Combined Administration of Melissa officinalis and Boswellia serrata Extracts in an Animal Model of Memory

Systematic Identification of Suitable Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis in Melissa officinalis L

Melissa officinalis L. is well known for its lemon-scented aroma and various pharmacological properties. Despite these valuable properties, the genes involved in the biosynthetic pathways in M. officinalis are not yet well-explored when compared to other members of the mint family. For that, gene expression studies using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) are an excellent tool. Although qRT-PCR can provide accurate results, its accuracy is highly reliant on the expression and stability of the reference gene used for normalization. Hence, selecting a suitable experiment-specific reference gene is very crucial to obtain accurate results. However, to date, there are no reports for experiment-specific reference genes in M. officinalis. Therefore, in the current study, ten commonly used reference genes were assessed for their suitability as optimal reference genes in M. officinalis under various abiotic stress conditions and different plant organs. The candidate genes were ranked based on BestKeeper, comparative ΔCt, geNorm, NormFinder, and RefFinder. Based on the results, we recommend the combination of EF-1α and GAPDH as the best reference genes to normalize gene expression studies in M. officinalis. On the contrary, HLH71 was identified as the least-performing gene. Thereafter, the reliability of the optimal gene combination was assessed by evaluating the relative gene expression of the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) gene under two elicitor treatments (gibberellic acid and jasmonic acid). PAL is a crucial gene involved directly or indirectly in the production of various economically important secondary metabolites in plants. Suitable reference genes for each experimental condition are also discussed. The findings of the current study form a basis for current and future gene expression studies in M. officinalis and other related species.

Can Berberine Serve as a New Therapy for Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neurodegeneration and deposition of alpha-synuclein. Mechanisms associated with PD etiology include oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and abnormalities in neurotransmission, to name a few. Drugs used to treat PD have shown significant limitations in their efficacy. Therefore, recent focus has been placed on the potential of active plant ingredients as alternative, complementary, and efficient treatments. Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that has shown promise as a pharmacological treatment in PD, given its ability to modulate several molecular pathway associated with the disease. Here, we review contemporary knowledge supporting the need to further characterize berberine as a potential treatment for PD.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Herbal Formulation of Boswellia sacra Flueck. In Improving Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms in Patients with Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

Objective

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of an herbal formulation based on Boswellia sacra in improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild-to-moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

A 3-month, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was implemented from October 2021 to April 2022. Patients with MCI and mild-to-moderate stages of AD aged above 50 years (n = 60; 40 women, 20 men) enrolled in the study using clinical diagnosis and a score of 10-30 on the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) test. They were assigned into two groups; one receiving a herbal formulation) include B. sacra, Melissa officinalis, Piper longum, Cinnamomum verum, and Physalis alkekengi) three times a day and the other receiving a placebo for 3 months. The main efficacy measures were the changes in cognitive domains based on the MMSE and changes in behavioral and psychiatric symptoms based on neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) scores compared with baseline. Side effects were also recorded.

Findings

Results of this study showed significant differences between the two groups after 3 months in terms of all the assessed variables, including the overall result of the mean score of MMSE and NPI tests (P ≤ 0.001). The herbal formulation had the most considerable effects on the domains of orientation, attention, working memory, delay recall, and language of the MMSE test.

Conclusion

Herbal formulation based on B. sacra was significantly effective compared to a placebo in improving cognitive and behavioral symptoms in patients with MCI and mild-to-moderate AD.

Molecular evidences on anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and memory-boosting effects of frankincense

Chemical diversity of natural products with drug-like features has attracted much attention from medicine to develop more safe and effective drugs. Their anti-inflammatory, antitumor, analgesic, and other therapeutic properties are sometimes more successful than chemical drugs in controlling disease due to fewer drug resistance and side effects and being more tolerable in a long time. Frankincense, the oleo gum resin extracted from the Boswellia species, contains some of these chemicals. The anti-inflammatory effect of its main ingredient, boswellic acid, has been traditionally used to treat many diseases, mainly those target memory functions. In this review, we have accumulated research evidence from the beneficial effect of Frankincense consumption in memory improvement and the prevention of inflammation and cancer. Besides, we have discussed the molecular pathways mediating the therapeutic effects of this natural supplement.

Effect of a Boswellia and Ginger Mixture on the Memory Dysfunction of the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Objective

To study a Boswellia and ginger mixture on the memory dysfunction of the mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients.

Methods

Patients with mTBI were asked about memory impairment following the injury. One hundred mTBI patients were visited and assessed using an auditory-visual learning test (AVLT) questionnaire. By using random permuted blocks, patients were given the Memoral (a mixture of 360 mg of Boswellia and 36 mg of ginger) or placebo and were asked to consume it for a month. Patients were assessed one and three months afterward using the second and third steps of AVLT, respectively.

Results

One hundred patients were included in the study and divided into control and intervention groups. The mean age of the patients was 36.83±14.71, and there were no significant differences between the two groups (p=0.41). There were no statistically significant differences in the baseline scores of different AVLT parameters between the two groups. All patients had improvements in different parameters after three months. But some factors include the scores' change in total learning, retroactive interference score, forgetting rate, and net positive score were significantly higher in treatment groups at one-month and three-month follow-ups compared to the placebo group. In contrast, word span and hit parameters had the same pattern of improvement in both groups.

Conclusion

The herbal medication can have a satisfactory effect on eliminating post-mTBI memory dysfunction while having no considerable adverse effects. The effect of these components can also be sustained after a two-month timeframe. These results may assist patients to have less mental involvement.

Potential therapeutic effects of boswellic acids/Boswellia serrata extract in the prevention and therapy of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer's disease

The link between diabetes and cognitive dysfunction has been reported in many recent articles. There is currently no disease-modifying treatment available for cognitive impairment. Boswellia serrata (B. serrata) is used traditionally to treat chronic inflammatory diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), insulin resistance (IR), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review aims to highlight current research on the potential use of boswellic acids (BAs)/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD. We reviewed the published information through June 2021. Studies have been collected through a search on online electronic databases (Academic libraries as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Egyptian Knowledge Bank). Accumulating evidence in preclinical and small human clinical studies has indicated that BAs/B. serrata extract has potential therapeutic effect in T2D and AD. According to most of the authors, the potential therapeutic effects of BAs/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD can be attributed to immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, and elimination of the senescent cells. BAs/B. serrata extract may act by inhibiting the IκB kinase/nuclear transcription factor-κB (IKK/NF-κB) signaling pathway and increasing the formation of selective anti-inflammatory LOX-isoform modulators. In conclusion, BAs/B. serrata extract may have positive therapeutic effects in prevention and therapy of T2D and AD. However, more randomized controlled trials with effective, large populations are needed to show a definitive conclusion about therapeutic efficacy of BAs/B. serrata extract in T2D and AD.

The Effects of Incensole Acetate on Neuro-inflammation, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Memory Impairment Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Rats

Incensole acetate (IA) is a major component of Boswellia serrata resin that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and neuroprotective properties. The present study determined the effect of IA on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced memory impairment, and hippocampal cytokines and oxidative stress indicators level. We used 32 Wistar rats (220-250 g weight) randomly divided into four groups. The control group, which only received the saline-diluted DMSO (vehicle); LPS group which received LPS and was treated with the vehicle; and two IA-treated groups which received 2.5 or 5 mg/ kg IA before LPS injection. Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) tests were performed. Finally, the brains were removed and were used to assess cytokines levels and oxidative stress status. Compared to the LPS group, IA administration reduced the time spent and path traveled to reach the hidden platform during 5 days of learning in MWM while increased the time spent in the target quadrant in the probe test. Moreover, IA increased latency while decreased entry number and time spent in the dark chamber of PA test compared to the LPS group. Additionally, pre-treatment with IA attenuated interleukin(IL)-6, tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites levels while increased those of IL-10, total thiol, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Our results indicated that IA improved LPS-induced learning and memory impairments. The observed effects seem to be mediated via a protective activity against neuro-inflammation and brain tissue oxidative damage and through improving BDNF.

The effect of Melissa officinalis L. extract on learning and memory: Involvement of hippocampal expression of nitric oxide synthase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in diabetic rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetes is a systemic disease, which can cause synaptic defects in the hippocampus. Hippocampus plays a crucial role in learning and memory. Melissa officinalis L. has been used as for memory enhancement in Persian Medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the hydroalcoholic extract of Melissa officinalis L. on learning and memory, considering its impact on nitric oxide synthase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the hippocampus of diabetic rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Melissa officinalis L. extract was obtained by maceration method. To evaluate phenolic and flavonoid compounds of the extract, the samples were analyzed by HPLC. The animals were randomly divided into 6 groups: vehicle-treated control, Melissa officinalis-treated control (50 mg/kg), vehicle-treated diabetic, and M. officinalis-treated diabetic (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin And Melissa officinalis L. was administered for 2 weeks once diabetes was induced. Passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks were performed for learning and memory assessment. At the end of learning and memory tasks, rats were sacrificed and their hippocampus removed, lysed, and homogenized. The RNA contents were purified and then used as the template for cDNA synthesis. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate nitric oxide synthase and brain-derived neurotrophic factor genes expression.

RESULTS

Rutin was main flavonoid compound and rosmarinic acid was the main phenolic compound of the Melissa officinalis extract. Streptozotocin induced diabetes and impaired learning and memory in diabetic rats. Melissa officinalis treated-control group showed a higher alternation score in the Y-maze task and step-through latency in the passive avoidance task compared to the vehicle treated diabetic group. Melissa officinalis-treated rats showed a higher alternation score in the Y-maze task in all doses compared to the vehicle treated diabetic group (P < 0.05). In addition, in the passive avoidance task Melissa officinalis increased step-through latency (P < 0.05) but not initial latency, in all doses. Furthermore, in diabetic rats, the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nitric oxide synthase genes decreased. However, hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nitric oxide synthase gene expression was increased in Melissa officinalis-treated rats compared to diabetic rats (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Melissa officinalis improved learning and memory in diabetic rats, which may have occurred by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nitric oxide synthase gene expression.

The Therapeutic Potential of Quercetin in Parkinson's Disease: Insights into its Molecular and Cellular Regulation

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). PD is a multifactorial disorder, with several different factors being suggested to play a synergistic pathophysiological role, including oxidative stress, autophagy, underlying pro-inflammatory events and neurotransmitters abnormalities. Overall, PD can be viewed as the product of a complex interaction of environmental factors acting on a given genetic background. The importance of this subject has gained more attention to discover novel therapies to prevent as well as treat PD. According to previous research, drugs used to treat PD have indicated significant limitations. Therefore, the role of flavonoids has been extensively studied in PD treatment. Quercetin, a plant flavonol from the flavonoid group, has been considered as a supplemental therapy for PD. Quercetin has pharmacological functions in PD by controlling different molecular pathways. Although few studies intended to evaluate the basis for the use of quercetin in the context of PD have been conducted so far, at present, there is very little evidence available addressing the underlying mechanisms of action. Various principal aspects of these treatment procedures remain unknown. Here, currently existing knowledge supporting the use of quercetin for the clinical management of PD has been reviewed.

Neuroprotective effects of probiotics bacteria on animal model of Parkinson's disease induced by 6-hydroxydopamine: A behavioral, biochemical, and histological study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-associated, progressive, and common neurodegenerative disorder. It is characterized by dopaminergic neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The involvement of oxidative stress, inflammation, and dysbiosis in PD has been confirmed and probiotics also have the ability to regulate the mentioned mechanisms. Here, we assessed probiotics supplementation effects on experimental model of PD. Thirty Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups for a 14-day treatment. It was shown that a mixture of probiotics containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus fermentum could improve rotational behavior, cognitive function, lipid peroxidation, and neuronal damage in the group received probiotic supplementation compared to the other groups (P < 0001, P < .001, and P = .026, respectively). Taken together, these findings revealed that probiotics supplementation could be an appropriate complementary treatment for PD.

Effects of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) on cardio-metabolic outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Recent evidence indicates a beneficial effect of Melissa officinalis (MO) intake on several chronic diseases. However, the effects of MO intake have not yet been systematically reviewed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effect of MO intake and focused on several cardiometabolic outcomes. MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for MO-RCTs evaluating cardiometabolic outcomes. Random-effects meta-analyses estimated the pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) between intervention and control groups. Risk of bias was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias in RCTs. Seven RCTs were finally deemed eligible. MO intake was associated with a reduced total cholesterol (TC) (SMD: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.52, -0.01; I² = 13.7%; k = 6) and a reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.85, -0.27; I² = 00.0%; k = 3). MO intake was not associated with statistically significant changes in triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, diastolic blood pressure, high sensitivity c-reactive protein levels, fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, insulin or high-density lipoprotein levels. No serious adverse events were reported. The risk of bias was high in a considerable amount of studies. Our study suggests that MO is a safe supplement with beneficial effects on TC and SBP. However, the findings of our study must be seen in the light of major limitations such as a low number of included studies and a serious risk of bias. High-quality RCTs are needed for firm conclusions concerning the effects of MO on cardiometabolic outcomes.

Therapeutic effects of Cyperus rotundus rhizome extract on memory impairment, neurogenesis and mitochondria in beta-amyloid rat model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disturbance leading to memory deficit, cognitive decline, and behavioral disturbance. Deposition of Amyloid beta plaques, neurofibrillary tangle and mitochondrial impairment are common neuropathological signs in AD. In this study, the effect of standardized Cyperus rotundus(C. rotundus) extract in three different doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg on memory, neurogenesis and mitochondrial mass in the beta amyloid rat model was assessed. For this purpose, 42 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7) to evaluate baseline training performance in Morris water maze test. Amyloid beta (Aβ) was injected in animal hippocampal CA1 bilaterally in four groups. After 21 days, a decrease was observed in spending time in target quadrant in the first probe trial in Aβ injected groups. Following that, 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg of C. rotundus extracts were administered to three out of four groups for a period of one month. BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine) was intraperitoneally injected in all groups on the last 7 days of treatment. Then, 28 days after the last BrdU injection, the second probe trial was run, and rats were sacrificed. The neurogenesis and mitochondrial distribution were detected in hippocampus, by immunohistochemical staining. At last, it was observed that C. rotundus, almost recovered memory impairment, in addition to increasing in mitochondrial mass in CA1 and neurogenesis in dentate gyruse in the beta-amyloid rat model of Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of 4 weeks of frankincense consumption on explicit motor memory and serum BDNF in elderly men

Background/aim

Memory is a mechanism for coding, storing, and recalling information. Weak memory and learning disability are common psychological problems in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 4 weeks of frankincense consumption on explicit motor memory and serum BDNF in the elderly.

Materials and methods

Twenty elderly men (mean age of 60.2 ± 1.7 years) were randomly divided into two groups: experimental (n = 12) and placebo (n = 8). The first blood samples were collected 24 h before the pretest. Then both groups participated in a 4-week exercise program based on the protocol of exercising motor memory. During this period, the experimental group received 500-mg frankincense pills two times a day. The second blood sample collection and acquisition test were conducted following the last session of the exercise program. A retention test and a third blood sampling were performed 2 weeks after the last training session. Mixed analysis of variance (2 × 3) for repeated measures was used to analyze the data.

Results

Intergroup comparisons showed that frankincense had a significant effect on the acquisition and retention of explicit motor memory. No difference was observed in serum BDNF between the experimental and placebo groups.

Conclusion

This study revealed that 4 weeks of frankincense consumption facilitates the acquisition and retention of motor memory in older men with moderate mental status.

Melatonin and Parkinson Disease: Current Status and Future Perspectives for Molecular Mechanisms

Parkinson disease (PD) is a chronic and neurodegenerative disease with motor and nonmotor symptoms. Multiple pathways are involved in the pathophysiology of PD, including apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammation, α-synuclein aggregation, and changes in the neurotransmitters. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that melatonin supplementation is an appropriate therapy for PD. Administration of melatonin leads to inhibition of some pathways related to apoptosis, autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammation, α-synuclein aggregation, and dopamine loss in PD. In addition, melatonin improves some nonmotor symptom in patients with PD. Limited studies, however, have evaluated the role of melatonin on molecular mechanisms and clinical symptoms in PD. This review summarizes what is known regarding the impact of melatonin on PD in preclinical and clinical studies.

The effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on Parkinson's disease: Current status and future perspectives for molecular mechanisms

Among the progressive neurodegenerative disorders, Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common. Different factors have critical role in pathophysiology of PD such as apoptosis pathways, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitters and its receptors abnormalities. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture were considered as nondrug therapies for PD. Although numerous studies has been conducted for assessing the mechanism underlying electroacupuncture and acupuncture, various principal aspects of these treatment procedures remain not well-known. There have also been few investigations on the molecular mechanism of acupuncture and electroacupuncture therapy effects in PD. This review evaluates the effects of electroacupuncture and acupuncture on the molecular mechanism in PD.

Protein Targets of Frankincense: A Reverse Docking Analysis of Terpenoids from Boswellia Oleo-Gum Resins

Background: Frankincense, the oleo-gum resin of Boswellia trees, has been used in traditional medicine since ancient times. Frankincense has been used to treat wounds and skin infections, inflammatory diseases, dementia, and various other conditions. However, in many cases, the biomolecular targets for frankincense components are not well established. Methods: In this work, we have carried out a reverse docking study of Boswellia diterpenoids and triterpenoids with a library of 16034 potential druggable target proteins. Results:Boswellia diterpenoids showed selective docking to acetylcholinesterase, several bacterial target proteins, and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. Boswellia triterpenoids targeted the cancer-relevant proteins (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, tankyrase, and folate receptor β), inflammation-relevant proteins (phospholipase A2, epoxide hydrolase, and fibroblast collagenase), and the diabetes target 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. Conclusions: The preferential docking of Boswellia terpenoids is consistent with the traditional uses and the established biological activities of frankincense.

The effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata and Melisa officinalis extract on older adults' memory: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Memory deficits and age-related memory loss are currently two significant concerns in older adults. In Iranian herbal medicine, there are some prescriptions for memory improvement.

OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to investigate the effect of tablet containing Boswellia serrata (BS) extract and Mellisa officinalis (MO) extract on memory of the older adults.

METHOD

This is a randomized, parallel, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial that performed among 70 older adults who referred to healthcare centers of Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either tablets (n = 35) or placebo (n = 35) for a month (n = 30). Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R). Data were analyzed using Chi-square, independent-samples t-tests, paired t-test, repeated measure ANOVA, and ANCOVA using SPSS v13.

RESULT

Participants' baseline characteristics were similar in the two groups. The study was completed by 53 participants. However, as the analysis was based on an intention-to treat approach, all 70 older adults were included in the final analysis. Comparison of the two groups with showed that the total scores of the WMS-R and the subscales, including auditory immediate, immediate memory, visual immediate and working memory, were increased after consumption of the containing BS and MO tablets (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

The BS and MO tablet in older adults can be beneficial on improvement of memory. This is still necessary to investigate effects and durability of the tablets on older adults with memory impairments in future studies.