800 mg/kg), increased central locomotion and open arms entries in the OF and EPM tests, respectively (600-800 mg/kg), and decreased the immobility time in the FS (200-800 mg/kg). It also reduced the writhing number evoked by acetic acid injection (200-800 mg/kg) and licking time in the first phase of the formalin test (400-800 mg/kg). In the oxidative stress assays, the extract decreased TEAC, Nitric Oxide and MDA levels in response to swimming stress induced in rats.

CONCLUSIONS

These results were indicative for the first time that Eupatorium triplinerve exerted mild sedative, anxiolytic and antidepressive effects on the CNS. Antinociceptive effects not related to opioid system and antioxidant activity were also observed. These results support the ethnopharmacological use of Eupatorium triplinerve in popular medicine.

Psychological stress on female mice diminishes the developmental potential of oocytes: a study using the predatory stress model

Although the predatory stress experimental protocol is considered more psychological than the restraint protocol, it has rarely been used to study the effect of psychological stress on reproduction. Few studies exist on the direct effect of psychological stress to a female on developmental competence of her oocytes, and the direct effect of predatory maternal stress on oocytes has not been reported. In this study, a predatory stress system was first established for mice with cats as predators. Beginning 24 h after injection of equine chorionic gonadotropin, female mice were subjected to predatory stress for 24 h. Evaluation of mouse responses showed that the predatory stress system that we established increased anxiety-like behaviors and plasma cortisol concentrations significantly and continuously while not affecting food and water intake of the mice. In vitro experiments showed that whereas oocyte maturation and Sr(2+) activation or fertilization were unaffected by maternal predatory stress, rate of blastocyst formation and number of cells per blastocyst decreased significantly in stressed mice compared to non-stressed controls. In vivo embryo development indicated that both the number of blastocysts recovered per donor mouse and the average number of young per recipient after embryo transfer of blastocysts with similar cell counts were significantly lower in stressed than in unstressed donor mice. It is concluded that the predatory stress system we established was both effective and durative to induce mouse stress responses. Furthermore, predatory stress applied during the oocyte pre-maturation stage significantly impaired oocyte developmental potential while exerting no measurable impact on nuclear maturation, suggesting that cytoplasmic maturation of mouse oocytes was more vulnerable to maternal stress than nuclear maturation.

Potential behavioral and pro-oxidant effects of Petiveria alliacea L. extract in adult rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest and tropical areas of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. In folk medicine, Petiveria alliacea has a broad range of therapeutic properties; however, it is also associated with toxic effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the putative effects of Petiveria alliacea on the central nervous system, including locomotor activity, anxiety, depression-like behavior, and memory, and oxidative stress.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two-month-old male and female Wistar rats (n=7-10 rats/group) were administered with 900 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. The behavioral assays included open-field, forced swimming, and elevated T-maze tests. The oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after behavioral assays and methemoglobin levels were measured in vitro.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous reports, Petiveria alliacea increased locomotor activity. It also exerted previously unreported anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in behavioral tests. In the oxidative stress assays, the Petiveria alliacea extract decreased Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity levels and increased methemoglobin levels, which was related to the toxic effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The Petiveria alliacea extract exerted motor stimulatory and anxiolytic effects in the OF test, antidepressant effects in the FS test, and elicited memory improvement in ETM. Furthermore, the Petiveria alliacea extract also exerted pro-oxidant effects in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the antioxidant status and increasing MetHb levels in human plasma, respectively.

High throughput screening to identify natural human monoamine oxidase B inhibitors

Age-related increase in monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) may contribute to CNS neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, MAO-B inhibitors are used in the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson disease as preliminary monotherapy or adjunct therapy with L-dopa. To date, meager natural sources of MAO-B inhibitors have been identified, and the relative strength, potency and rank of many plants relative to standard drugs such as Selegiline (L-deprenyl,Eldepryl) are not known. In this work, we developed and utilized a high throughput enzyme microarray format to screen and evaluate 905 natural product extracts (0.025-.7 mg/ml) to inhibit human MAO-B derived from BTI-TN-5B1-4 cells infected with recombinant baculovirus. The protein sequence of purified enzyme was confirmed using 1D gel electrophoresis-matrix assisted laser desorption ionization -time-of-flight-tandem mass spectroscopy, and enzyme activity was confirmed by [1] substrate conversion (3-mM benzylamine) to H202 and [2] benzaldehyde. Of the 905 natural extracts tested, the lowest IC50s [<0.07 mg/ml] were obtained with extracts of Amur Corktree (Phellodendron amurense), Bakuchi Seed(Cyamopsis psoralioides), Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra/uralensis), Babchi (Psoralea corylifolia seed). The data also show, albeit to a lesser extent, inhibitory properties of herbs originating from the mint family (Lamiaceae) and Turmeric, Comfrey, Bringraj, Skullcap, Kava-kava, Wild Indigo, Gentian and Green Tea. In conclusion, the data reflect relative potency information by rank of commonly used herbs and plants that contain human MAO-B inhibitory properties in their natural form.

Rhizomes of Gastrodia elata BL Possess Antidepressant-Like Effect via Monoamine Modulation in Subchronic Animal Model

Depression is one of the most common psychiatric disorders that affects over 10% of individuals. However there is no desirable therapeutic approach nowadays. Thus, looking for an alternative treatment is important. The objectives of this study are to investigate the antidepressant effects of the rhizomes of Gastradia elata BL, a traditional Chinese medicine, in the animal model forced-swimming test (FST), and to analyze the monoamine content in the rats' brain regions in order to better understand the possible mechanisms of the water extract of the rhizomes of Gastrodia elata BL (WGE). Subchronic administration of 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg bw WGE by gavage for 21 consecutive days significantly reduced the immobility duration of rats in the test session of FST as compared to the control group (p < 0.05), with the equivalent effects as the antidepressant drug fluoxetine. The concentration of serotonin (5-HT) in the frontal cortex and dopamine (DA) in striatum were significantly increased after WGE administration (p < 0.05). The ratio of 5-HIAA/5-HT and (DOPAC + HVA)/DA, i.e. the turnover of 5-HT and DA respectively, were also significantly lowered in WGE groups (p < 0.05). In summary, the present study showed that the WGE possesses antidepressant-like effect on rats in the animal model FST, and the possible mechanism may be via regulating both the serotonergic and dopaminergic systems.

Antidepressant-like effects of an alkaloid extract of the aerial parts of Annona cherimolia in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) are used in traditional Mexican medicine by their anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and tranquilizing properties. It has been reported that the alkaloids isolated from some species of the Annona have affinity to serotonergic 5-HT(1A) receptors and modulate dopaminergic transmission, which is involved in depressive disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the antidepressant-like effect of an alkaloid extract from the aerial parts of Annona cherimola (TA) in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the forced swimming test. To elucidate a possible mechanism of action, experiments of synergism with antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine (IMI), clomipramine (CLIMI), and fluoxetine (FLX), were carried out. The neurotransmitter content (DA: dopamine, 5HT: serotonin and its metabolites, HVA: homovanillic acid and 5HIAA: 5-hydroxyindoleacetic) in the whole brain of mice were also determined by HPLC method. TA chemical composition was determined using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

The results showed that repeated treatment with TA produced antidepressant-like effects in mice. This effect was not related to an increase in locomotor activity. Administration of TA facilitated the antidepressant effect of IMI and CLIMI as well as increased the turnover of DA and 5-HT. The alkaloids: 1,2-dimethoxy-5,6,6a,7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine, liriodenine, and nornuciferine were the main constituents of TA.

CONCLUSIONS

Results showed that TA produces an antidepressant-like action from a generalized increase in monominergic turnover, supporting the use in tradicional medicine of Annona cherimolia, and strongly suggest its therapeutic potency as an antidepressant agent.

The standardized extract of Loeselia mexicana possesses anxiolytic activity through the γ-amino butyric acid mechanism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Loeselia mexicana (Lam.) Brand has been used in Mexican Traditional Medicine to treat "espanto" or "susto" (fear), which is a culturally affiliated syndrome whose symptomatology comprises loss of appetite, difficulty in sleeping, and also nausea and fatigue, with a sensation of fear or risk - real or imagined - to external stimuli.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The anxiolytic effect of the standardized methanol extract of Loeselia mexicana, with regard to its content of coumarin daphnoretin, was researched utilizing the elevated plus maze (EPM) in order to demonstrate whether the biological effect produced by the plant is antagonized by drugs that block γ-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic transmission.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The methanolic extract of Loeselia mexicana (LmMeOH) was tested at different doses on the EPM and then the interaction of this extract was evaluated in the same model with different GABAergic drugs, such as flumazenil (FLU) 10mg/kg, bicuculline (BIC) 5mg/kg, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) 10mg/kg, and picrotoxin (PTX) 2mg/kg. The effect of all of these treatments was evaluated by means of the open field test (OFT). Coumarin content was measured by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique.

RESULTS

The 200- and 400-mg/kg doses of methanolic extract containing 3.14 and 6.28 mg of daphnoretin, respectively, induced an anxiolytic effect in the EPM without modification of the spontaneous motor activity. The anxiolytic activity of 200mg/kg of methanolic extract in EPM-exposed mice was antagonized by PTX, BIC, and FLU, but not by PTZ.

CONCLUSION

The data presented here indicate that the Loeselia mexicana Brand methanolic extract possesses a significant anxiolytic effect that appears to be mediated in part by activation of the GABAergic system.

Anti-fatigue properties of tartary buckwheat extracts in mice

Anti-fatigue properties of tartary buckwheat extracts (TBE) was investigated in male Kunming mice. The animals were divided into four groups. The first group, designated as the control group (control), was administered with distilled water by gavage every day for 28 days. The other three groups, designated as TBE treatment groups, were administered with TBE of 60, 120 and 240 mg/kg body weight, respectively, by gavage every day for 28 days. Exhaustive swimming time, blood lactic acid (BLA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), tissue glycogen, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) of mice after swimming were determined. The results showed that tartary buckwheat extracts had anti-fatigue properties, which extended the exhaustive swimming time of mice, effectively inhibiting the increase of BLA, decreasing the level of BUN, increasing the tissue glycogen content and the activities of SOD and GPx of mice. However, further study is needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of the effect of TBE on fatigue.

Possible mechanism of the antidepressant effect of 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose from Polygala tenuifolia Willd

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to observe the effects of 3,6'-disinapoyl sucrose (DISS), an active oligosaccharide ester component obtained from the roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd., on behavioral and biochemical aspects of depression induced by chronic mild stress (CMS) in rats. It is the first exploration of the possible association between DISS's antidepressant-like effects and biochemical markers of depression, and involved measuring monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, cortisol levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.

METHODS

Rats were exposed to stressor once daily for consecutive 5 weeks. DISS and a positive control drug, fluoxetine, were administered via gastric intubation to once daily for consecutive 3 weeks from the third week.

KEY FINDINGS

The results showed that rats subjected to CMS exhibit a reduction in sucrose intake. Conversely, brain MAO-A and MAO-B activity, plasma cortisol levels, and MDA levels were increased, while SOD activity was decreased following CMS exposures. DISS significantly inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B activity and blocked plasma elevated cortisol level, an indicator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, DISS increases SOD activity, inhibits lipid peroxidation, and lessens production of MDA.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that DISS may possess potent and rapid antidepressant properties, which are mediated via MAO, the HPA axis and oxidative systems. These antidepressant actions make DISS a potentially valuable drug for the treatment of depression.

Antidepressant-like effects of rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, in the rat forced swim and mouse tail suspension tests

Several studies have evaluated thiazolidinedione therapy as medical treatments for some central nervous system disorders, such as cognitive deficits associated with neurodegenerative disorders. However, there is limited data to support a direct role for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists in depression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate antidepressant-like activity of rosiglitazone using the mouse tail suspension test and the rat forced swimming test, two models sensitive to the effects of antidepressants. In the tail suspension test, 5 days of treatment with rosiglitazone (8.5 or 17 mg/kg, orally) reduced immobility time. In the forced swimming test, rosiglitazone (6 or 12 mg/kg, orally) treatment decreased immobility time and increased climbing. These effects were not accompanied by any alteration in locomotor activity in the open field test. Rosiglitazone treatment (6 or 12 mg/kg, orally) significantly reduced plasma corticosterone levels in rats. GW9662 significantly inhibited the rosiglitazone-induced reduction in the duration of immobility. In summary, this study suggests that rosiglitazone possesses a specific antidepressant-like activity in behavioral models and that this effect may be mediated by reduction of plasma corticosterone level.

Bioactivity-guided fractionation for anti-fatigue property of Acanthopanax senticosus

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The root of Acanthopanax senticosus (also called Eleutherococcus senticosus or Siberian ginseng) has been used extensively in China, Russia and Japan as an adaptogen to fight against stress and fatigue.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was designed to ascertain the anti-fatigue property of Acanthopanax senticosus by load-weighted swimming test, sleep deprivation test, also to isolate and characterize the active constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Animals were orally administered with the extract of Acanthopanax senticosus. The anti-fatigue effects of the four fractions with different polarities from the 80% ethanol extract, and the different eluates collected from D101 macroporous resin chromatography and eleutheroside E, were examined based on the weight-loaded swimming capacity (physical fatigue) and the change of biochemical parameters in ICR mice. Moreover, the active fraction was later submitted to sleep-deprived mice (mental fatigue).

RESULTS

The results shown that the n-butanol fraction significant extends the swimming time of mice to exhaustion. Furthermore, the 60% ethanol-water eluate, more purified eleutherosides (including eleutheroside E, E(2) and derivatives), were the exactly active constituents. Two compounds were isolated, which were identified as eleutheroside E, E(2).

CONCLUSIONS

The eleutherosides possess the potent abilities to alleviate fatigue both in physical and mental fatigue. Eleutheroside E may be responsible for the pharmacological effect of anti-fatigue. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms were reduced the level of TG by increasing fat utilization, delayed the accumulation of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and increased the LDH to reduce the accumulation of lactic acid in muscle and then protect the muscle tissue.

Reversal by quercetin of corticotrophin releasing factor induced anxiety- and depression-like effect in mice

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid reported to produce variety of behavioral effects like anxiolytic, antidepressant, etc. Recent gathering evidences indicated that quercetin attenuates stress-induced behavioral and biochemical effects. It also decreases CRF expression in the brain. As CRF is commonly implicated in the high-anxiety and depression, we hypothesized that quercetin may involve CRF in its anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects. To support such possibility, we investigated the influence of quercetin on CRF or CRF antagonist (antalarmin) induced changes in social interaction time in social interaction test, and immobility time in forced swim test. Results indicated that quercetin (20-40 mg/kg, p.o.) or antalarmin (2-4 microg/mouse, i.c.v.) dose dependently increased social interaction time and decreased immobility time indicating anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effect. These effects were comparable with the traditional anxiolytic (diazepam, 1-2mg/kg, i.p.) and antidepressant (fluoxetine, 10-20mg/kg, i.p.) agents. Administration of CRF (0.1 and 0.3 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) produced just opposite effects to that of quercetin on these parameters. Further, it was seen that pretreatment with quercetin (20 or 40 mg/kg, p.o.) dose dependently antagonized the effects of CRF (0.1 or 0.3 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) in social interaction and forced swim test. The sub-effective dose of antalarmin (1 microg/mouse) when administered along with the sub-effective dose of quercetin (10mg/kg) produced significant anxiolytic-and antidepressant-like effect. These observations suggest reciprocating role of quercetin on the CRF-induced anxiogenic and depressant-like effects.

Phytoestrogens from Psoralea corylifolia reveal estrogen receptor-subtype selectivity

The seed of Psoralea corylifolia L. (PCL), a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, has been applied as a tonic or an aphrodisiac agent and commonly used as a remedy for bone fracture, osteomalacia and osteoporosis in China. In our study, the estrogen receptor subtype-selective activities of the extracts and compounds derived from PCL were analyzed using the HeLa cell assay. The different fractions including petroleum ether, CH(2)Cl(2) and EtOAc fractions of the EtOH extract of PCL showed significant activity in activating either ERalpha or ERbeta whereas the n-BuOH fraction showed no estrogenic activity. Further chromatographic purification of the active fractions yielded seven compounds including the two coumarins isopsoralen and psoralen, the four flavonoids isobavachalcone, bavachin, corylifol A and neobavaisoflavone, and the meroterpene phenol, bakuchiol. In reporter gene assay, the two coumarins (10(-8)-10(-5)M) acted as ERalpha-selective agonists while the other compounds (10(-9)-10(-6)M) activated both ERalpha and ERbeta. The estrogenic activities of all compounds could be completely suppressed by the pure estrogen antagonist, ICI 182,780, suggesting that the compounds exert their activities through ER. Only psoralen and isopsoralen as ERalpha agonists promoted MCF-7 cell proliferation significantly. Although all the compounds have estrogenic activity, they may exert different biological effects. In conclusion, both ER subtype-selective and nonselective activities in compounds derived from PCL suggested that PCL could be a new source for selective estrogen-receptor modulators.

Quality assessment of fructus psoraleae

Two newly-reported benzofuran glycosides, named psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside, along with two major coumarins, psoralen and isopsoralen, were simultaneously determined in twenty-three samples of Fructus Psoraleae collected from different growth areas in China. The quantitative method was validated, and the mean recovery rates from fortified samples (n=5) of psoralenoside, isopsoralenoside, psoralen and isopsoralen, were 96.5%, 97.1%, 100.7%, and 99.3% with variation coefficient of 3.1%, 3.6%, 2.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. An interesting biotransformation relationship between the glycosides and the coumarins was revealed on the basis of the quality analysis results. It was also suggested that psoralenoside and isopsoralenoside should be used as key quality markers for Fructus Psoraleae, together with the commonly used psoralen and isopsoralen.