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Lv S, Yang N, Lu Y, Zhang G, Zhong X, Cui Y, Huang Y, Teng J, Sai Y. The therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in depression: focused on the modulation of neuroplasticity. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1426769. [PMID: 39253375 PMCID: PMC11381291 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1426769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Depression, a mood disorder characterized by a persistent low mood and lack of enjoyment, is considered the leading cause of non-fatal health losses worldwide. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to adapt to external or internal stimuli, resulting in functional and structural changes. This process plays a crucial role in the development of depression. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shows significant potential as a complementary and alternative therapy for neurological diseases, including depression. However, there has been no systematic summary of the role of neuroplasticity in the pathological development of depression and TCM Interventions currently. This review systematically summarized recent literature on changes in neuroplasticity in depression and analyzed the regulatory mechanisms of active metabolites in TCM and TCM formulas on neuroplasticity in antidepressant treatment. Additionally, this review discussed the limitations of current research and the application prospects of TCM in regulating neuroplasticity in antidepressant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shimeng Lv
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ni Yang
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yitong Lu
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Guangheng Zhang
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xia Zhong
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaru Cui
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yufei Huang
- Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Teng
- Department of First Clinical Medical College, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yanyan Sai
- University Town Hospital, Afiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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Sun H, Liu Y, Wang X, Shu L. A network pharmacology-based method to explore the therapeutic effect of honokiol on diabetes with comorbid depression in mice. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 975:176642. [PMID: 38754538 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The effective treatment of diabetes with comorbid depression is a big challenge so far. Honokiol, a bioactive compound from the dietary supplement Magnolia officinalis extract, possesses multiple health benefits. The present study aims to propose a network pharmacology-based method to elucidate potential targets of honokiol in treating diabetes with comorbid depression and related mechanisms. The antidepressant-like efficacy of honokiol was evaluated in high-fat diet (HFD) induced diabetic mice using animal behavior testing, immuno-staining and western blotting assay. Through network pharmacology analysis, retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) were identified as potential targets related to diabetes and depression. The stable binding conformation between honokiol and RXR/VDR was determined by molecular docking simulation. Moreover, hononkiol effectively alleviated depression-like behaviors in HFD diabetic mice, presented anti-diabetic and anti-neuroinflammatory functions, and protected the hippocampal neuroplasticity. Importantly, honokiol could activate RXR/VDR heterodimer in vivo. The beneficial effects of honokiol on HFD mice were significantly suppressed by UVI3003 (a RXR antagonist), while enhanced by calcitriol (a VDR agonist). Additionally, the disruption of autophagy in the hippocampus of HFD mice was ameliorated by honokiol, which was attenuated by UVI3003 but strengthened by calcitriol. Taken together, the data provide new evidence that honokiol exerts the antidepressant-like effect in HFD diabetic mice via activating RXR/VDR heterodimer to restore the balance of autophagy. Our findings indicate that the RXR/VDR-mediated signaling might be a potential target for treating diabetes with comorbid depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haonan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yumin Liu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuedong Wang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Luan Shu
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Oral Drug Delivery Systems of Chinese Materia Medica, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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Wang B, Shi Y, Zhang H, Hu Y, Chen H, Liu Y, Wang F, Chen L. Influence of microorganisms on flavor substances and functional components of sojae semen praeparatum during fermentation: A study integrating comparative metabolomics and high-throughput sequencing. Food Res Int 2024; 187:114405. [PMID: 38763659 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Sojae semen praeparatum (SSP), a fermented product known for its distinctive flavor and medicinal properties, undergoes a complex fermentation process due to the action of various microorganisms. Despite its widespread use, the effect of these microorganisms on the flavor compounds and functional components of SSP remains poorly understood. This study aimed to shed light on this aspect by identifying 20 metabolites as potential key flavor substances in SSP. Moreover, glycine and lysine were identified as crucial flavor substances. Additionally, 24 metabolites were identified as key functional components. The dominant microorganisms involved in the fermentation process were examined, revealing six genera of fungi and 12 genera of bacteria. At the species level, 16 microorganisms were identified as dominant through metagenome sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between dominant microorganisms and both flavor substances and functional components. Furthermore, the study validated the significance of four core functional microorganisms in improving the flavor and quality of SSP. This comprehensive exploration of functional microorganisms of SSP on key flavor substances/functional components during SSP fermentation. The study findings serve as a valuable reference for enhancing the overall flavor and quality of SSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yifan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongyi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Youping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Fu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of TCM, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
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Dai SY, Qin WX, Yu S, Li C, Yang YH, Pei YH. Honokiol and magnolol: A review of structure-activity relationships of their derivatives. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2024; 223:114132. [PMID: 38714288 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2024.114132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Honokiol (HK) and magnolol (MAG) are typical representatives of neolignans possessing a wide range of biological activities and are employed as traditional medicines in Asia. In the past few decades, HK and MAG have been proven to be promising chemical scaffolds for the development of novel neolignan drugs. This review focuses on recent advances in the medicinal chemistry of HK and MAG derivatives, especially their structure-activity relationships. In addition, it also presents a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology, biosynthetic pathways, and metabolic characteristics of HK and MAG. This review can provide pharmaceutical chemists deeper insights into medicinal research on HK and MAG, and a reference for the rational design of HK and MAG derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yang Dai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Wen-Xiu Qin
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Shuo Yu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Chang Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China
| | - Yi-Hui Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China.
| | - Yue-Hu Pei
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, PR China.
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Zandifar A, Panahi M, Badrfam R, Qorbani M. Efficacy of empagliflozin as adjunctive therapy to citalopram in major depressive disorder: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:163. [PMID: 38408937 PMCID: PMC10895773 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05627-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder is one of the most common psychiatric disorders, which is associated with a high disease burden. Current treatments using antidepressants have limitations, so using medication with neuromodulating and anti-inflammatory properties alongside them could be helpful. In a clinical trial, we studied the effectiveness of empagliflozin, a blood sugar-lowering drug, as an adjunctive therapy to reduce the severity of depression symptoms. METHODS A number of outpatients with moderate to severe depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) > = 17) who were not under related medication or had not taken medication for at least the last two months, had an age range of 18-60 years and had written informed consent to enter the study (N = 90) were randomly divided into two groups receiving placebo or empagliflozin (10 mg daily) combined with citalopram (40 mg daily) based on permuted block randomization method in an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were evaluated using the HDRS in weeks 0, 4, and 8. RESULTS HDRS scores were equal to 28.42(± 3.83), 20.20(± 3.82), and 13.42(± 3.42) in the placebo group during weeks 0,4, and 8, respectively. These scores were 27.36(± 3.77), 13.76(± 1.40), and 7.00(± 1.13), respectively, for the group treated with empagliflozin. Compared to the control group, patients treated with empagliflozin using repeated-measures ANOVA showed greater improvement in reducing the severity of depression symptoms over time (p value = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Considering the promising findings in this clinical trial, further study of empagliflozin as adjunctive therapy in MDD with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atefeh Zandifar
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- Department of Psychiatry, Imam Hossein Hospital, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz, Iran
| | - Maryam Panahi
- Faculty of Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Rahim Badrfam
- Department of Psychiatry, Imam Hossein Hospital, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Alborz, Iran.
| | - Mostafa Qorbani
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
- Chronic Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Faysal M, Khan J, Zehravi M, Nath N, Singh LP, Kakkar S, Perusomula R, Khan PA, Nainu F, Asiri M, Khan SL, Das R, Emran TB, Wilairatana P. Neuropharmacological potential of honokiol and its derivatives from Chinese herb Magnolia species: understandings from therapeutic viewpoint. Chin Med 2023; 18:154. [PMID: 38001538 PMCID: PMC10668527 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-023-00846-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Honokiol is a neolignan biphenol found in aerial parts of the Magnolia plant species. The Magnolia plant species traditionally belong to China and have been used for centuries to treat many pathological conditions. Honokiol mitigates the severity of several pathological conditions and has the potential to work as an anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, anticancer, antioxidant, and neurotherapeutic agent. It has a long history of being employed in the healthcare practices of Southeast Asia, but in recent years, a greater scope of research has been conducted on it. Plenty of experimental evidence suggests it could be beneficial as a neuroprotective bioactive molecule. Honokiol has several pharmacological effects, leading to its exploration as a potential therapy for neurological diseases (NDs), including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), cerebral ischemia, anxiety, depression, spinal cord injury, and so on. So, based on the previous experimentation reports, our goal is to discuss the neuroprotective properties of honokiol. Besides, honokiol derivatives have been highlighted recently as possible therapeutic options for NDs. So, this review focuses on honokiol's neurotherapeutic actions and toxicological profile to determine their safety and potential use in neurotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Faysal
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Jishan Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, 4318, Bangladesh
| | - Mehrukh Zehravi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Dentistry & Pharmacy, Buraydah Private Colleges, 51418, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Nikhil Nath
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, 4318, Bangladesh
| | - Laliteshwar Pratap Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Narayan Institute of Pharmacy, Gopal Narayan Singh University, Jamuhar, Sasaram, (Rohtas), Bihar, 821305, India
| | - Saloni Kakkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Haryana, 124001, India
| | - Rajashekar Perusomula
- Cognitive Science Research Initiative Lab, Vishnu Institute of Pharmaceutical Education & Research, Narsapur, India
| | - Pathan Amanulla Khan
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Anwar Ul Uloom College of Pharmacy, New Mallepally, Hyderabad, India
| | - Firzan Nainu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Mohammed Asiri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sharuk L Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, N.B.S. Institute of Pharmacy, Ausa, Maharashtra, 413520, India
| | - Rajib Das
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School & Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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Hu X, Pang H, Liu J, Wang Y, Lou Y, Zhao Y. A network medicine-based approach to explore the relationship between depression and inflammation. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1184188. [PMID: 37492068 PMCID: PMC10364440 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1184188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Depression is widespread global problem that not only severely impacts individuals' physical and mental health but also imposes a heavy disease burden on nations and societies. The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of depression has received much attention, but the precise relationship between the two remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the correlation between depression and inflammation using a network medicine approach. Methods We utilized a degree-preserving approach to identify the large connected component (LCC) of all depression-related proteins in the human interactome. The LCC was deemed as the disease module for depression. To measure the association between depression and other diseases, we calculated the overlap between these disease protein modules using the Sab algorithm. A smaller Sab value indicates a stronger association between diseases. Building on the results of this analysis, we further explored the correlation between inflammation and depression by conducting enrichment and pathway analyses of critical targets. Finally, we used a network proximity approach to calculate drug-disease proximity to predict the efficacy of drugs for the treatment of depression. We calculated and ranked the distances between depression disease modules and 6,100 drugs. The top-ranked drugs were selected to explore their potential for treating depression based on the hypothesis that their antidepressant effects are related to reducing inflammation. Results In the human interactome, all depression-related proteins are clustered into a large connected component (LCC) consisting of 202 proteins and multiple small subgraphs. This indicates that depression-related proteins tend to form clusters within the same network. We used the 202 LCC proteins as the key disease module for depression. Next, we investigated the potential relationships between depression and 299 other diseases. Our analysis identified over 18 diseases that exhibited significant overlap with the depression module. Where SAB = -0.075 for the vascular disease and depressive disorders module, SAB = -0.070 for the gastrointestinal disease and depressive disorders module, and SAB = -0.062 for the endocrine system disease and depressive disorders module. The distance between them SAB < 0 implies that the pathogenesis of depression is likely to be related to the pathogenesis of its co-morbidities of depression and that potential therapeutic approaches may be derived from the disease treatment libraries of these co-morbidities. Further, considering that the inflammation is ubiquitous in some disease, we calculate the overlap between the collected inflammation module (236 proteins) and the depression module (202 proteins), finding that they are closely related (Sdi = -0.358) in the human protein interaction network. After enrichment and pathway analysis of key genes, we identified the HIF-1 signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, hepatitis B, and inflammatory bowel disease as key to the inflammatory response in depression. Finally, we calculated the Z-score to determine the proximity of 6,100 drugs to the depression disease module. Among the top three drugs identified by drug-disease proximity analysis were Perphenazine, Clomipramine, and Amitriptyline, all of which had a greater number of targets in the network associated with the depression disease module. Notably, these drugs have been shown to exert both anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects, suggesting that they may modulate depression through an anti-inflammatory mechanism. These findings demonstrate a correlation between depression and inflammation at the network medicine level, which has important implications for future elucidation of the etiology of depression and improved treatment outcomes. Conclusion Neuroimmune signaling pathways play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression, and many classes of antidepressants exhibiting anti-inflammatory properties. The pathogenesis of depression is closely related to inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Hu
- Data Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Huaxin Pang
- School of Computer and Information Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Data Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yifang Lou
- Data Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yufeng Zhao
- Data Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Dobrek L, Głowacka K. Depression and Its Phytopharmacotherapy-A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4772. [PMID: 36902200 PMCID: PMC10003400 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a mental health disorder that develops as a result of complex psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological disturbances. This disease presents with mood disturbances, persistent sadness, loss of interest and impaired cognition, which causes distress to the patient and significantly affects the ability to function and have a satisfying family, social and professional life. Depression requires comprehensive management, including pharmacological treatment. Because pharmacotherapy of depression is a long-term process associated with the risk of numerous adverse drug effects, much attention is paid to alternative therapy methods, including phytopharmacotherapy, especially in treating mild or moderate depression. Preclinical studies and previous clinical studies confirm the antidepressant activity of active compounds in plants, such as St. John's wort, saffron crocus, lemon balm and lavender, or less known in European ethnopharmacology, roseroot, ginkgo, Korean ginseng, borage, brahmi, mimosa tree and magnolia bark. The active compounds in these plants exert antidepressive effects in similar mechanisms to those found in synthetic antidepressants. The description of phytopharmacodynamics includes inhibiting monoamine reuptake and monoamine oxidase activity and complex, agonistic or antagonistic effects on multiple central nervous system (CNS) receptors. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the anti-inflammatory effect is also important to the antidepressant activity of the plants mentioned above in light of the hypothesis that immunological disorders of the CNS are a significant pathogenetic factor of depression. This narrative review results from a traditional, non-systematic literature review. It briefly discusses the pathophysiology, symptomatology and treatment of depression, with a particular focus on the role of phytopharmacology in its treatment. It provides the mechanisms of action revealed in experimental studies of active ingredients isolated from herbal antidepressants and presents the results of selected clinical studies confirming their antidepressant effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Dobrek
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
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Sun Y, Zhao J, Rong J. Dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines through the comprehensive review of the recent literatures. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:1054726. [PMID: 36620687 PMCID: PMC9813794 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1054726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is clinically defined as a mood disorder with persistent feeling of sadness, despair, fatigue, and loss of interest. The pathophysiology of depression is tightly regulated by the biosynthesis, transport and signaling of neurotransmitters [e.g., serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, or γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)] in the central nervous system. The existing antidepressant drugs mainly target the dysfunctions of various neurotransmitters, while the efficacy of antidepressant therapeutics is undermined by different adverse side-effects. The present review aimed to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the antidepressant activities of herbal medicines toward the development of effective and safe antidepressant drugs. Our strategy involved comprehensive review and network pharmacology analysis for the active compounds and associated target proteins. As results, 45 different antidepressant herbal medicines were identified from various in vivo and in vitro studies. The antidepressant mechanisms might involve multiple signaling pathways that regulate neurotransmitters, neurogenesis, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, endocrine, and microbiota. Importantly, herbal medicines could modulate broader spectrum of the cellular pathways and processes to attenuate depression and avoid the side-effects of synthetic antidepressant drugs. The present review not only recognized the antidepressant potential of herbal medicines but also provided molecular insights for the development of novel antidepressant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilu Sun
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jia Zhao
- Department of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jianhui Rong
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
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