The modulatory role of prime identified compounds in Geophila repens in mitigating scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in experimental rats of Alzheimer's disease via attenuation of cholinesterase, β-secretase, MAPt levels and inhibition of oxidative stress imparts inflammation

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics based investigation of Phyllanthus fraternus: herb-drug interaction study

Phyllanthus fraternus (PF), a plant from the Euphorbiaceae family, is used extensively in ayurvedic formulations for its significant medicinal properties. When PF is administered alongside conventional drugs, there could be potential herb-drug interactions between the active compounds and the genes involved in drug transport and metabolism. Hence, this study was designed to investigate potential herb-drug interactions, focusing on elucidating their functional and pharmacological mechanisms, using an integrated approach of metabolite profiling and network pharmacology. We utilized LC-MS to generate metabolite profiling of PF and network pharmacology for predicting key targets and pathways. This comprehensive analysis involved the construction of networks illustrating the relationships among compounds, targets, and pathways and the exploration of protein-protein interactions and protein-ligand interactions. In this study, a total of 79 compounds were identified in LC-MS, such as alkaloids, steroids, saponins, flavonoids, lignans, phenolic acids, tannins, terpenoids, and fatty acids. The identified compound's physicochemical properties were predicted using SwissADME. Network analysis predicted 1076 PF-related genes and 1497 genes associated with drug transport and metabolism, identifying 417 overlapping genes, including 51 related to drug transport and metabolism. Based on the degree of interaction the hub targets like ABCB1, CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 were identified. In the compound-target-pathway network, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethyl ethyl)-phenol; 5-Methoxy-N-[(5-Methylpyridin-2-yl) sulfonyl]-1h-Indole-2-Carboxamide; and E,E,Z-1,3,12-Nonadecatriene-5,14-diol possessed more interactions with the targets. This study helps identify bioactive compounds, essential targets, and pathways potentially implicated in these interactions, laying the foundation for future studies (in vitro and in vivo) to verify their potential to explore their clinical implications.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A medicine and food homology formula prevents cognitive deficits by inhibiting neuroinflammation and oxidative stress via activating AEA-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder frequently accompanied by neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The medicine and food homology (MFH) has shown potential for treating neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. This study aimed to provide a safe and efficient therapy for AD based on MFH. In this study, we develop a MFH formula consisting of egg yolk oil, perilla seed oil, raphani seed oil, cinnamon oil, and noni puree (EPRCN). To evaluate the ameliorative effects of EPRCN on AD-related symptoms, a mouse model of AD was constructed using intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine in ICR mice. Experimental results demonstrated that EPRCN supplement restored behavioral deficits and suppressed neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of scopolamine-induced mice. An in vitro study was then performed using induction of Aβ(25-35) in glial (BV-2 and SW-1783) and neuron (SH-SY5Y) cell lines to examine the improvement mechanism of EPRCN on cognitive deficits. Multi-omics and in vitro studies demonstrated that these changes were driven by the anandamide (AEA)-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway, which was inhibited by AM404 (an AEA inhibitor), AMG9810 (a Trpv1 inhibitor), and BT (an Nrf2 inhibitor). Consequently, EPRCN is an effective therapy on preventing cognitive deficits in mouse models of AD. In contrast to donepezil, EPRCN exhibits a novel modes action for ameliorating neuroinflammation. The mechanism of EPRCN on preventing cognitive deficits is mediated by improving neuroinflammation and oxidative stress via activating the AEA-Trpv1-Nrf2 pathway.

β-sitosterol alleviates atherosclerosis by regulating catalase

The aim of this study is to investigate the main active components of Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) on atherosclerosis and its mechanism of action. Bioinformatics analysis showed that β-sitosterol was the most likely active ingredient to mediate the anti-atherosclerotic effects. In vivo experiments showed that β-sitosterol inhibited plaque formation and platelet activation, and decreased serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels. In vitro experiments showed that β-sitosterol can inhibit lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). However, knocking down catalase (CAT), the direct target of β-sitosterol, not only promoted lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs, but also activated the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and the mTOR inhibitor (ink-128) can eliminate the effect of CAT knockdown, suggesting that β-sitosterol may inhibit lipid deposition and phenotypic transformation of VSMCs by activating CAT and silencing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, thereby alleviating atherosclerosis.

Mechanistic insights and emerging therapeutic stratagems for Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a multi-factorial neurodegenerative disorder has affected over 30 million individuals globally and these numbers are expected to increase in the coming decades. Current therapeutic interventions are largely ineffective as they focus on a single target. Development of an effective drug therapy requires a deep understanding of the various factors influencing the onset and progression of the disease. Aging and genetic factors exert a major influence on the development of AD. Other factors like post-viral infections, iron overload, gut dysbiosis, and vascular dysfunction also exacerbate the onset and progression of AD. Further, post-translational modifications in tau, DRP1, CREB, and p65 proteins increase the disease severity through triggering mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic loss, and differential interaction of amyloid beta with different receptors leading to impaired intracellular signalling. With advancements in neuroscience tools, new inter-relations that aggravate AD are being discovered including pre-existing diseases and exposure to other pathogens. Simultaneously, new therapeutic strategies involving modulation of gene expression through targeted delivery or modulation with light, harnessing the immune response to promote clearance of amyloid deposits, introduction of stem cells and extracellular vesicles to replace the destroyed neurons, exploring new therapeutic molecules from plant, marine and biological sources delivered in the free state or through nanoparticles and use of non-pharmacological interventions like music, transcranial stimulation and yoga. Polypharmacology approaches involving combination of therapeutic agents are also under active investigation for superior therapeutic outcomes. This review elaborates on various disease-causing factors, their underlying mechanisms, the inter-play between different disease-causing players, and emerging therapeutic options including those under clinical trials, for treatment of AD. The challenges involved in AD therapy and the way forward have also been discussed.

Neuroprotective properties of Betulin, Betulinic acid, and Ursolic acid as triterpenoids derivatives: a comprehensive review of mechanistic studies

Cognitive deficits are the main outcome of neurological disorders whose occurrence has risen over the past three decades. Although there are some pharmacologic approaches approved for managing neurological disorders, it remains largely ineffective. Hence, exploring novel nature-based nutraceuticals is a pressing need to alleviate the results of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Some triterpenoids and their derivates can be considered potential therapeutics against neurological disorders due to their neuroprotective and cognitive-improving effects. Betulin (B), betulinic acid (BA), and ursolic acid (UA) are pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds with a variety of biological activities, including antioxidative, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. This review focuses on the therapeutic efficacy and probable molecular mechanisms of triterpenoids in damage prevention to neurons and restoring cognition in neurodegenerative diseases. Considering few studies on this concept, the precise mechanisms that mediate the effect of these compounds in neurodegenerative disorders have remained unknown. The findings can provide sufficient information about the advantages of these compounds against neurodegenerative diseases.

Microneedle-mediated nose-to-brain drug delivery for improved Alzheimer's disease treatment

Conventional transnasal brain-targeted drug delivery strategies are limited by nasal cilia clearance and the nasal mucosal barrier. To address this challenge, we designed dissolving microneedles combined with nanocarriers for enhanced nose-to-brain drug delivery. To facilitate transnasal administration, a toothbrush-like microneedle patch was fabricated with hyaluronic acid-formed microneedles and tannic acid-crosslinked gelatin as the base, which completely dissolved in the nasal mucosa within seconds leaving only the base, thereby releasing the loaded cyclodextrin-based metal-organic frameworks (CD-MOFs) without affecting the nasal cilia and nasal microbial communities. As nanocarriers for high loading of huperzine A, these potassium-structured CD-MOFs, reinforced with stigmasterol and functionalized with lactoferrin, possessed improved physical stability and excellent biocompatibility, enabling efficient brain-targeted drug delivery. This delivery system substantially attenuated H2O2- and scopolamine-induced neurocyte damage. The efficacy of huperzine A on scopolamine- and D-galactose & AlCl3-induced memory deficits in rats was significantly improved, as evidenced by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase activity, alleviating oxidative stress damage in the brain, and improving learning function, meanwhile activating extracellular regulated protein kinases-cyclic AMP responsive element binding protein-brain derived neurotrophic factor pathway. Moreover, postsynaptic density protein PSD-95, which interacts with two important therapeutic targets Tau and β-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease, was upregulated. This fruitful treatment was further shown to significantly ameliorate Tau hyperphosphorylation and decrease β-amyloid by ways including modulating beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10. Collectively, such a newly developed strategy breaks the impasse for efficient drug delivery to the brain, and the potential therapeutic role of huperzine A for Alzheimer's disease is further illustrated.

Neuroprotective Effect of Thiazolidine-2,4-dione Derivatives on Memory Deficits and Neuropathological Symptoms of Dementia on a Scopolamine-Induced Alzheimer's Model in Adult Male Wistar Rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with a decline in memory deficits and neuropathological diagnosis with loss of cholinergic neurons in the brains of older adults. Based on these facts and an increasing number of involved people worldwide, this investigation aimed to study the improvement of memory and cognitive impairments via an anticholinergic approach of thiazolidine-2,4-diones (TZDs) in the scopolamine-induced model of Alzheimer type in adult male Wistar rats (n = 40). The results indicated data analysis obtained from in vivo and in vitro tests for (E)-5-(3-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZ3O) (2 and 4 mg/kg) with the meta-hydroxy group and (E)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)thiazolidine-2,4-dione (TZ4M) (2 and 3 mg/kg) with the para-methoxy group showed a neuroprotective effect. TZ3O and TZ4M alleviated the scopolamine-induced cognitive decline of the Alzheimer model in adult male Wistar rats. These initial and noteworthy results could be assumed as a starting point for the evolution of new anti-Alzheimer agents.

Update on new trends and progress of natural active ingredients in the intervention of Alzheimer's disease, based on understanding of traditional Chinese and Western relevant theories: A review

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the major neurological disorders causing death in the elderly worldwide. As a neurodegenerative disease that is difficult to prevent and cure, the pathogenesis of AD is complex and there is no effective cure. A variety of natural products derived from plants have been reported to have promising anti-AD activities, including flavonoids, terpenes, phenolic acids and alkaloids, which can effectively relieve the symptoms of AD in a variety of ways. This paper mainly reviews the pharmacological activity and mechanisms of natural products against AD. Although the clinical efficacy of these plants still needs to be determined by further high-quality studies, it may also provide a basis for future researchers to study anti-AD in depth.

Tongqiao Huoxue decoction alleviates neurological impairment following ischemic stroke via the PTGS2/NF-kappa B axis

Traditional Chinese medicine has emerged as promising targets for ischemic stroke (IS) therapy, yet the mechanism remains elusive. The current study was performed with an aim to investigate the action and mechanism of Tongqiao Huoxue decoction (TQHXD) affecting the neurological impairment secondary to IS based on network pharmacology. Based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis, target genes and pathways involved in the treatment of TQHXD against IS were predicted. Serum containing TQHXD was prepared through blood collection from C57BL/6 mice after intragastric administration of TQHXD. The main results exhibited that Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) exhibited an abundance in IS and enrichment in the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, holding the potential as targets related to TQHXD treatment for IS. TQHXD was found to rescue cell viability, inhibit apoptosis, and alleviate inflammation under oxygen and glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) exposure. Furthermore, our in vivo experiment validated the protective function of TQHXD in ischemic brain damage stimulated by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). This protective action of TQHXD could be attenuated by overexpressing nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B, which was dependent on PTGS2. Collectively, TQHXD was demonstrated to ameliorate IS-induced neurological impairment by blocking the NF-kappa B signaling pathway and down-regulating PTGS2.