Compound danshen tablet ameliorated aβ25-35-induced spatial memory impairment in mice via rescuing imbalance between cytokines and neurotrophins

Exploring the Mechanism of Fufang Danshen Tablet against Atherosclerosis by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

Atherosclerosis is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Fufang Danshen Tablet (FDT) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been clinically used to treat CVDs for more than 40 years. Nevertheless, owing to the complexity of the ingredients, the pharmacological mechanism of FDT in the treatment of CVDs has not been fully elucidated. In this study, an integrated strategy of UFLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology, molecular biology, and transcriptomics was used to elucidate the mechanisms of action of FDT in the treatment of atherosclerosis. In total, 22 absorbed constituents were identified in rat serum after oral administration of FDT. In silico, network pharmacology studies have shown that FDT regulates four key biological functional modules for the treatment of atherosclerosis: oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, energy metabolism, and immune/inflammation. In animal experiments, FDT exerted protective effects against atherosclerosis by reducing the plaque area and lipid levels in ApoE-/- mice. Furthermore, we found that FDT inhibited inflammatory macrophage accumulation by regulating the expression of Selp and Ccl2, which are both involved in monocyte adhesion and migration. The inhibition of monocyte recruitment by FDT is a new perspective to elucidate the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of FDT, which has not been adopted in previous studies on FDT. Our results may help to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of FDT against CVDs and provide potential therapeutic targets.

The roles of RACK1 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease

The receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) is a protein that plays a crucial role in various signaling pathways and is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent neurodegenerative disease. RACK1 is highly expressed in neuronal cells of the central nervous system and regulates the pathogenesis of AD. Specifically, RACK1 is involved in regulation of the amyloid-β precursor protein processing through α- or β-secretase by binding to different protein kinase C isoforms. Additionally, RACK1 promotes synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity by inhibiting N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and activating gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptors, thereby preventing neuronal excitotoxicity. RACK1 also assembles inflammasomes that are involved in various neuroinflammatory pathways, such as nuclear factor-kappa B, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 pathways. The potential to design therapeutics that block amyloid-β accumulation and inflammation or precisely regulate synaptic plasticity represents an attractive therapeutic strategy, in which RACK1 is a potential target. In this review, we summarize the contribution of RACK1 to the pathogenesis of AD and its potential as a therapeutic target.

Natural Compounds of Salvia L. Genus and Molecular Mechanism of Their Biological Activity

The study of medicinal plants is important, as they are the natural reserve of potent biologically active compounds. With wide use in traditional medicine and the inclusion of several species (as parts and as a whole plant) in pharmacopeia, species from the genus Salvia L. are known for the broad spectrum of their biological activities. Studies suggest that these plants possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antiangiogenic, hepatoprotective, cognitive and memory-enhancing effects. Phenolic acids, terpenoids and flavonoids are important phytochemicals, which are primarily responsible for the medicinal activity of Salvia L. This review collects and summarizes currently available data on the pharmacological properties of sage, outlining its principal physiologically active components, and it explores the molecular mechanism of their biological activity. Particular attention was given to the species commonly found in Kazakhstan, especially to Salvia trautvetteri Regel, which is native to this country.

Disease-Modifying Activity of Huperzine A on Alzheimer's Disease: Evidence from Preclinical Studies on Rodent Models

(1) Background: Huperzine A, a natural cholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor isolated from the Chinese herb Huperzia Serrata, has been used as a dietary supplement in the United States and a drug in China for therapeutic intervention on Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review aims to determine whether Huperzine A exerts disease-modifying activity through systematic analysis of preclinical studies on rodent AD models. (2) Methods: Sixteen preclinical studies were included based on specific criteria, and the methodological qualities were analyzed by SYRCLE's risk of bias tool. Some outcomes were meta-analyzed: latencies and time spent in quadrant of Morris water maze, soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) level measured by ELISA in the cortex and hippocampus, Aβ plaque numbers measured by immunohistochemistry in hippocampus, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity, and AChE activity. Finally, the mechanisms of Huperzine A on AD models were summarized. (3) Conclusions: The outcomes showed that Huperzine A displayed AChE inhibition, ChAT activity enhancement, memory improvement, and Aβ decreasing activity, indicating the disease-modifying effect of Huperzine A. However, due to the uneven methodological quality, the results need to be rationally viewed, and extensively repeated.

Ethnomedicinal Plants with Protective Effects against Beta-Amyloid Peptide (Aβ)1-42 Indicate Therapeutic Potential in a New In Vivo Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with unmet medical need. This investigation consisted of testing a range of ethanolic ethnomedicinal plant extracts (n = 18) traditionally used in the treatment of disorders such as anxiety, delirium, and memory loss. They were then screened for in vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butylcholinesterase (BuChE), beta-secretase 1/beta-site amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), and antioxidant activities. Plants with potent activities were further characterised using a recently developed in vivo model of AD, Globodera pallida. The ability of phytoextracts to protect this organism against amyloid-beta Aβ (1-42) exposure was assessed by measuring chemosensing, survival rate, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and antioxidant responses. Extracts (n = 5) from Juglans regia (leaves), Ellettaria cardamomum (seeds), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (bark), Salvia officinalis (leaves/flowers), and Hypericum perforatum (flowers) exerted concentration-dependent inhibitory activities against AChE and BuChE. Three of these plant extracts (i.e., J. regia, E. cardamomum, and S. officinalis) possessed strong concentration-dependent inhibitory activity against BACE1. Furthermore, the five selected medicinal plant extracts not only enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) the nematode’s chemosensing, survival rate, and antioxidant responses (i.e., anti-ROS production, mitochondrial reductase activity, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) to reduced glutathione (GSH) ratio), but also greatly restored (p < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner the Aβ (1-42)-induced deleterious changes in these same parameters. In brief, this investigation highlights plant extracts with strong anti-AD activities which could be trialled as novel therapeutic supplements or undergo further biodiscovery research.

Proteostasis Deregulation in Neurodegeneration and Its Link with Stress Granules: Focus on the Scaffold and Ribosomal Protein RACK1

The role of protein misfolding, deposition, and clearance has been the dominant topic in the last decades of investigation in the field of neurodegeneration. The impairment of protein synthesis, along with RNA metabolism and RNA granules, however, are significantly emerging as novel potential targets for the comprehension of the molecular events leading to neuronal deficits. Indeed, defects in ribosome activity, ribosome stalling, and PQC—all ribosome-related processes required for proteostasis regulation—can contribute to triggering stress conditions and promoting the formation of stress granules (SGs) that could evolve in the formation of pathological granules, usually occurring during neurodegenerating effects. In this review, the interplay between proteostasis, mRNA metabolism, and SGs has been explored in a neurodegenerative context with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although some defects in these same mechanisms can also be found in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which are discussed here. Finally, we highlight the role of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) in these pathologies and note that, besides its well characterized function as a scaffold protein, it has an important role in translation and can associate to stress granules (SGs) determining cell fate in response to diverse stress stimuli.

Progress in the correlation of postoperative cognitive dysfunction and Alzheimer's disease and the potential therapeutic drug exploration

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a decrease in mental capacity that can occur days to weeks after a medical procedure and may become permanent and rarely lasts for a longer period of time. With the continuous development of research, various viewpoints in academic circles have undergone subtle changes, and the role of anesthesia depth and anesthesia type seems to be gradually weakened; Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a latent and progressive neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. The protein hypothesis and the synaptic hypothesis are well-known reasons. These changes will also lead to the occurrence of an inflammatory cascade. The exact etiology and pathogenesis need to be studied. The reasonable biological mechanism affecting brain protein deposition, neuroinflammation, and acetylcholine-like effect has a certain relationship between AD and POCD. Whereas there is still further uncertainty about the mechanism and treatment, and it is elusive whether POCD is a link in the continuous progress of AD or a separate entity, which has doubts about the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Therefore, this review is based on the current common clinical characteristics of AD and POCD, and pathophysiological research, to search for their common points and explore the direction and new strategies for future treatment.

Effects of heparan sulfate from porcine mucosa on Aβ1-42-induced neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo

Amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition and neurotoxicity play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Notably, the nonnegligible role of endogenous heparan sulfate (HS) in the release, uptake and misfolding of Aβ sheds light on the discovery of HS as an effective drug for AD. In this work, the effects of HS from porcine mucosa (PMHS) on Aβ_1-42-induced neurotoxicity were investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro AD model was established in SH-SY5Y via treatment with oligomeric Aβ_1-42, and the in vivo AD model was established by intracerebroventricular injection of Aβ_1-42 to KM mice. The results showed that in vitro, PMHS could ameliorate the inflammation and apoptosis response of SH-SY5Y cells induced by Aβ_1-42; in vivo, PMHS could not only improve the cognitive impairment induced by Aβ_1-42 but also inhibit neuroinflammation and apoptosis in the brain. Furthermore, PMHS lowered the levels of Aβ_1-42 in the peripheral circulation and brain by improving the phagocytosis function of neutrophils. This is the first report that PMHS enhances the phagocytosis function of neutrophils to alleviate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, our work verified the feasibility of peripheral Aβ clearance for improving neurotoxicity. Conclusively, we believe that PMHS could be developed into neuroprotective drugs for AD.

Inflammatory markers in postoperative cognitive dysfunction for patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a poorly understood disorder, very common even after total hip arthroplasty (THA). It is widely considered that inflammation response play a role in the pathogenesis of POCD.

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether inflammation cytokine concentrations could serve as biomarkers for POCD in patients undergoing THA.

METHODS

A systematic search of databases was conducted to retrieve publications measuring circulating inflammatory markers of patients with and without POCD after THA. Inflammatory markers identified in more than two studies were pooled. The standardized mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated for each outcome. Fail-safe N statistics was calculated to estimate possible publication bias.

RESULTS

The pooled incidence rate of POCD after THA by combining 11 cohort studies was 31%. A total of five inflammatory markers, CRP, S-100B, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, were assessed. Significantly higher pre-operative CRP (P = 0.012) and S-100B (P < 0.0001) as well as post-operative CPR (P = 0.005) and IL-6 (P < 0.0001) at 6 h were found in POCD compared with non-POCD patients undergoing THA. Fail-safe N statistics revealed that these results are robust.

DISCUSSION

The current evidence suggests that some of the inflammatory markers, including CRP, S-100B, and IL-6, were correlated with the occurrence of POCD after THA.

CONCLUSION

Monitor of inflammatory markers might help early diagnosis of POCD after THA and development of preventive strategies.

Selected Natural Products in Neuroprotective Strategies for Alzheimer's Disease-A Non-Systematic Review

Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are distinguished by the irreversible degeneration of central nervous system function and structure. AD is characterized by several different neuropathologies-among others, it interferes with neuropsychiatrical controls and cognitive functions. This disease is the number one neurodegenerative disorder; however, its treatment options are few and, unfortunately, ineffective. In the new strategies devised for AD prevention and treatment, the application of plant-based natural products is especially popular due to lesser side effects associated with their taking. Moreover, their neuroprotective activities target different pathological mechanisms. The current review presents the anti-AD properties of several natural plant substances. The paper throws light on products under in vitro and in vivo trials and compiles information on their mechanism of actions. Knowledge of the properties of such plant compounds and their combinations will surely lead to discovering new potent medicines for the treatment of AD with lesser side effects than the currently available pharmacological proceedings.

Chemical composition, quality control, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological properties and clinical applications of Fufang Danshen Tablet: A systematic review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Fufang Danshen Tablet (FDT) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula composed of three Chinese medicinal materials comprising Salviae Miltiorrhizar Radix et Rhizoma (Dan-Shen in Chinese), Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (San-Qi), and Borneolum Syntheticum (Bing-Pian). It has been documented to exert significant effects in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and become a frequently used formula in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

To systematically analyze and summarize the research findings concerning the chemical composition, quality control, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological properties, clinical applications, and toxicity of FDT, so as to point out some typical problems and provides opinions for future study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Literatures involving FDT were collected from online scientific databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Link, SciFinder, and Google Scholar up to March 2021. All eligible studies are analyzed and summarized in this review.

RESULTS

This review summarizes reported results concerning the post-marketing quality and efficacy of FDT. Some problems are pointed out for FDT. Hereon we propose several directions for future study: (a) improvement of quality control based on exact overall chemical profiles, entire production process monitoring, and biopotency-associated multi-index content determination method; (b) clarification of functional mechanisms focused on pharmacokinetic profiles in human, interplay with gut microbiota, and integration of multi-omics technologies; (c) reconfirmation of clinical effectiveness and safety from large-scale clinical studies based on evidence-based medicine.

CONCLUSIONS

FDT is a typical TCM formula in treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, but there are also some troubles. Future studies should focus on the improvement of quality control, the clarification of functional mechanisms, as well as the reconfirmation of clinical effectiveness and safety.

Prescription of Radix Salvia miltiorrhiza in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study Using the National Health Insurance Research Database

Objective: While radix Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen; RSM) is commonly used in Chinese herbal medicine, its current usage has not yet been analyzed in a large-scale survey. This study aimed to investigate the conditions for which RSM is prescribed and the utilization of RSM in Taiwan.

Methods: 1 million beneficiaries enrolled in the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were sampled to identify patients who were prescribed RSM. Next, the diagnoses of these patients based on the International Classification of Diseases 9th Revision Clinical Modification code were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for RSM utilization.

Results: Patients with disorders of menstruation and abnormal bleeding from the female genital tract due to other causes were the diagnostic group most commonly treated with RSM (9.48%), followed by those with general (9.46%) and cardiovascular symptoms (4.18%). Subjects treated with RSM were mostly aged 35–49 years (30.1%). The most common combination of diseases for which RSM was prescribed (0.17%) included menopausal disorders and general symptoms. Women were more likely to receive RSM than men (OR = 1.75, 95% confidence interval = 1.73–1.78). RSM was frequently combined with Yan-Hu-Suo and Jia-Wei-Xiao-Yao-San for clinical use.

Conclusion: To date, this is the first study to identify the most common conditions for which RSM is used in modern Taiwan. The results indicate RSM as a key medicinal herb for the treatment of gynecological diseases, including menstrual disorders, female genital pain, menopausal disorders, etc. The most common combination for which RSM is prescribed is menopausal disorders and general symptoms. Further research is needed to elucidate the optimal dosage, efficacy, and safety of RSM.

Neuroprotective Natural Products for Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the number one neurovegetative disease, but its treatment options are relatively few and ineffective. In efforts to discover new strategies for AD therapy, natural products have aroused interest in the research community and in the pharmaceutical industry for their neuroprotective activity, targeting different pathological mechanisms associated with AD. A wide variety of natural products from different origins have been evaluated preclinically and clinically for their neuroprotective mechanisms in preventing and attenuating the multifactorial pathologies of AD. This review mainly focuses on the possible neuroprotective mechanisms from natural products that may be beneficial in AD treatment and the natural product mixtures or extracts from different sources that have demonstrated neuroprotective activity in preclinical and/or clinical studies. It is believed that natural product mixtures or extracts containing multiple bioactive compounds that can work additively or synergistically to exhibit multiple neuroprotective mechanisms might be an effective approach in AD drug discovery.

Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of the compound Danshen tablet: roles of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anticoagulation, and anti-apoptosis

Background

Hyperlipidemia could cause some serious harm to human health diseases, such as atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease. This study sought to investigate the effects of the compound Danshen tablet (CDT) on hyperlipidemia induced by a high-fat diet in ApoE^-/- mice and related antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anticoagulation, and anti-apoptosis mechanisms.

Methods

The control group (Group 1) comprised 15 male C57BL/6N mice, and the other 5 groups (Groups 2-6) comprised 75 male ApoE^-/- mice. These 75 mice were randomly divided into 1 of the following 5 groups: Group 2, a model group; Groups 3-5, the CDT groups, each of which was administered 375, 750, or 1,500 mg/kg of CDT; and Group 6, an atorvastatin group, which was administered 5.2 mg/kg of atorvastatin. All the mice were fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks and intragastrically administered with CDT or atorvastatin once a day according to their body weight. After 16 weeks, serum was collected, the aorta was isolated, and blood lipid levels were detected. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the serum levels of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). The thickness of the aortic wall was measured by ultrasonography. Atherosclerotic plaque and endothelial cell apoptosis in the aortic root were evaluated using oil red O staining and terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays, respectively.

Results

A comparison of mice in the CDT group and mice in the model group showed that CDT significantly inhibited mice's weight gain. CDT reduced the levels of the inflammatory factor ICAM-1 and the oxidative damage molecule 4-HNE. In the coagulation system, CDT significantly increased tPA levels and reduced TXB2 and PAI-1 levels. Ultrasonography showed that CDT increased the thickness of the aortic wall. The oil red O staining results revealed that CDT significantly ameliorated lipid accumulation in the aortic valve. TUNEL assays indicated that CDT reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the aortic valve.

Conclusions

CDT has a certain protective effect on hyperlipidemia. The mechanism of CDT may be related to antioxidation, anti-inflammation, anticoagulation, and anti-apoptosis.

Zingiber officinale ameliorates Alzheimer's disease and Cognitive Impairments: Lessons from preclinical studies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition mostly communal in people of advanced years accompanying various dysfunctionalities especially cognitive impairments. A number of cellular damages, such as amyloid-beta aggregation, tau protein hyperphosphorylation, some neurotransmitter imbalances, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses are responsible for AD incidence. As a reason for inadequate efficacy, side effects, and pharmacokinetic problems of conventional drugs used for AD, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents with multi-targeted potential is desirable. Protective properties of phytochemicals combat numerous diseases and their vast acceptance and demand in human beings encouraged scientists to assess their effective activities. Zingiber officinale, gingerol, shogaol, and borneol were evaluated against memory impairments. Online databases including; Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, Pubmed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane Library were searched until 3th February 2020. In vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies are included after screening their eligibility. Mostly interventive mechanisms such as; oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis are described. Correlation between the pathogenesis of AD and signaling pathways is explicated. Results and scores of cognition measurements are clarified due to in vivo studies and clinical trials. Some traditional aspects of consuming ginger in AD are also mentioned in the present review. In accumulation ginger and its components possess great potency for improving and abrogating memory dysfunctions but conducting further studies to evaluate their pharmacological and pharmaceutical aspects is required.

Overview of Salvia miltiorrhiza as a Potential Therapeutic Agent for Various Diseases: An Update on Efficacy and Mechanisms of Action

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is a medicinal herb that has been used for the treatment for various diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in East Asia including Korea. Considering its extensive usage as a therapeutic agent for multiple diseases, there is a need to review previous research regarding its therapeutic benefits and their mechanisms. Therefore, we searched PubMed and PubMed Central for articles reporting its therapeutic effects on certain disease groups including cancers, cardiovascular, liver, and nervous system diseases. This review provides an overview of therapeutic benefits and targets of S. miltiorrhiza, including inflammation, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The findings on multi-functional properties of S. miltiorrhiza discussed in this article support the efficacy of S. miltiorrhiza extract on various diseases, but also call for further research on the multiple mechanisms that mediate its therapeutic effects.

Therapeutic Effects of Natural Drugs on Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer disease (AD) is characterized as a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with aging. The clinical manifestations of AD include latent episodes of memory and cognitive impairment, psychiatric symptoms and behavioral disorders, as well as limited activities in daily life. In developed countries, AD is now acknowledged as the third leading cause of death, following cardiovascular disease and cancer. The pathogenesis and mechanism of AD remain unclear, although some theories have been proposed to explain AD, such as the theory of β-amyloid, the theory of the abnormal metabolism of tau protein, the theory of free radical damage, the theory of the inflammatory response, the theory of cholinergic damage, etc. Effective methods to predict, prevent or reverse AD are unavailable, and thus the development of new, efficient therapeutic drugs has become a current research hot spot worldwide. The isolation and extraction of active components from natural drugs have great potential in treating AD. These drugs possess the advantages of multiple targets in multiple pathways, fewer side effects and a long duration of curative effects. This article summaries the latest research progress regarding the mechanisms of natural drugs in the treatment of AD, providing a review of the literature and a theoretical basis for improving the clinical treatment of AD.

Protective effect of compound Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) dripping pills alone and in combination with carbamazepine on kainic acid-induced temporal lobe epilepsy and cognitive impairment in rats

CONTEXT

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is resistant to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and is associated with cognitive impairment. The modern Chinese medicine, compound Danshen dripping pills (CDDP), is clinically effective in treating epilepsy and improving cognitive impairment.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the protective effects of CDDP alone and in combination with carbamazepine (CBZ) on kainic acid-induced TLE and cognitive impairment in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (sham operated), model, CDDP, CBZ and combined. A TLE model was then created via bilateral intrahippocampal injection of 0.35 μg kainic acid (KA). Rats received CDDP (85 mg/kg), CBZ (100 mg/kg) or combined (85 mg/kg CDDP +100 mg/kg CBZ) via intragastric administration for 90 d, respectively. Seizure intensity, apoptosis and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were measured. Furthermore, the improvement in cognitive impairment and hippocampal neuronal damage was evaluated.

RESULTS

CDDP combined with CBZ significantly decreased seizure severity and frequency (p < 0.05) and ameliorated cognitive impairment (p < 0.05). The model group showed a significant reduction of neurons and Bcl-2/Bax expression in the hippocampus CA3 area (p < 0.01), the combined groups significantly reversed these change (p < 0.01). GDNF expression in the combined groups showed a clear increase over the model group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings support the use of CDDP as an adjuvant drug for the treatment of TLE and cognitive deficit. Its mechanism might be related to an anti-apoptosis effect and up-regulation of GDNF.

Botanicals as Modulators of Neuroplasticity: Focus on BDNF

The involvement of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in different central nervous system (CNS) diseases suggests that this neurotrophin may represent an interesting and reliable therapeutic target. Accordingly, the search for new compounds, also from natural sources, able to modulate BDNF has been increasingly explored. The present review considers the literature on the effects of botanicals on BDNF. Botanicals considered were Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell, Coffea arabica L., Crocus sativus L., Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim., Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (green tea), Ginkgo biloba L., Hypericum perforatum L., Olea europaea L. (olive oil), Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Rhodiola rosea L., Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Vitis vinifera L., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton. The effect of the active principles responsible for the efficacy of the extracts is reviewed and discussed as well. The high number of articles published (more than one hundred manuscripts for 14 botanicals) supports the growing interest in the use of natural products as BDNF modulators. The studies reported strengthen the hypothesis that botanicals may be considered useful modulators of BDNF in CNS diseases, without high side effects. Further clinical studies are mandatory to confirm botanicals as preventive agents or as useful adjuvant to the pharmacological treatment.

Protective effects of Bushen Tiansui decoction on hippocampal synapses in a rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Bushen Tiansui decoction is composed of six traditional Chinese medicines: Herba Epimedii, Radix Polygoni multiflori, Plastrum testudinis, Fossilia Ossis Mastodi, Radix Polygalae, and Rhizoma Acorus tatarinowii. Because Bushen Tiansui decoction is effective against amyloid beta (Aβ) toxicity, we hypothesized that it would reduce hippocampal synaptic damage and improve cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. To test this hypothesis, we used a previously established animal model of Alzheimer's disease, that is, microinjection of aggregated Aβ25-35 into the bilateral brain ventricles of Sprague-Dawley rats. We found that long-term (28 days) oral administration of Bushen Tiansui decoction (0.563, 1.688, and 3.375 g/mL; 4 mL/day) prevented synaptic loss in the hippocampus and increased the expression levels of synaptic proteins, including postsynaptic density protein 95, the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2B subunit, and Shank1. These results suggested that Bushen Tiansui decoction can protect synapses by maintaining the expression of these synaptic proteins. Bushen Tiansui decoction also ameliorated measures reflecting spatial learning and memory deficits that were observed in the Morris water maze (i.e., increased the number of platform crossings and the amount of time spent in the target quadrant and decreased escape latency) following intraventricular injections of aggregated Aβ25-35 compared with those measures in untreated Aβ25-35-injected rats. Overall, these results provided evidence that further studies on the prevention and treatment of dementia with this traditional Chinese medicine are warranted.

Salvia (Sage): A Review of its Potential Cognitive-Enhancing and Protective Effects

Genus Salvia, commonly known as sage, is the largest genus in the Lamiaceae family. It comprises many species traditionally used as brain-enhancing tonics. In vitro and animal studies have confirmed that several Salvia species contain a large array of active compounds that may enhance cognitive activity and protect against neurodegenerative disease. In this review, the active constituents in plants belonging to the genus Salvia are summarised, and their influence on pharmacodynamics pertinent to cognitive activity are detailed. In particular, the effects of plants belonging to the genus Salvia and their constituents on cognitive skills including memory, attention and learning are detailed. Their potential effects in dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, are also examined. Completed human trials are summarised, and factors influencing the potency of Salvia plants are covered. Finally, directions for future research are proposed to enhance our understanding of the potential health benefits of Salvia plants.

Tanshinone IIA attenuates Aβ25–35-induced spatial memory impairment via upregulating receptors for activated C kinase1 and inhibiting autophagy in hippocampus

Objectives

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) may exert significant protective effects against the neurotoxicity induced by β-amyloid protein (Aβ). This study was designed to investigate the possible neuroprotective mechanism of Tan IIA on Aβ25–35-induced spatial memory impairment in mice.

Methods

After 3 weeks of preventive treatment (Tan IIA or oil), all male Kunming mice were subjected to Aβ25–35 (10 μl, intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.)) to establish the spatial memory impairment model. The Morris water maze (MWM), haematoxylin and eosin staining, real-time PCR and Western blot were performed to determine the ability of spatial memory, neuronal damage and expression of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), receptors for activated C kinase1 (RACK1) and autophagy-related genes. Additionally, ShRACK1 was used to decrease the level of RACK1 in the hippocampus to test Beclin1 in hippocampus by real-time PCR and Western blot.

Key findings

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA, 80 mg/kg) administration notably protected mice from Aβ25-35-induced spatial memory impairment and neurotoxicity, increased pERK/ERK and the expression of RACK1, and reduced the elevated levels of BECLIN1 and LC3-II/I in the hippocampus. In addition, ShRACK1 i.c.v markedly upregulated BECLIN1 level, but not altered Beclin1 mRNA expression in the hippocampus.

Conclusions

Tanshinone IIA may exert neuroprotective effects via upregulating RACK1 and inhibiting autophagy in the hippocampus of mice.

Potential therapeutic action of natural products from traditional Chinese medicine on Alzheimer's disease animal models targeting neurotrophic factors

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the death of brain cells leads to memory loss and cognitive decline. To reduce the death rate and improve the biological activity of neurocytes, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) exhibit therapeutic effect on AD. However, therapeutic application of exogenous NTFs in treatment of AD is largely limited due to short half-life, poor stability, etc. Various extracts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been shown to exhibit therapeutic effects on AD, and some of these effects are associated with regulation on the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and their associated receptors. This article reviews the progress on promotion of Panax ginseng, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., Epimedium, Polygala tenuifolia Willd, and seven other TCMs on secretion of NTFs during AD, with a view to preparation development and clinical application of these TCMs on AD.

Tanshinone IIA Alleviates the AD Phenotypes in APP and PS1 Transgenic Mice

Therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still deficient. To find active compounds from herbal medicine is of interest in the alleviation of AD symptoms. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) on memory performance and synaptic plasticity in a transgenic AD model at the early phase. 25-100 mg/kg TIIA (intraperitoneal injection, i.p.) was administered to the six-month-old APP and PS1 transgenic mice for 30 consecutive days. After treatment, spatial memory, synaptic plasticity, and related mechanisms were investigated. Our result showed that memory impairment in AD mice was mitigated by 50 and 100 mg/kg TIIA treatments. Hippocampal long-term potentiation was impaired in AD model but rescued by 100 mg/kg TIIA treatment. Mechanically, TIIA treatment reduced the accumulations of beta-amyloid 1-42, C-terminal fragments (CTFs), and p-Tau in the AD model. TIIA did not affect basal BDNF but promoted depolarization-induced BDNF synthesis in the AD mice. Taken together, TIIA repairs hippocampal LTP and memory, likely, through facilitating the clearance of AD-related proteins and activating synaptic BDNF synthesis. TIIA might be a candidate drug for AD treatment.

Deficit of RACK1 contributes to the spatial memory impairment via upregulating BECLIN1 to induce autophagy

AIMS

Deficiency of activated C kinase1 (RACK1) in the brain of aging animal and Alzheimer's disease was characterized by cognitive dementia and spatial memory impairment. However, the correlation between the RACK1 and spatial memory impairment and the mechanism involved in it remains unknown.

MAIN METHODS

Spatial memory impairment was performed in mice by lateral ventricle injection of Aβ25-35 (n=16, 10μl) and intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (n=16, 10ml/kg). After the Morris water maze (MWM) which was performed to determine the ability of learning and memory in mice, expression of RACK1 was tested and the damage of hippocampus was confirmed by histopathology test. ShRACK1 was then used to decrease the level of RACK1 in hippocampus to test the ability of learning and memory and histopathology changes in hippocampus. To look into the mechanism of RACK1 on spatial memory impairment, we further measured the expression of autophagy proteins BECLIN1 and LC3-II/I in hippocampus of all mice.

KEY FINDINGS

Both the Aβ25-35, scopolamine impaired the spatial memory in mice (for escape latency, P=0.0004, P<0.0001) and severely damaged hippocampal DG neurons (P=0.012, P=0.014). The expression of RACK1 was significantly decreased which was concomitant with elevated BECLIN1 and LC3-II/I (P<0.001). Suppression of RACK1 by ShRACK1 plasmid (shGnb2l1) significantly impaired the spatial memory in mice, damaged hippocampal DG neurons (P=0.013), and increased the proteins of BECLIN1 and LC3-II/I (P<0.005).

SIGNIFICANCE

It demonstrated that the deficit of RACK1 in hippocampus impairs the ability of learning and memory in mice via up regulating autophagy.

Effect of intravenous infusion of dobutamine hydrochloride on the development of early postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients via inhibiting the release of tumor necrosis factor-α

To investigate the effects of dobutamine hydrochloride on early postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty, 124 patients undergoing unilateral total hip arthroplasty, aged 70-92 years old, were randomly assigned to four groups (n=31) as follows: a control group of patients receiving only saline (intravenous infusion, i.v.); and groups receiving 2, 4, or 6μgkg(-1)min(-1) (i.v.) of dobutamine hydrochloride. Cognitive functions were assessed on the day before surgery (T1), and the 1st day (T2), 3rd day (T3), and 7th day (T4) postsurgery using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The plasma TNF-α protein level was determined 10min before anesthesia (Ta), and 10min (Tb), 30min (Tc), and 60min (Td) after anesthesia by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cognitive disorder was observed within the first 3 days after hip arthroplastic surgery, and it had recovered 7 days after the operation in the control group of patients. Administration of 2 or 4μgkg(-1)min(-1) dobutamine hydrochloride was able to reverse the early POCD. Simultaneously, an increase of plasma TNF-α levels 30min after anesthesia was observed (41.34±9.61 vs. 27.75±5.45), which was significantly suppressed by the administration of low-dose dobutamine hydrochloride (29.23±7.32 vs. 41.34±9.61) but not by high-dose dobutamine hydrochloride (45.9±12.11 vs. 41.34±9.61). Together, our data indicated that the plasma concentration of TNFα was engaged in the effect of dobutamine hydrochloride on POCD.