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Atta AA, Ibrahim WW, Mohamed AF, Abdelkader NF. Targeting α7-nAChR by galantamine mitigates reserpine-induced fibromyalgia-like symptoms in rats: Involvement of cAMP/PKA, PI3K/AKT, and M1/M2 microglia polarization. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 952:175810. [PMID: 37245858 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a pain disorder marked by generalized musculoskeletal pain accompanied by depression, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. Galantamine (Gal) is a positive allosteric modulator of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and a reversible inhibitor of cholinesterase. The current study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of Gal against reserpine (Res)-induced FM-like condition along with investigating the α7-nAChR's role in Gal-mediated effects. Rats were injected with Res (1 mg/kg/day; sc) for 3 successive days then Gal (5 mg/kg/day; ip) was given alone and with the α7-nAChR blocker methyllycaconitine (3 mg/kg/day; ip), for the subsequent 5 days. Galantamine alleviated Res-induced histopathological changes and monoamines depletion in rats' spinal cord. It also exerted analgesic effect along with ameliorating Res-induced depression and motor-incoordination as confirmed by behavioral tests. Moreover, Gal produced anti-inflammatory effect through modulating AKT1/AKT2 and shifting M1/M2 macrophage polarization. The neuroprotective effects of Gal were mediated through activating cAMP/PKA and PI3K/AKT pathways in α7-nAChR-dependent manner. Thus, Gal can ameliorate Res-induced FM-like symptoms and mitigate the associated monoamines depletion, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and neurodegeneration through α7-nAChR stimulation, with the involvement of cAMP/PKA, PI3K/AKT, and M1/M2 macrophage polarization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahd A Atta
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Weam W Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed F Mohamed
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Noha F Abdelkader
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr El-Aini St., 11562, Cairo, Egypt
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Sun C, Zhang S, Ba S, Dang J, Ren Q, Zhu Y, Liu K, Jin M. Eucommia ulmoides Olive Male Flower Extracts Ameliorate Alzheimer's Disease-Like Pathology in Zebrafish via Regulating Autophagy, Acetylcholinesterase, and the Dopamine Transporter. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:901953. [PMID: 35754707 PMCID: PMC9222337 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.901953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neural disorder. However, the therapeutic agents for AD are limited. Eucommia ulmoides Olive (EUO) is widely used as a traditional Chinese herb to treat various neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, we investigated whether the extracts of EUO male flower (EUMF) have therapeutic effects against AD. We focused on the flavonoids of EUMF and identified the composition using a targeted HPLC-MS analysis. As a result, 125 flavonoids and flavanols, 32 flavanones, 22 isoflavonoids, 11 chalcones and dihydrochalcones, and 17 anthocyanins were identified. Then, the anti-AD effects of the EUMF were tested by using zebrafish AD model. The behavioral changes were detected by automated video-tracking system. Aβ deposition was assayed by thioflavin S staining. Ache activity and cell apoptosis in zebrafish were tested by, Acetylcholine Assay Kit and TUNEL assay, respectively. The results showed that EUMF significantly rescued the dyskinesia of zebrafish and inhibited Aβ deposition, Ache activity, and occurrence of cell apoptosis in the head of zebrafish induced by AlCl3. We also investigated the mechanism underlying anti-AD effects of EUMF by RT-qPCR and found that EUMF ameliorated AD-like symptoms possibly through inhibiting excessive autophagy and the abnormal expressions of ache and slc6a3 genes. In summary, our findings suggested EUMF can be a therapeutic candidate for AD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Sun
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shanshan Zhang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Shuaikang Ba
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Jiao Dang
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Qingyu Ren
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yongqiang Zhu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Kechun Liu
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Meng Jin
- Biology Institute, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory for Drug Screening Technology, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Jinan, China
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Adla SK, Tonduru AK, Kronenberger T, Kudova E, Poso A, Huttunen KM. Neurosteroids: Structure-Uptake Relationships and Computational Modeling of Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATP)1A2. Molecules 2021; 26:5662. [PMID: 34577133 PMCID: PMC8472597 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26185662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the delivery of synthetic neurosteroids into MCF-7 human breast adenocarcinoma cells via Organic Anionic Transporting Polypeptides (OATPs) (pH 7.4 and 5.5) to identify the structural components required for OATP-mediated cellular uptake and to get insight into brain drug delivery. Then, we identified structure-uptake relationships using in-house developed OATP1A2 homology model to predict binding sites and modes for the ligands. These binding modes were studied by molecular dynamics simulations to rationalize the experimental results. Our results show that carboxylic acid needs to be at least at 3 carbon-carbon bonds distance from amide bond at the C-3 position of the androstane skeleton and have an amino group to avoid efflux transport. Replacement of hydroxyl group at C-3 with any of the 3, 4, and 5-carbon chained terminal carboxylic groups improved the affinity. We attribute this to polar interactions between carboxylic acid and side-chains of Lys33 and Arg556. The additional amine group showed interactions with Glu172 and Glu200. Based on transporter capacities and efficacies, it could be speculated that the functionalization of acetyl group at the C-17 position of the steroidal skeleton might be explored further to enable OAT1A2-mediated delivery of neurosteroids into the cells and also across the blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santosh Kumar Adla
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.K.T.); (T.K.); (A.P.); (K.M.H.)
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB), Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 542/2, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Arun Kumar Tonduru
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.K.T.); (T.K.); (A.P.); (K.M.H.)
| | - Thales Kronenberger
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.K.T.); (T.K.); (A.P.); (K.M.H.)
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Eva Kudova
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB), Czech Academy of Sciences, Flemingovo Namesti 542/2, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic;
| | - Antti Poso
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.K.T.); (T.K.); (A.P.); (K.M.H.)
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Strasse 14, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kristiina M. Huttunen
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, 70211 Kuopio, Finland; (A.K.T.); (T.K.); (A.P.); (K.M.H.)
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Hu YH, Yang J, Zhang Y, Liu KC, Liu T, Sun J, Wang XJ. Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-(4-aminophenyl)-coumarin derivatives as potential anti-Alzheimer's disease agents. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2019; 34:1083-1092. [PMID: 31117844 PMCID: PMC6534212 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2019.1615484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The work is focused on the design of drugs that prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its complications. A series of 3–(4-aminophenyl)-coumarin derivatives designed, synthesised, fully characterised and evaluated in vitro/vivo. The biological assay experiments showed that some compounds displayed a clearly selective inhibition for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Among all compounds, compound 4m exhibited the highest AChE inhibition with an IC50 value of 0.091 ± 0.011 µM and compound 4k exhibited the highest BuChE inhibition with an IC50 value of 0.559 ± 0.017 µM. A zebrafish behaviour analyser (Zebrobox) was used to determine the behavioural effects of the active compound on the movement distance of the aluminium chloride-induced zebrafish. Compound 4m offered a potential drug design concept for the development of therapeutic or preventive agents for AD and its complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Heng Hu
- a School of Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,b Institute of Materia Medica , Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,c Key Laboratory for Biotech-Drugs Ministry of Health , Jinan , PR China.,d Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province , Jinan , PR China
| | - Jie Yang
- a School of Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,b Institute of Materia Medica , Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,c Key Laboratory for Biotech-Drugs Ministry of Health , Jinan , PR China.,d Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province , Jinan , PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- e Biology Institute , Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) , Jinan , PR China
| | - Ke-Chun Liu
- e Biology Institute , Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) , Jinan , PR China
| | - Teng Liu
- a School of Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,b Institute of Materia Medica , Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,c Key Laboratory for Biotech-Drugs Ministry of Health , Jinan , PR China.,d Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province , Jinan , PR China
| | - Jie Sun
- a School of Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,b Institute of Materia Medica , Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,c Key Laboratory for Biotech-Drugs Ministry of Health , Jinan , PR China.,d Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province , Jinan , PR China
| | - Xiao-Jing Wang
- a School of Medicine and Life Sciences , University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,b Institute of Materia Medica , Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences , Jinan , PR China.,c Key Laboratory for Biotech-Drugs Ministry of Health , Jinan , PR China.,d Key Laboratory for Rare & Uncommon Diseases of Shandong Province , Jinan , PR China
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5
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Yur S, Tekin M, Göger F, Başer KH, Özek T, Özek G. Composition and potential of Tanacetum haussknechtii Bornm. Grierson as antioxidant and inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, and α-amylase enzymes. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD PROPERTIES 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/10942912.2017.1370600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Süleyman Yur
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
- Medicinal Plants, Drugs and Scientific Research Center, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Tekin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Fatih Göger
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
- Medicinal Plants, Drugs and Scientific Research Center, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Kemal H.C. Başer
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Near East University, Lefkoşa (Nicosia) N. Cyprus
| | - Temel Özek
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
- Medicinal Plants, Drugs and Scientific Research Center, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
| | - Gülmira Özek
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
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6
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Khatoon SS, Rehman M, Rahman A. The Role of Natural Products in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease. STUDIES IN NATURAL PRODUCTS CHEMISTRY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-64058-1.00003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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7
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Hu Y, Li J, Yang L, Nan W, Cao X, Bi Y. Inhibition of root growth by narciclasine is caused by DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest in lettuce seedlings. PROTOPLASMA 2014; 251:1113-24. [PMID: 24482192 DOI: 10.1007/s00709-014-0619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Narciclasine (NCS) is an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid isolated from Narcissus tazetta bulbs. Its phytotoxic effects on plant growth were examined in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings. Results showed that high concentrations (0.5-5 μM) of NCS restricted the growth of lettuce roots in a dose-dependent manner. In NCS-treated lettuce seedlings, the following changes were detected: reduction of mitotic cells and cell elongation in the mature region, inhibition of proliferation of meristematic cells, and cell cycle. Moreover, comet assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay indicated that higher levels NCS (0.5-5 μM) induced DNA damage in root cells of lettuce. The decrease in meristematic cells and increase in DNA damage signals in lettuce roots in responses to NCS are in a dose-dependent manner. NCS-induced reactive oxygen species accumulation may explain an increase in DNA damage in lettuce roots. Thus, the restraint of root growth is due to cell cycle arrest which is caused by NCS-induced DNA damage. In addition, it was also found that NCS (0.5-5 μM) inhibited the root hair development of lettuce seedlings. Further investigations on the underlying mechanism revealed that both auxin and ethylene signaling pathways are involved in the response of root hairs to NCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry and College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, People's Republic of China
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Kumar GP, Khanum F. Neuroprotective potential of phytochemicals. Pharmacogn Rev 2012; 6:81-90. [PMID: 23055633 PMCID: PMC3459459 DOI: 10.4103/0973-7847.99898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2011] [Revised: 04/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction is a major health problem in the 21st century, and many neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's Disease dementia, cerebrovascular impairment, seizure disorders, head injury and Parkinsonism, can be severly functionally debilitating in nature. In course of time, a number of neurotransmitters and signaling molecules have been identified which have been considered as therapeutic targets. Conventional as well newer molecules have been tried against these targets. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants play a vital role in maintaining the brain's chemical balance by influencing the function of receptors for the major inhibitory neurotransmitters. In traditional practice of medicine, several plants have been reported to treat cognitive disorders. In this review paper, we attempt to throw some light on the use of medicinal herbs to treat cognitive disorders. In this review, we briefly deal with some medicinal herbs focusing on their neuroprotective active phytochemical substances like fatty acids, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, terpenes etc. The resistance of neurons to various stressors by activating specific signal transduction pathways and transcription factors are also discussed. It was observed in the review that a number of herbal medicines used in Ayurvedic practices as well Chinese medicines contain multiple compounds and phytochemicals that may have a neuroprotective effect which may prove beneficial in different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Though the presence of receptors or transporters for polyphenols or other phytochemicals of the herbal preparations, in brain tissues remains to be ascertained, compounds with multiple targets appear as a potential and promising class of therapeutics for the treatment of diseases with a multifactorial etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Phani Kumar
- Biochemistry and Nutrition Division, Defence Food Research Laboratory, Mysore, India
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9
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Namanja HA, Emmert D, Pires MM, Hrycyna CA, Chmielewski J. Inhibition of human P-glycoprotein transport and substrate binding using a galantamine dimer. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2009; 388:672-6. [PMID: 19683513 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2009.08.056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2009] [Accepted: 08/10/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The human multidrug resistance transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) prevents the entry of compounds into the brain by an active efflux mechanism at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, therefore, has become a challenge and the development of new reversible inhibitors of P-gp is pertinent to overcome this problem. We report the design and synthesis of a crosslinked agent based on the Alzheimer's disease treatment galantamine (Gal-2) that inhibits P-gp-mediated efflux from cultured cells. Gal-2 was found to inhibit the efflux of the fluorescent P-gp substrate rhodamine 123 in cancer cells that over-express P-gp with an IC(50) value of approximately 0.6 microM. In addition, Gal-2 was found to inhibit the efflux of therapeutic substrates of P-gp, such as doxorubicin, daunomycin and verapamil with IC(50) values ranging from 0.3 to 1.6 microM. Through competition experiments, it was determined that Gal-2 modulates P-gp mediated efflux by competing for the substrate binding sites. These findings support a potential role of agents, such as Gal-2, as inhibitors of P-gp at the BBB to augment treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hilda A Namanja
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2084, USA
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10
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Effets cardio-vasculaires des inhibiteurs de la cholinestérase dans la maladie d’Alzheimer. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2007; 163:968-74. [DOI: 10.1016/s0035-3787(07)92641-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Houghton PJ, Agbedahunsi JM, Adegbulugbe A. Choline esterase inhibitory properties of alkaloids from two Nigerian Crinum species. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2004; 65:2893-2896. [PMID: 15501257 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2004.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2004] [Revised: 07/16/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The bulbs of Crinum jagus and Crinum glaucum are used in traditional medicine in southern Nigeria for memory loss and other mental symptoms associated with ageing. Alkaloidal extracts of bulbs from each species showed inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, an activity exploited therapeutically to raise the depressed levels of acetylcholine in the brain associated with Alzheimer's disease. Using the in situ bioautographic test method for enzyme inhibition, a number of alkaloids were isolated and their activity quantified using the Ellman spectrophotometric test. The most active alkaloids isolated were hamayne (IC50 250 microM) and lycorine (IC50 450 microM) whilst other alkaloids were comparatively inactive with haemanthamane giving 3% inhibition and crinamine giving 4.4% inhibition at 50 mg ml(-1) (174 microM). These contrast with the positive control physostigmine which gave IC50 of 0.25 microM. Cholinesterase activity appears to be associated with the presence of two free hydroxy groups in this structural type of Amaryllidaceae alkaloid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Houghton
- Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacy, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NN, UK.
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Petrikis P, Andreou C, Piachas A, Bozikas VP, Karavatos A. Treatment of Huntington's disease with galantamine. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 2004; 19:49-50. [PMID: 15101572 DOI: 10.1097/00004850-200401000-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We present the case of a patient with Huntington's disease and psychosis, whose motor and psychiatric symptoms improved after administration of galantamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Petrikis
- First Psychiatric Department, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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13
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Howes MJR, Houghton PJ. Plants used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine for improvement of memory and cognitive function. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2003; 75:513-27. [PMID: 12895669 DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(03)00128-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 284] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In traditional practices of Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, numerous plants have been used to treat cognitive disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). An ethnopharmacological approach has provided leads to identifying potential new drugs from plant sources, including those for cognitive disorders. Many drugs currently available in Western medicine were originally isolated from plants, or are derived from templates of compounds isolated from plants. Some anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) alkaloids isolated from plants have been investigated for their potential in the treatment of AD, and are now in clinical use. Galantamine, isolated from several plants including Lycoris radiata Herb., which was used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is licensed in the United Kingdom for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. Various other plant species have shown pharmacological activities relevant to the treatment of cognitive disorders, indicating potential for therapeutic use in disorders such as AD. This article reviews some of the plants and their active constituents that have been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and TCM for their reputed cognitive-enhancing or antiageing effects. Plants and their constituents with pharmacological activities that may be relevant for the treatment of cognitive disorders, including enhancement of cholinergic function in the central nervous system (CNS), anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, are discussed.
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Buccafusco JJ, Jackson WJ, Stone JD, Terry AV. Sex dimorphisms in the cognitive-enhancing action of the Alzheimer's drug donepezil in aged Rhesus monkeys. Neuropharmacology 2003; 44:381-9. [PMID: 12604096 DOI: 10.1016/s0028-3908(02)00378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Brain acetylcholinesterase has been targeted for the development of novel treatments for memory deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. The long-acting AChE inhibitor donepezil (Aricept) is used to improve memory and other aspects of cognition in AD patients. Because donepezil and other cholinesterase inhibitors are effective in a restricted population of AD patients, this study was to designed to determine whether aged females monkeys receive the same level of benefit to the mnemonic action of donepezil as do males. In this study, six male and six female rhesus monkeys (>20 years) who were proficient in the performance of a delayed matching-to-sample task each received an ascending series of four doses of donepezil (0.01-0.1 mg/kg) over 5 weeks. As a group, male subjects exhibited improvement in task accuracy across the three highest doses, with the maximum effect occurring after the 0.025 mg/kg dose. However, the females exhibited increased task accuracy only after the highest dose. When data were combined for sessions run 10 min after drug administration and for sessions run 24 h later (in the absence of drug), improvements in task accuracy were greater on average for males. Most of this difference was attributed to the fact that task accuracy by females actually declined during sessions run after the two lowest doses of donepezil. When task performance after donepezil was determined as the individualized Best Dose, as a group, males responded maximally to less than half the dose that was maximal for females. These findings support the concept that aged males and females respond differently to this class of agents, perhaps representing fundamental sex-related differences in memory processing, or in the manner that age affects these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Buccafusco
- Alzheimer's Research Center, Medical College of Georgia, and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Augusta, GA 30912, USA.
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15
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Härtig W, Bauer A, Brauer K, Grosche J, Hortobágyi T, Penke B, Schliebs R, Harkany T. Functional recovery of cholinergic basal forebrain neurons under disease conditions: old problems, new solutions? Rev Neurosci 2003; 13:95-165. [PMID: 12160262 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro.2002.13.2.95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Recognition of the involvement of cholinergic neurons in the modulation of cognitive functions and their severe dysfunction in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, initiated immense research efforts aimed at unveiling the anatomical organization and cellular characteristics of the basal forebrain (BFB) cholinergic system. Concomitant with our unfolding knowledge about the structural and functional complexity of the BFB cholinergic projection system, multiple pharmacological strategies were introduced to rescue cholinergic nerve cells from noxious attacks; however, a therapeutic breakthrough is still awaited. In this review, we collected recent findings that significantly contributed to our better understanding of cholinergic functions under disease conditions, and to the design of effective means to restore lost or damaged cholinergic functions. To this end, we first provide a brief survey of the neuroanatomical organization of BFB nuclei with emphasis on major evolutionary differences among mammalian species, in particular rodents and primates, and discuss limitations of the translation of experimental data to human therapeutic applications. Subsequently, we summarize the involvement of cholinergic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of severe neurological conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, virus encephalitis and Alzheimer's disease, and emphasize the critical role of pro-inflammatory cytokines as common mediators of cholinergic neuronal damage. Moreover, we review leading functional concepts on the limited recovery of cholinergic neurons and their impaired plastic re-modeling, as well as on the hampered interplay of the ascending cholinergic and monoaminergic projection systems under neurodegenerative conditions. In addition, recent advances in the dynamic labeling of living cholinergic neurons by fluorochromated antibodies, referred to as in vivo labeling, and novel neuroimaging approaches as potential diagnostic tools of progressive cholinergic decline are surveyed. Finally, the potential of cell replacement strategies using embryonic and adult stem cells, and multipotent neural progenitors, as a means to recover damaged cholinergic functions, is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Härtig
- Department of Neurochemistry, Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Germany
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