PROTOCOL: Treatment for depressive disorder among adults: An evidence and gap map of systematic reviews

This is the protocol for a Campbell evidence and gap map. The objective of the map is to map available systematic reviews on the effectiveness of treatments for depressive disorders among adults. Specifically, this EGM includes studies on the effectiveness of treatments across a range of outcome domains.

Marine-derived fungi as a source of bioactive indole alkaloids with diversified structures

Marine-derived fungi are well known as rich sources of bioactive natural products. Growing evidences indicated that indole alkaloids, isolated from a variety of marine-derived fungi, have attracted considerable attention for their diverse, challenging structural complexity and promising bioactivities, and therefore, indole alkaloids have potential to be pharmaceutical lead compounds. Systemic compilation of the relevant literature. In this review, we demonstrated a comprehensive overview of 431 new indole alkaloids from 21 genera of marine-derived fungi with an emphasis on their structures and bioactivities, covering literatures published during 1982-2019.

The effects of chronic stress on hippocampal adult neurogenesis and dendritic plasticity are reversed by selective MAO-A inhibition

There is accumulating evidence that adult neurogenesis and dendritic plasticity in the hippocampus are neuroplastic phenomena, highly sensitive to the effects of chronic stress and treatment with most classes of antidepressant drugs, being involved in the onset and recovery from depression. However, the effects of antidepressants that act through the selective inhibition of monoamine oxidase subtype A (MAO-A) in these phenomena are still largely unknown. In the present study, adult neurogenesis and neuronal morphology were examined in the hippocampus of rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) and treated with the selective reversible MAO-A inhibitor (RIMA) drug, pirlindole and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), fluoxetine. The results provide the first demonstration that selective MAO-A inhibition with pirlindole is able to revert the behavioural effects of stress exposure while promoting hippocampal adult neurogenesis and rescuing the stress-induced dendritic atrophy of granule neurons.

From depression to neurodegeneration and heart failure: re-examining the potential of MAO inhibitors

Initially introduced in the 1950s for treating depression, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors were gradually abandoned, mainly owing to their potential for drug-drug and drug-food interactions, the most widely known being with tyramine-containing food (the 'cheese' effect). Since then, more selective MAO-A or MAO-B inhibitors have been developed with substantially reduced risks, and have been approved for the treatment of depression and Parkinson's disease, respectively. Recent research suggests that some of these drugs also have neuroprotective properties, while preclinical evidence expands the spectrum of potential indications to heart failure, renal diseases and multiple sclerosis. In this article, the authors review the relevance of MAO isoforms to disease, and they also outline current research and development efforts in this class of drugs, including newer multipotent compounds.

Anti-depressant-like effect of peony: a mini-review

CONTEXT

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder, yet the clinical efficacy of antidepression therapies is unsatisfactory. Thus, the search for new anti-depressants continues, and natural products remain a promising source of new therapeutic agents. The root part of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (Ranunculaceae), known as peony, is often used in Chinese herbal prescriptions for the treatment of depression-like disorders.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review is to provide scientific evidence to support further research on peony as a potential anti-depressant drug.

METHODS

This review summarizes the results obtained in our laboratory, together with other literature data obtained through a comprehensive search in databases including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scirus, and Web of Science.

RESULTS

The peony extract is active in the mouse forced swim test and tail suspension test, and it produces anti-depressant effects in chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression model in mice and rats. The anti-depressant mechanisms of peony are likely mediated by the inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity, neuro-protection, modulation of the function of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inhibition of oxidative stress, and the up-regulation of neurotrophins.

CONCLUSIONS

Peony is used clinically to treat depression-like symptoms in Chinese medicine, and it has been shown to possess anti-depressant property in a battery of test models using laboratory animals. Its effect is likely mediated by multiple targets. Further studies are warranted to delineate the molecular mechanisms of action, determine the pharmacokinetics, establish the toxicological profile, and assess the potentials of peony in clinical applications. Identification of the clinically active ingredient(s) is also warranted.