Chelidonic acid evokes antidepressant-like effect through the up-regulation of BDNF in forced swimming test

Structure and Neuroprotector Properties of a Complex Compound of Lithium with Comenic Acid

The structure, antioxidant and neuroprotective properties of lithium comenate (lithium 5-hydroxy-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-carboxylate) were studied. Lithium comenate was obtained by reacting comenic acid (H2Com) with lithium hydroxide in an aqueous solution. The structure of lithium comenate was confirmed via thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, IR, NMR and UV spectroscopy. The crystal structure was studied in detail via X-ray diffraction. The compound crystallized in a non-centrosymmetric space group of symmetry of the orthorhombic system Pna21 in the form of a hydrate, with three water molecules entering the first coordination sphere of the cation Li+ and one molecule forming a second environment through non-valent contacts. The gross formula of the complex compound was established [Li(HCom)(H2O)3]·H2O. It has been established that lithium comenate has a pronounced neuroprotective activity under the excitotoxic effect of glutamate, increasing the survival rate of cultured rat cerebellar neurons more than two-fold. It has also been found that the pre-stress use of lithium comenate at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg has an antioxidant effect, which is manifested in a decrease in oxidative damage to the brain tissues of mice subjected to immobilization stress. Based on the data available in the literature, we believe that the high neuroprotective and antioxidant efficacy of lithium comenate is a consequence of the mutual potentiation of the pharmacological effects of lithium and comenic acid.

Effects of Acute and Repeated Dose Toxicity Profiling of Chelidonic Acid in Rats: in Silico and in Vivo Evidence

Chelidonic acid is a phytoconstituent found in rhizomes of the perennial plant celandine. The current study aims to evaluate the acute and repeated dose oral toxicity study of chelidonic acid as per the OECD guidelines 425 and 407. The pharmacokinetic and toxicity profile of chelidonic acid was predicted using online servers and tools. A single dose of chelidonic acid (2000 mg/kg) was administered to female Wistar rats in an acute toxicity study, and the animals were monitored for 14 days. We studied the toxicity profile of chelidonic acid at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg doses in Wistar rats for repeated dose toxicity (28 days). Clinical biochemistry, haematological, and urine parameters were estimated. A gross necropsy and histopathology were performed. A single oral dose of chelidonic acid (2000 mg/kg) showed no signs of toxicity or mortality. The Administration of chelidonic acid showed no significant alterations in haematological, biochemical, and urine parameters. The histopathology showed normal structure and architecture in all the vital organs. A gross necropsy of vital organs showed no signs of toxicity. The chelidonic acid was found to be safe at all selected dose levels in the acute and repeated dose toxicity study in rats.

Dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines through the comprehensive review of the recent literatures

Depression is clinically defined as a mood disorder with persistent feeling of sadness, despair, fatigue, and loss of interest. The pathophysiology of depression is tightly regulated by the biosynthesis, transport and signaling of neurotransmitters [e.g., serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, or γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] in the central nervous system. The existing antidepressant drugs mainly target the dysfunctions of various neurotransmitters, while the efficacy of antidepressant therapeutics is undermined by different adverse side-effects. The present review aimed to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines toward the development of effective and safe antidepressant drugs. Our strategy involved comprehensive review and network pharmacology analysis for the active compounds and associated target proteins. As results, 45 different antidepressant herbal medicines were identified from various in vivo and in vitro studies. The antidepressant mechanisms might involve multiple signaling pathways that regulate neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, endocrine, and microbiota. Importantly, herbal medicines could modulate broader spectrum of the cellular pathways and processes to attenuate depression and avoid the side-effects of synthetic antidepressant drugs. The present review not only recognized the antidepressant potential of herbal medicines but also provided molecular insights for the development of novel antidepressant drugs.

Sortilin deletion in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in mice via regulating ASM/ceramide signaling

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by persistent mood despondency and loss of motivation. Although numerous hypotheses have been proposed, the possible pathogenesis of MDD remains unclear. Several recent studies show that a classic transporter protein, sortilin, is closely associated with depression. In the present study, we investigated the role of sortilin in MDD using a well-established rodent model of depression. Mice were subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 6 weeks. We showed that the expression levels of sortilin were significantly increased in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of CUMS mice. The depressive-like behaviors induced by CUMS were alleviated by specific knockdown of sortilin in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. We revealed that sortilin facilitated acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/ceramide signaling, which activated RhoA/ROCK2 signaling, ultimately causing the transformation of dendritic spine dynamics. Specific overexpression of sortilin in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus induced depressive-like behaviors, which was mitigated by injection of ASM inhibitor SR33557 (4 µg/μL) into the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. In conclusion, sortilin knockdown in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus plays an important role in ameliorating depressive-like behavior induced by CUMS, which is mainly evidenced by decreasing the trafficking of ASM from the trans-Golgi network to the lysosome and reducing the ceramide levels. Our results provide a new insight into the pathology of depression, and demonstrate that sortilin may be a potential therapeutic target for MDD.

Therapeutic of Candesartan and Music Therapy in Diabetic Retinopathy with Depression in Rats

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of candesartan combined with music therapy on diabetic retinopathy with depression and to assess the molecular mechanisms. Associated animal model of diabetes mellitus and depression was established in rats. Pathological changes in the hippocampus were detected by haematoxylin eosin (H&E) staining. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect retinal cell apoptosis. Angiotensin II (Ang II) in peripheral blood and neurotransmitters, including serotonin (5-HT), dopamine (DA), and norepinephrine (NE) in the hippocampus, was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fluorescence quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and c-fos in the hippocampus. Our data showed that chromatin aggregation and cytoplasmic vacuolation were observable in the hippocampal cells of the rats in the model group, while candesartan and music therapy could reduce morphological changes in the hippocampus of diabetic rats with depression. Compared with the control group, the apoptosis of retinal cells was significantly higher, the contents of 5-HT, DA, and NE in the hippocampus were significantly lower, Ang II level in peripheral blood was significantly higher, and the expression of BDNF and c-fos in the hippocampus decreased significantly in the model group. By contrast, candesartan or candesartan + music therapy ameliorated the changes in retina cell apoptosis, reduction of neurotransmitters, increase in AII, and the expression of c-fos and BDNF. Especially, music therapy further improved the effects of candesartan on retina cell apoptosis and neurotransmitter release in diabetic retinopathy rats with depression. In conclusion, candesartan and music therapy have an additive effect in DM with both visual impairment and depression, which might serve a potential alternative treatment for this complex disease.

Neutral and Cationic Chelidonate Coordination Polymers with N,N′-Bridging Ligands

The biomolecule chelidonic acid (H2chel, 4-oxo-4H-pyran-2,6-dicarboxylic acid) has been used to build new coordination polymers with the bridging N,N′-ligands 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4-bipy) and 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpe). Four compounds have been obtained as single crystals: 1D cationic coordination polymers [M(4,4-bipy)(OH2)4]2+ with chelidonate anions and water molecules in the second coordination sphere in 1∞[Zn(4,4-bipy)(H2O)4]chel·3H2O (2) and in the two pseudopolymorphic 1∞[Cu(4,4-bipy)(H2O)4]chel·nH2O (n = 3, 4a; n = 6, 4b), and the 2D neutral coordination polymers 2∞[Zn(chel)(4,4-bipy)(H2O)]·2H2O (1) and 2∞[Zn(chel)(bpe)(H2O)]·H2O (3) where the chelidonate anion acts as a bridging ligand. The effects of the hydrogen bonds on the crystal packing were analyzed. The role of the water molecules hosted within the crystals lattices was also studied.