Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil inhalation prevents memory impairment, anxiety and depression in scopolamine-treated rats

Anthriscus nemorosa (Bieb.) Sprengel is used for medicinal purposes in traditional medicine around the world, including Turkey. Ethnobotanical studies suggest that Anthriscus essential oil could improve memory in Alzheimer’s disease. The current study was hypothesized to investigate the beneficial effects of inhaled Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil on memory, anxiety and depression in scopolamine-treated rats. Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil was administered by inhalation in the doses of 1% and 3% for 21 continuous days and scopolamine (0.7 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 30 min before the behavioral testing. Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests were used for assessing memory processes. Also, the anxiety and depressive responses were studied by elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. As expected, the scopolamine alone-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease the percentage of the spontaneous alternation in Y-maze test, increase the number of working and reference memory errors in radial arm-maze test, decrease of the exploratory activity, the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and decrease of swimming time and increase of immobility time within forced swimming test. However, dual scopolamine and Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil-treated rats showed significant improvement of memory formation and exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in scopolamine-treated rats. These results suggest that Anthriscus nemorosa essential oil inhalation can prevent scopolamineinduced memory impairment, anxiety and depression.Emel Aydin Akbaba was supported by LLP Erasmus (2013/2014), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romani

Antiamnesic and antioxidants effects of ferulago angulata essential oil against scopolamine-Induced memory impairment in laboratory rats

Ethical standard This study was approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi (Permit Number: 2192) and also, efforts were made to minimize animal suffering and to reduce the number of animals used.Ferulago angulata (Apiaceae) is a shrub indigenous to western Iran, Turkey and Iraq. In traditional medicine, F. angulata is recommended for treating digestive pains, hemorrhoids, snake bite, ulcers and as sedative. In the present study, the effects of inhaled F. angulata essential oil (1 and 3 %, daily, for 21 days) on spatial memory performance were assessed in scopolamine-treated rats. Scopolamine-induced memory impairments were observed, as measured by the Y-maze and radial arm-maze tasks. Decreased activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase along with increase of acetylcholinesterase activity and decrease of total content of reduced glutathione were observed in the rat hippocampal homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as compared with control. Production of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde significantly increased in the rat hippocampal homogenates of scopolamine-treated animals as compared with control, as a consequence of impaired antioxidant enzymes activities. Additionally, in scopolamine- treated rats exposure to F. angulata essential oil significantly improved memory formation and decreased oxidative stress, suggesting memory-enhancing and antioxidant effects. Therefore, our results suggest that multiple exposures to F. angulata essential oil ameliorate scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment by attenuation of the oxidative stress in the rat hippocampusEmel (Aydin) Akbaba was supported by LLP Erasmus (2013/2014) during her stage within Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Romania

Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-Like Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Alafia multiflora

The present study examined the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of the aqueous extract of Alafia multiflora Stapf (AM) stem barks (150 and 300 mg/kg, 7 days administration) on rats and mice, using experimental paradigms of anxiety and depression. In the open field, the aqueous extract increased significantly the number of center square crossed and the time spent at the center of the field as well as the rearing time, while the grooming time was reduced significantly. In the elevated plus maze, the aqueous extract increased the time spent and the number of entries in the open arms. All these effects were also completely reversed by flumazenil, an antagonist of benzodiazepine receptors and pindolol a β-adrenoceptors blocker/5-HT 1A/1B receptor antagonist. The time spent in the light compartment, the latency time, and the number of the light-dark transitions increased significantly in the light/dark exploration test after the treatment with AM. The extract was able to reduce significantly the immobility time and increase swimming as well as climbing duration. Taken together, the present work evidenced anxiolytic effects of the aqueous extract of AM that might involve an action on benzodiazepine-type receptors and an antidepressant effect where noradrenergic mechanisms will probably play a role

Anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of Ferulago angulata essential oil in the scopolamine rat model of Alzheimer’s disease

Ferulago angulata subsp. carduchorum (Apiaceae) is a shrub indigenous to western Iran, Turkey and Iraq. In traditional medicine, F. angulata is recommended for treating digestive pains, haemorrhoids, snake bites, ulcers and as a sedative. The present study analysed the possible anxiolytic, antidepressant and antioxidant properties of F. angulata essential oil in a scopolamine-induced rat model of Alzheimer’s disease. The anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects of F. angulata essential oil were studied using in vivo (elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests) approaches. Also, the antioxidant activity in the amygdala was assessed using superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase specific activities, the total content of the reduced glutathione, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde levels. The scopolamine-treated rats exhibited the following: a decrease in the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open armwithin the elevated plus-maze test and a decrease of swimming time and an increase of immobility time in the forced swimming test. Inhalation of F. angulata essential oil significantly exhibited anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects and also antioxidant potential. Furthermore, in silico studies carried out by employing molecular docking experiments pointed to the existence of strong interactions of monoterpenes from F. angulata essential oil with anxiolytic and antidepressant effects with GABAA receptor. Our results suggest that the F. angulata essential oil inhalation ameliorates scopolamine-induced anxiety and depression by attenuation of the oxidative stress in the rat amygdala. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.TÜBİTAK program 2221-Fellowships for Visiting Scientists and Scientists on Sabbatical Leave (2014/2015) supported Prof. dr. Lucian Hritcu during the collaboration stay in Firat University, Elazig, Turkey

The effects of inhaled pimpinella peregrina essential oil on scopolamine-Induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression in laboratory rats

Compliance with Ethical Standards Rats were treated in accordance with the guidelines of the animal bioethics of the Act on Animal Experimentation and Animal Health and Welfare from Romania and all procedures were in compliance with Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2010 on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. This study was approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experiments of the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi (Permit Number: 2192) and also, efforts were made to minimize animal suffering and to reduce the number of animals used.In the present study, we identified the effects of inhaled Pimpinella peregrina essential oil (1 and 3 %, for 21 continuous days) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression in laboratory rats. Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests were used for assessing memory processes. Also, the anxiety and depressive responses were studied by means of the elevated plus-maze and forced swimming tests. The scopolamine alone-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease of the spontaneous alternation percentage in Y-maze test, increase of the number of working and reference memory errors in radial arm-maze test, along with decrease of the exploratory activity, the percentage of the time spent and the number of entries in the open arm within elevated plus-maze test and decrease of swimming time and increase of immobility time within forced swimming test. Inhalation of the P. peregrina essential oil significantly improved memory formation and exhibited anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects in scopolamine-treated rats. Our results suggest that the P. peregrina essential oil inhalation ameliorates scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, studies on the P. peregrina essential oil may open a new therapeutic window for the prevention of neurological abnormalities closely related to Alzheimer’s disease.Emel Aydin was supported by LLP Erasmus (2013/2014), Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iasi, Romani

Memory-enhancing activities of the aqueous extract of Albizia adianthifolia leaves in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rodent model of Parkinson’s disease

BACKGROUND: Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wright (Fabaceae) is a traditional herb largely used in the African traditional medicine as analgesic, purgative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and memory-enhancer drug. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the possible cognitive-enhancing and antioxidative effects of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves in the 6-hydroxydopamine-lesion rodent model of Parkinson’s disease. METHODS: The effect of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves (150 and 300 mg/kg, orally, daily, for 21 days) on spatial memory performance was assessed using Y-maze and radial arm-maze tasks, as animal models of spatial memory. Pergolide - induced rotational behavior test was employed to validate unilateral damage to dopamine nigrostriatal neurons. Also, in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed through the estimation of total flavonoid and total phenolic contents along with determination of free radical scavenging activity. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Significant differences were determined by Tukey’s post hoc test. F values for which p < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant. Pearson’s correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used in order to evaluate the association between behavioral parameters and net rotations in rotational behavior test. RESULTS: The 6-OHDA-treated rats exhibited the following: decrease of spontaneous alternations percentage within Y-maze task and increase of working memory errors and reference memory errors within radial arm maze task. Administration of the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves significantly improved these parameters, suggesting positive effects on spatial memory formation. Also, the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves showed potent in vitro antioxidant activity. Furthermore, in vivo evaluation, the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves attenuated the contralateral rotational asymmetry observed by pergolide challenge in 6-OHDA-treated rats. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our results suggest that the aqueous extract of A. adianthifolia leaves possesses antioxidant potential and might provide an opportunity for management neurological abnormalities in Parkinson’s disease conditions

Antidepressant Flavonoids and Their Relationship with Oxidative Stress

Depression is a serious disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world and causes poor quality of life, problem behaviors, and limitations in activities of daily living. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic options is of high interest and growth. Research on the relationship between depression and oxidative stress has shown important biochemical aspects in the development of this disease. Flavonoids are a class of natural products that exhibit several pharmacological properties, including antidepressant-like activity, and affects various physiological and biochemical functions in the body. Studies show the clinical potential of antioxidant flavonoids in treating depressive disorders and strongly suggest that these natural products are interesting prototype compounds in the study of new antidepressant drugs. So, this review will summarize the chemical and pharmacological perspectives related to the discovery of flavonoids with antidepressant activity. The mechanisms of action of these compounds are also discussed, including their actions on oxidative stress relating to depression

The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) and the power of Twitter networking exemplified through #INPST hashtag analysis

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together in collaborative environment individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research, and to empower their interactions by using digital communication tools. Methods: In this work, we present a general overview of INPST activities and showcase the specific use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool that was used to host a one-week "2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event" (spanning from 31st May 2021 to 6th June 2021) based on the application of the Twitter hashtag #INPST. Results and Conclusion: The use of this hashtag during the networking event period was analyzed with Symplur Signals (https://www.symplur.com/), revealing a total of 6,036 tweets, shared by 686 users, which generated a total of 65,004,773 impressions (views of the respective tweets). This networking event's achieved high visibility and participation rate showcases a convincing example of how this social media platform can be used as a highly effective tool to host virtual Twitter-based international biomedical research events

ROLE OF THE GANGLIONIC BLOCKER CHLORISONDAMINE (CHL) IN MEDIATING STRESS INDUCING IMMUNE RESPONSE IN RATS

The involvement of nicotine acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) was investigated in acute and chronic stress, influence immune system, with concomitant changes in immune response. Adult rats pretreated with 0.5 ml sheep red blood cells (SRBC) (109/ml, Sigma), produce an immune response, and were subjected with chlorisondamine (CHL) (3 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) under acute and chronic stress influence. In the present study, acute stress is a form of short-term stress induced by a single footshock session, and chronic stress is a form of long-term stress induced by multiple and repetitive footshock sessions. 4 days later, we assessed the total number of leukocyte and the antibody titer against SRBC. In summary, we provide the role of ganglionic blocker chlorisondamine in mediating stress-induced immune response in rats

NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND IMMUNITY: 1. DOPAMINE

Dopamine is one of the principal neurotransmitters in the central nervous system (CNC), and its neuronal pathways are involved in several key functions such as behavior (Hefco et al., 2003a,b), control of movement, endocrine regulation, immune response (Fiserova et al., 2002; Levite et al., 2001, Hritcu et al., 2006a,b,c), and cardiovascular function. Dopamine has at least five G-protein, coupled receptor subtypes, D1-D5, each arising from a different gene (Sibley et al., 1993). Traditionally, these receptors have been classified into D1-like (the D1 and D5) and D2-like (D2, D3 and D4) receptors subtypes, primarily according to their ability to stimulate or inhibit adenylate cyclase, respectively, and to their pharmacological characteristics (Seeman et al., 1993). Receptors for dopamine (particularly of D2 subclass) are the primary therapeutic target in a number of neuropathological disorders including schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s chorea (Seeman et al., 1987). Neither dopamine by itself, nor dopaminergic agonists by themselves, has been shown to activate T cell function. Nevertheless, lymphocytes are most probably exposed to dopamine since the primary and secondary lymphoid organs of various mammals are markedly innervated, and contain nerve fibers which stain for tyrosine hydroxylase (Weihe et al., 1991), the enzyme responsible for dopamine synthesis. Moreover, cathecolamines and their metabolites are present in single lymphocytes and in extracts of T and B cell clones, and pharmacological inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase reduces catecholamine levels, suggesting catecholamine synthesis by lymphocytes (Bergquist et al., 1994). The existence of putative dopamine receptors of D2, D3, D4 and D5 subtypes on immune cells has been proposed of several authors, primarily on the basis of dopaminergic ligand binding assays and specific mRNA expression as monitored by reverse transcription-PCR. Several experiments evoked the idea of a role for dopamine in modulating, mainly suppressing immune functions (Qui et al., 1994). Animals treated with bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, also showed suppression of antibody production to SRBC and LPS (Besedovsky and del Ray, 1996) and suppressed activities of lymphocytes in mixed lymphocyte culture (Hiestand et al., 1986). Moreover, the interest regarding the role of dopamine on immune system becomes more relevant when some of important neurological disease like Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia with hypo- and hyperactivity (Birtwistle et al., 1988) of central dopamine system are well-correlated with severe abnormalities of immune functions (Muller et al., 1993). Therefore, in the present review, we have evaluated information from our laboratory as well as from others regarding the role of dopamine on immune function in both human and experimental animals in order to understand the current status of dopamine-mediated control of the immunological surveillance system