Cognitive Enhancing and Neuroprotective Effect of the Embryo of the Nelumbo nucifera Seed

Total alkaloids from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. improve cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 mice and protect Aβ-damaged PC12 cells

The seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. is a famous traditional Chinese medicine and food which is considered conducive to the prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, the effect and mechanism of TASENN (total alkaloids from the seed embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) on AD mice and amyloid-β (Aβ) injured PC12 cells were evaluated. HPLC-UV analysis showed that the extracted TASENN (purity = 95.6%) mainly contains Liensinine, Isoliensinine, and Neferine (purity was 23.01, 28.02, and 44.57%, respectively). In vivo, oral treatment with TASENN (50 mg/kg/day for 28 days) improved the learning and memory functions of APP/PS1 transgenic mice, ameliorated the histopathological changes of cortical and hippocampal neurons, and inhibited neuronal apoptosis. We found that TASENN reduced the phosphorylation of Tau and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in APP/PS1 mouse brain. Moreover, TASENN down-regulated the expression of APP and BACE1, ameliorated Aβ deposition, and inhibited microglial proliferation and aggregation. The elevated protein expression of CaM and p-CaMKII in APP/PS1 mouse brain was also reduced by TASENN. In vitro, TASENN inhibited the apoptosis of PC12 cells injured by Aβ25-35 and increased the cell viability. Aβ25-35-induced increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ level and high expression of CaM, p-CaMKII, and p-Tau were decreased by TASENN. Our findings indicate that TASENN has a potential therapeutic effect on AD mice and a protective effect on PC12 cells. The anti-AD activity of TASENN may be closely related to its negative regulation of the CaM pathway.

Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Plumula Nelumbinis inhibit vascular smooth muscle cells migration and proliferation by regulating the ORAI2/Akt pathway

Plumula Nelumbinis, the embryo of the seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, is commonly used to make tea and nutritional supplements in East Asian countries. A bioassay-guided isolation of Plumula Nelumbinis afforded six previously undescribed bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, as well as seven known alkaloids. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of HRESIMS, NMR, and CD data. Pycnarrhine, neferine-2α,2'β-N,N-dioxides, neferine, linsinine, isolinsinine, and nelumboferine, at 2 μM significantly suppressed the migration of MOVAS cells with inhibition ratio above 50%, more active than that of the positive control cinnamaldehyde (inhibition ratio 26.9 ± 4.92%). Additionally, neferine, linsinine, isolinsinine, and nelumboferine, were also active against the proliferation of MOVAS cells with inhibition ratio greater than 45%. The preliminary structure-activity relationships were discussed. Mechanism studies revealed that nelumboferine inhibited the migration and proliferation of MOVAS cells by regulating ORAI2/Akt signaling pathway.

Neuroprotective Effect of White Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. Petal Tea in Rats Poisoned with Mancozeb

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (N. nucifera) tea is used as food and folk medicine to reduce toxicity in Southeast Asia. Mancozeb (Mz) is used for controlling fungi in agriculture and contains heavy metals. This study aimed to examine the effect of white N. nucifera petal tea on cognitive behavior, hippocampus histology, oxidative stress, and amino acid metabolism in rats poisoned with mancozeb. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups (n = 8 in each). Y-maze spontaneous alternation test was used to assess cognitive behavior, and amino acid metabolism was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR) from blood. There was a significant increase in relative brain weight in the Mz co-administered with the highest dose (2.20 mg/kg bw) of white N. nucifera group. The levels of tryptophan, kynurenine, picolinic acid, and serotonin in blood showed a significant decrease in the Mz group and a significant increase in the Mz co-administered with low dose (0.55 mg/kg bw) of white N. nucifera group. However, there was no significant difference in cognitive behavior, hippocampus histology, oxidative stress, and corticosterone. This study demonstrated that a low dose of white N. nucifera petal tea has a neuroprotective effect against mancozeb.

Neuroprotective Effects of a Multi-Herbal Extract on Axonal and Synaptic Disruption in Vitro and Cognitive Impairment in Vivo

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by cognitive decline. Current available therapeutics for AD have limited clinical benefit. Therefore, preventive therapies for interrupting the development of AD are critically needed. Molecules targeting multifunction to interact with various pathlogical components have been considered to improve the therapeutic efficiency of AD. In particular, herbal medicines with multiplicity of actions produce cognitive benefits on AD. Bugu-M is a multi-herbal extract composed of Ganoderma lucidum (Antler form), Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., Ziziphus jujuba Mill., and Dimocarpus longan, with the ability of its various components to confer resilience to cognitive deficits.

Objective

To evaluate the potential of Bugu-M on amyloid-β (Aβ) toxicity and its in vitro mechanisms and on in vivo cognitive function.

Methods

We illustrated the effect of Bugu-M on Aβ_25-35-evoked toxicity as well as its possible mechanisms to diminish the pathogenesis of AD in rat cortical neurons. For cognitive function studies, 2-month-old female 3×Tg-AD mice were administered 400 mg/kg Bugu-M for 30 days. Behavioral tests were performed to assess the efficacy of Bugu-M on cognitive impairment.

Results

In primary cortical neuronal cultures, Bugu-M mitigated Aβ-evoked toxicity by reducing cytoskeletal aberrations and axonal disruption, restoring presynaptic and postsynaptic protein expression, suppressing mitochondrial damage and apoptotic signaling, and reserving neurogenic and neurotrophic factors. Importantly, 30-day administration of Bugu-M effectively prevented development of cognitive impairment in 3-month-old female 3×Tg-AD mice.

Conclusion

Bugu-M might be beneficial in delaying the progression of AD, and thus warrants consideration for its preventive potential for AD.

Rapid-Onset Antidepressant-Like Effect of Nelumbinis semen in Social Hierarchy Stress Model of Depression

Depression is a disease with increasing prevalence worldwide, and it is necessary to develop a therapeutic agent with better efficacy than existing antidepressant drugs. Antidepressants that act on the glutamatergic nervous system, such as ketamine, have a rapid-onset antidepressant effect and are effective against treatment-resistant depression. However, because of the addictive potential of ketamine, alternative substances without psychological side effects are recommended. In particular, many natural compounds have been tested for their antidepressant effects. The antidepressant effects of Nelumbinis semen (NS) have been tested in many studies, along with the various actions of NS on the glutamatergic system. Thus, it was expected that NS might have a rapid-onset antidepressant effect. To test the antidepressant potential, despair and anhedonic behaviors were measured after administering NS to mice exposed to social hierarchy stress (SHS), and biochemical changes in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus were analyzed. NS reduced despair-like responses in the forced swim test and tail suspension test. Mice exposed to SHS showed depression-like responses such as increased despair, reduced hedonia, and an anxiety-like response in the novelty suppressed feeding test. NS, but not fluoxetine, improved those depression-like behaviors after acute treatment, and NBQX, an AMPA receptor blocker, inhibited the antidepressant-like effects of NS. The antidepressant-like effect of NS was related to enhanced phosphorylation of mTOR in the prefrontal cortex and dephosphorylation of GluR1 S845 in the hippocampus. Since NS has shown antidepressant-like potential in a preclinical model, it may be considered as a candidate for the development of antidepressants in the future.

The anticardiac fibrosis of total alkaloids of Plumula nelumbinis by regulating circulating lipidomic profile: In vivo study

Plumula nelumbinis has great medicinal potential as a herbal tea and traditional drug in China. This study was aimed to evaluate the anticardiac fibrosis of the total alkaloids of P. nelumbinis (TAP). TAP at 50 mg/kg/day significantly ameliorated isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibrosis in mice (p < .05). The circulating lipidomics study revealed that TAP improved the lipid metabolism dysfunction in cardiac fibrosis. Meanwhile, TAP suppressed the lipid accumulation, decreased MDA level (p < .01) in heart, and increased FFA level (p < .01). Furthermore, integrating lipidomics, chemical profiles and pharmacology network analysis found that AMPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways were the potential targeted pathway by TAP to regulate lipid metabolism dysfunction including glycerophospholipid metabolism. Above all, TAP provided a potential anticardiac fibrosis effect partly through regulation of lipid profiles. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The total alkaloids of Plumula nelumbinis (TAP) suppressed ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis in mice. Network pharmacology analysis and experiments revealed that TAP-regulated AMPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to improve lipid metabolism disorder in cardiac fibrosis. This study provides evidence to the therapeutic potential of TAP in the treatment of ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis and could be a drug candidate for prevention and treatment of cardiac fibrosis.

Comparative Analysis of the Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.)

Background. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.) are both aquatic rhizomatous perennial plants mostly found in the tropical region of Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, and Eastern Asia. Nymphaea pubescens and Nelumbo nucifera plants are famous for their different biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective. The present study majorly focused on the determination of in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphaea pubescens. Methods. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition was performed using PNPG as a substrate. Antioxidant property of the plant extract was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The aluminium trichloride method was done for the estimation of total flavonoid content. Likewise, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used for determining total phenolic content. Results. The total phenolic content of N. nucifera and N. pubescens was found to be 172.827 ± 0.41 and 194.87 ± 0.93 mg GAE/g, respectively, while the total flavonoid content was reported 17.12 ± 1.04 and 34.59 ± 1.73 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 values of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera against the DPPH free radical ranged from 33.46 ± 0.6 to 3.52 ± 0.09 μg/mL, while that of the N. pubescens ranged from 14.30 ± 0.43 to 1.43 ± 0.08 μg/mL. Similarly, for the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition activity, the IC50 of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera varied from 349.86 ± 2.91 to 29.06 ± 0.24 μg/mL and that of N. pubescens ranged from 224.4 ± 6.85 to 5.29 ± 0.39 μg/mL. Conclusion. Both aquatic plants N. nucifera and N. pubescens show antioxidant properties and can inhibit α-glucosidase in in vitro. Further research is required to identify the inhibiting compounds.

Optimized Extraction Method for Kleeb Bua Daeng Formula with the Aid of the Experimental Design

Kleeb Bua Daeng formula is one of the popular remedies sold in Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Thailand. This formula contains Piper nigrum L., Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., and Centella asiatica L. as active components. Owing to getting the highest content of its phytochemical compounds, the conditions of solvent extraction for this formula were optimized. The type of solvent, number of extraction times, and ratio between the material and solvent were varied in this study using the Box–Behnken design. The important phytochemical constituents (total phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins) were also determined. From the result of this study, it was found that the highest content of each total active compound was obtained from different conditions such as the optimal extraction condition of phenolic content was obtained using methanol as solvent, one time of extraction, and the ratio of powder and solvent was 1 : 6. Thus, the variation of solvent extraction condition could affect the phytochemical content. Further studies about the herbal formula involving the extraction process should concern the variation of extraction conditions to get the highest content of the active compound.

Lotus seeds (Nelumbinis semen) as an emerging therapeutic seed: A comprehensive review

Nelumbinis semen is commonly known as lotus seeds that have been used as a vegetable, functional food, and medicine for 7,000 years. These are low caloric, a rich source of multiple nutrients and bioactive constituents, which make it a unique therapeutic food. N. semen plays an important part in the physiological functions of the body. Nowadays, people are more conscious about their health and desire to treat disease naturally with minimal side effects. So, functional foods are getting popularity due to a wide range of essential constituents, which are associated to decrease the risk of chronic diseases. These bioactive compounds from seeds are involved in anti-adipogenic, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-microbial, anti-viral, hypoglycemic, etc. Moreover, the relationship between functional compounds along with their mechanism of action in the body, their extraction from the seeds for further research would be of great interest.

The Cytoprotective and Anti-cancer Potential of Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera

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Natural product therapy has been gaining therapeutic importance against various diseases, including cancer. The failure of chemotherapy due to its associated adverse effects promoted adjunct therapy with natural products. Phytochemicals exert anti-carcinogenic activities through the regulation of various cell signaling pathways such as cell survival, inflammation, apoptosis, autophagy and metastasis. The ‘small molecule-chemosensitizing agents’ from plants induce apoptosis in drug-resistant and host-immune resistant cancer cells in in vitro as well as in vivo models. For example, alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera, liensinine, isoliensinine and neferine exert the anticancer activity through enhanced ROS generation, activation of MAP kinases, followed by induction of autophagy and apoptotic cell death. Likewise, these alkaloids also exert their cytoprotective action against cerebrovascular stroke/ischemic stroke, diabetes, and chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity. Therefore, the present review elucidates the pharmacological activities of these bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids which include the cytoprotective, anticancer and chemosensitizing abilities against various diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and cancer.

Kleeb Bua Daeng, a Thai Traditional Herbal Formula, Ameliorated Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress-Induced Cognitive Impairment in ICR Mice

Thai traditional herbal formula ''Kleeb Bua Daeng (KBD)''consists of a 1:1:1 ratio (dry weight) of three medicinal plants: Piper nigrum fruit, the aerial part of Centella asiatica and the petals of Nelumbo nucifera. Oral administration of KBD to unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) mice significantly improved their cognitive function caused by chronic mild stress. Daily administration of KBD significantly decreased the serum corticosterone (CORT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels but increased the catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in both frontal cortex and hippocampus. The effects of KBD were similar to those caused by oral administration of vitamin E. HPLC analysis of the KBD extract revealed the presence of piperine, madecassoside, asiaticoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, rutin, kaempferol-3-glucoside, quercetin, kaempferol and ferulic acid as major constituents.

Effect of Nelumbo nucifera fruit on scopolamine induced memory deficits and motor coordination

From prehistoric time till today herbal medications are supposed to have neuroprotective effects both by inhibiting acetyl cholinesterase enzyme or antioxidant ability and are also affordable. Thus extensive studies are necessary to investigate the pharmacological effects of herbal plants. The goal of the present study was to ascertain the outcome of Nelumbo nucifera fruit (NNF) on scopolamine induced amnestic rats along with motor coordination in mice in order to explore its pharmacological use in disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). The effect of NNF on learning and memory was assessed by Morris water maze test using 35 Wister rats weighing 200-230 g evenly divided in to five groups. While motor coordination was assessed using Rot rod test, 35 male locally bred albino mice weighing 20-25 g were equally divided in to five groups. Group I was kept as control (10 ml/kg gum tragacanth). Group II, III and IV were labeled as treated groups (NNF 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg). Group V served as reference group (piracetam 200 mg/kg). All drugs were given by oral route as a single dose for 15 days in both experiments to rats and mice, however scopolamine (1 mg/kg IP) was used in Morris water maze test 40 min after the administration of drugs to rats for the induction of amnesia. In Morris water maze test, N. nucifera fruit caused highly significant and significant decrease in escape latency in the amnestic rats at 200 and 100 mg/kg as compared to control. In Rota rod test, N. nucifera fruit did not exhibit any notable changes in the riding time at any dose as compared to control. N. nucifera fruit have demonstrated ameliorating effects on memory without affecting muscle coordination. Hence NNF seems to have great potential for therapeutic application in memory disorders, such as AD which may be due to its ability to enhance cholinergic neurotransmission and exerting antioxidant effect and thus encourage more preclinical and clinical trials in this field.

Phytochemical Profile and Biological Activity of Nelumbo nucifera

Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. (Nymphaeaceae) is a potential aquatic crop grown and consumed throughout Asia. All parts of N. nucifera have been used for various medicinal purposes in various systems of medicine including folk medicines, Ayurveda, Chinese traditional medicine, and oriental medicine. Many chemical constituents have been isolated till the date. However, the bioactive constituents of lotus are mainly alkaloids and flavonoids. Traditionally, the whole plant of lotus was used as astringent, emollient, and diuretic. It was used in the treatment of diarrhea, tissue inflammation, and homeostasis. The rhizome extract was used as antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties due to the presence of asteroidal triterpenoid. Leaves were used as an effective drug for hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia. Flowers were used to treat diarrhea, cholera, fever, and hyperdipsia. In traditional medicine practice, seeds are used in the treatment of tissue inflammation, cancer and skin diseases, leprosy, and poison antidote. Embryo of lotus seeds is used in traditional Chinese medicine as Lian Zi Xin, which primarily helps to overcome nervous disorders, insomnia, and cardiovascular diseases (hypertension and arrhythmia). Nutritional value of lotus is as important as pharmaceutical value. These days' different parts of lotus have been consumed as functional foods. Thus, lotus can be regarded as a potential nutraceutical source.