Herbal medicines in the treatment of psychiatric disorders: a systematic review

The Potential of Selected Plants and Their Biologically Active Molecules in the Treatment of Depression and Anxiety Disorders

The incidence of anxiety and depression disorders is increasing worldwide. There is an increasing incidence of hard-to-treat depression with various aspects of origin. Almost 80% of people prefer to use natural remedies and supplements as their primary healthcare solution. Not surprisingly, around one-third of drugs were inspired by nature. Over the past three decades, the use of such remedies has increased significantly. Synthetic antidepressants may cause various negative side effects, whereas herbal medicines are favored because of their ability to relieve symptoms with minimal to no side effects and lower financial burden. This review provides an overview of herbs and biologically active compounds used to treat depression.

Chinese herbal medicines for the treatment of depression: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Objectives: Amidst rising global burden of depression and the associated challenges with conventional antidepressant therapies, there is a growing interest in exploring the efficacy and safety of alternative treatments. This study uses a Bayesian network meta-analysis to rigorously evaluate the therapeutic potential of Chinese herbal medicines in the treatment of depression, focusing on their comparative efficacy and safety against standard pharmacological interventions. Methods: Five databases (PubMed, Wanfang Data, EMBASE, CNKI, and the Cochrane Library) and grey literature were searched from inception to end of July 2023 to identify studies that assessed the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal medicines in treating depression. The response rate, Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) scores, and rates of adverse events were assessed through both direct and indirect comparisons. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were meticulously performed. Statistical analysis used Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, with effect size estimates provided as odd ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 198 RCTs involving 8,923 patients were analyzed, assessing 17 Chinese herbal medicines. Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking results indicated that the top three treatments with the best response rate were possibly Guipiwan, Ease Pill, and Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction; the top three treatments on the reduction of HAMD scores were Chai Hu Shu Gan San, Xingnao Jieyu Decoction, and Xiaoyao Powder; and the top three treatments with the lowest adverse effects rates were Xiaoyao Powder, Alprazolam, and Xingnao Jieyu Decoction. Interestingly, commonly used synthetic drugs such as Fluoxetine, Escitalopram, Amitriptyline, Sertraline, Flupentixol and Melitracen, and Venlafaxine, not only appeared to be less effective than specific Chinese herbal medicines (Gan Mai Da Zao Decoction, Chaihu Jia Longgu Muli Decoction, Chai Hu Shu Gan San, Danzhi-Xiaoyao-San, and Xingnao Jieyu Decoction), but they were also related to substantially higher risk of adverse events. Conclusion: Our findings elucidate the promising therapeutic potential of Chinese herbal medicines as viable alternatives in the treatment of depression, with certain herbs demonstrating enhanced efficacy and safety profiles. The outcomes of this study advocate for the integration of these alternative modalities into contemporary depression management paradigms. However, it underscores the necessity for larger, methodologically robust trials to further validate and refine these preliminary findings. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42023452109.

Effects of the PREMEN-CALM® in the Management of the Premenstrual Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study

Premenstrual syndrome is a common disorder in women of reproductive age characterized by a variety of cyclical symptoms with a great impact on their lifestyle. Available pharmacological options include both antidepressants and oral contraceptives, both of which have side effects, are expensive and not always effective. Vitamins, minerals and plant extracts have been proven to alleviate the symptomatology of the premenstrual syndrome. For this reason, the purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a commercial phytotherapeutic dietary supplement (PREMEN-CALM®: γ-aminobutyric acid, Rhodiola rosea L., Vitex agnus-castus, vitamin B6 and melatonin) as an alternative treatment for this condition. A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled pilot study was performed. Participants (n = 42) were assessed before and after 3 months of taking the supplement (n = 21) or the placebo (n = 21). Outcome measures include antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers, body composition, subjective sleep quality, mood state profile, quality of life, and certain characteristics of the menstrual cycle. The within-group analysis revealed a significant improvement in the total antioxidant status (1.49 ± 0.34 vs reference value 1, p = 0.002), mood state profile (p = 0.02), and affective symptoms (p = 0.01) in the women receiving the commercial phytotherapeutic dietary supplement PREMEN-CALM®. On the contrary, the between-group analysis showed no statistical differences, suggesting a plausible placebo effect. The phytotherapeutic supplement PREMEN-CALM® might be effective in treating or alleviating the symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome without adverse events. Integrative medicine approaches in the clinical practice may help improve the health of women suffering from this and other gynecological conditions.

The Effects of Crocus sativus (Saffron) on ADHD: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Crocus sativus also known as saffron, is one of the most popular traditional plants. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of saffron extracts in ADHD.

METHOD

This study includes clinical trial studies that assessed the efficacy and/or safety of saffron in ADHD patients. Non-English papers, review articles, commentaries, letters, observational studies, thesis, animal studies, in-vitro studies, and conference abstracts were not included. The risk of bias in randomized studies was evaluated based on the Cochrane RoB.2, and risk of bias in pre-post intervention studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

RESULTS

Four studies met our inclusion criteria with a total of 118 patients. The results manifested an efficient role of saffron as either an adjuvant therapy to MPH or a single therapy against ADHD, without significant safety issues.

DISCUSSION

Saffron demonstrates promise in improving ADHD symptoms, with an acceptable safety profile. Future well-designed multicentral studies are suggested.

The Effect of Zao Ren An Shen Capsule on Insomnia among Patients with Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Zao Ren An Shen capsule (ZRASC) is one of the most widely used Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating insomnia, but its effect on insomnia patients with anxiety remains unclear. We aimed to examine the effect of ZRASC combined with alprazolam in anxiety patients compared with those only with alprazolam prescription. Methods. We conducted a single-blind, parallel-group, randomized trial involving persons from 2 hospitals in China. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1 : 1 ratio to the intervention group, in which the participants were provided with ZRASC and alprazolam, or to the control group, in which the participants were provided with alprazolam. The primary outcomes were insomnia symptoms measured by the insomnia severity index (ISI). The secondary outcomes were anxiety symptoms measured with the Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA). All participants were followed up at 2-week and 4-week after the treatment. The effect was estimated using the mixed-effect models. Results. A total of 334 patients were enrolled in the trial. 167 of them (mean (SD) age, 44.4 (12.8) years; 43.1% female) were assigned to the usual treatment group, while 167 (mean (SD) age, 46.0 (13.4) years; 43.7% female) were assigned to the ZRASC group. From baseline to the 4-weekfollow-up, the mean differences in ISI and HAMA scores between the ZRASC group and the usual care group were −2.542 and −2.563, respectively (both $p<0.001$ ). Patients in the ZRASC group were more likely to have remission of insomnia and anxiety than those in the control group at the 4-weekfollow-up, with incidence rate ratios of 265% and 213%, respectively (both $p<0.001$ ). Proportions of remission were 74.93% ( $p<0.001$ ) for insomnia and 85.80% ( $p<0.001$ ) for anxiety at 4-weekfollow-up. Conclusions. This randomized study showed that adjunctive treatment with ZRASC was able to reduce insomnia and anxiety symptoms at the 4-weekfollow-up. Trial Registration. This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR1800019913).

The pharmacological validation of the Xiao-Jian-Zhong formula against ulcerative colitis by network pharmacology integrated with metabolomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is pathologically characterized by an immune response accommodative insufficiency and dysbiosis accompanied by persistent epithelial barrier dysfunction, and is divided into ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD). Its progression increases the susceptibility to colitis-associated cancer (CAC), as well as other complications. The Xiao-Jian-Zhong (XJZ) formula has a historical application in the clinic to combat gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The investigation aimed to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of XJZ.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was diluted in drinking water and given to mice for a week to establish murine models of experimental colitis, and the XJZ solution was administered for two weeks. Network pharmacology analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were utilized to predict the therapeutic role of XJZ against UC and CAC. 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics were conducted utilizing murine feces to examine the changes in the microbiome profile. Biochemical experiments were conducted to confirm the predicted functions.

RESULTS

XJZ treatment markedly attenuated DSS-induced experimental colitis progression, and the targets were enriched in inflammation, infection, and tumorigenesis, predicted by network pharmacology analysis. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the XJZ-targets were related to the survival probability in patients with colorectal cancer, underlying a potential therapeutic value in cancer intervention. Moreover, the XJZ therapy successfully rescued the decreased richness and diversity of microbiota, suppressed the potentially pathogenic phenotype of the gut microorganisms, and reversed the declined linoleic acid metabolism and increased cytochrome P450 activity in murine colitis models. Our in-vitro experiments confirmed that the XJZ treatment suppressed Caspase1-dependent pyroptosis and increased peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-γ(PPAR-γ) expression in the colon, facilitated the alternative activation of macrophages (Mφs), inhibited tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in intestinal organoids (IOs), thereby favoring the mucosal healing.

CONCLUSION

The XJZ formula is efficacious for colitis by a prompt resolution of inflammation and dysbiosis, and by re-establishing a microbiome profile that favors re-epithelization, and prevents carcinogenesis.

Natural product-based pharmacological studies for neurological disorders

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders and diseases are expected to rise sharply in the coming years, partly because of the world's aging population. Medicines for the treatment of the CNS have not been successfully made. Inadequate knowledge about the brain, pharmacokinetic and dynamic errors in preclinical studies, challenges with clinical trial design, complexity and variety of human brain illnesses, and variations in species are some potential scenarios. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are multifaceted and lack identifiable etiological components, and the drugs developed to treat them did not meet the requirements of those who anticipated treatments. Therefore, there is a great demand for safe and effective natural therapeutic adjuvants. For the treatment of NDDs and other memory-related problems, many herbal and natural items have been used in the Ayurvedic medical system. Anxiety, depression, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases (AD), as well as a plethora of other neuropsychiatric disorders, may benefit from the use of plant and food-derived chemicals that have antidepressant or antiepileptic properties. We have summarized the present level of knowledge about natural products based on topological evidence, bioinformatics analysis, and translational research in this review. We have also highlighted some clinical research or investigation that will help us select natural products for the treatment of neurological conditions. In the present review, we have explored the potential efficacy of phytoconstituents against neurological diseases. Various evidence-based studies and extensive recent investigations have been included, which will help pharmacologists reduce the progression of neuronal disease.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibition and N-arachidonoylethanolamine modulation by isoflavonoids: A novel target for upcoming antidepressants

Modulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a novel putative target for therapeutic intervention in depressive disorders. Altering concentrations of one of the principal endocannabinoids, N‐arachidonoylethanolamine, also known as anandamide (AEA) can affect depressive‐like behaviors through several mechanisms including anti‐inflammatory, hormonal, and neural circuit alterations. Recently, isoflavonoids, a class of plant‐derived compounds, have been of therapeutic interest given their ability to modulate the metabolism of the endogenous ligands of the ECS. To determine the therapeutic potential of isoflavonoids, we screened several candidate compounds (Genistein, Biochanin‐A, and 7‐hydroxyflavone) in silico to determine their binding properties with fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the primary degrative enzyme for AEA. We further validated the ability of these compounds to inhibit FAAH and determined their effects on depressive‐like and locomotor behaviors in the forced swim test (FST) and open field test in male and female mice. We found that while genistein was the most potent FAAH inhibitor, 7‐hydroxyflavone was most effective at reducing immobility time in the forced swim test. Finally, we measured blood corticosterone and prefrontal cortex AEA concentrations following the forced swim test and found that all tested compounds decreased corticosterone and increased AEA, demonstrating that isoflavonoids are promising therapeutic targets as FAAH inhibitors.

Natural Products: Ray of Hope for Anxiety Disorders

Background:

Anxiety, a familiar form of psychiatric disorder, influences numerous persons throughout the world. These psychological disorders frequently need an enduring regime of recommended medicines and impose huge costs on human societies. For the last few decenniums, discovery in the field of natural neurophysiology garnered a lot of recognition because of its least side effects.

Objective:

Many people find it helpful to discover an effective herbal remedy for anxiety with fewer detrimental repercussions. The purpose of the present article is to report medicinal plant species used as anti-anxiety agents, which in turn, are helpful to develop new anti-anxiety herbal formulations.

Method:

An unlimited, semantic electronic and manual exploration of PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, ISI, Google Scholar, Elsevier's abstract and citation database, and the database libraries was carried using keywords such as medicinal plants, herbal drugs, traditional medicine, and anxiety for recognizing natural medications in the management of anxiety disorders.

Results:

Literary review collected the information of potential anti-anxiety plants. Data support the effectiveness of some popular herbal remedies by indicating high-quality scientific studies and support several clinically efficacious natural plants as anxiolytics.

Conclusion:

Evidence-based studies indicate that natural plant treatment is an efficient way to manage anxiety disorders; the benefits outweigh the risks.

Ethnomedicine and neuropsychopharmacology in Mesoamerica

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The burden of disease caused by mental and neurological disorders is increasing globally, to a disproportionate degree in Latin America. In contrast to the many psychoactive plants with a use history in Mesoamerican cultures, the translation to the wider population of knowledge around numerous botanicals used contemporarily by indigenous Mesoamerican societies to treat psychological and neurological disorders did not receive the same attention.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We used the previously published Mesoamerican Medicinal Plant Database to extract species and associated botanical drugs used as treatments for illnesses associated with the nervous system by Mesoamerican cultures in Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. With the critical use of published pharmacological literature, the cross-culturally most salient genera are systematically reviewed.

RESULTS

From 2188 plant taxa contained in the database 1324 are used as treatments for illnesses associated with the nervous system. The ethnomedical data was critically confronted with the available biomedical literature for the 58 cross-culturally most salient genera. For a considerable proportion of the frequently used taxa, preclinical data are available, mostly validating ethnomedicinal uses.

CONCLUSION

This quantitative approach facilitates the prioritization of taxa for future pre-clinical, clinical and treatment outcome studies and gives patients, practitioners, and legislators a fundamental framework of evidence, on which to base decisions regarding phytomedicines.

Biomedical Implications of Plant-Based Principles as Antidepressants: Prospects for Novel Drug Development

BACKGROUND

Depression is a most common mental disorder. The symptoms of depression include loss of energy, changes in appetite, more or less sleep, anxiety, low concentration, uncertainty, restlessness, feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or despair, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. In order to provide safe, efficient and cost-effective medication, the plants based principles in isolation or in combination with traditional antidepressants are attracting increasing attention for depression therapy.

METHOD

The information regarding the present review and its contents such as collected from published literature materials in different international journals. We have used different search engines such as PubMed, Medline, ResearchGate Google Semantic Scholar and ScienceDirect. For this purpose, the data obtained were properly organized and suitably analyzed to include in this article.

RESULTS

Most of the phytomolecules isolated from the medicinal plants display antidepressant effect through the synaptic regulation of levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline in different parts of the brain. The mechanism of action of phytomolecules also involves negative regulation of the activities of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and prevention of hyperactivity of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, the strong antioxidative and antiinflamatory potential of these phytochemicals offer synergy to their antidepressant as well as antipsychosomatic functions.

CONCLUSION

The application of phytochemicals has proved it to be a safe, cost effective and efficient therapeutic agent to treat the patients suffering from mild to severe state of depression and other psychiatric disorders. The potential phytochemicals may be further optimized using in silico tools to develop better antidepressants and antisychotic agents in future.

Anti-anxiety properties of selected medicinal plants

Exploration of new drugs targeting anxiety treatment is a major concern worldwide. Medicinal plants are being used as a potential source of novel drugs for anxiety disorders. The objective of this review is to provide information about the healing outcomes of anxiety treatment with natural products. Valeriana officinalis, Citrus aurantium, Commelina benghalensis, Achyranthes aspera, Mimosa pudica, Achillea millefolium, Nymphaea alba, Leonurus cardiac, Camellia sinensis, Turnera aphrodisiaca, Crataegus oxyacantha and Piper methysticum showed promising effects on anxiety in animal models. In clinical studies, passion flower, kava, valerian, St John's wort, and ashwagandha showed the most positive results. More studies are needed for the exploration of the anti-anxiety of medicinal plants. In drugs derived from natural sources have explored many components that are playing an essential role in curing anxiety disorders and associated complications.

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases

Adaptogens comprise a category of herbal medicinal and nutritional products promoting adaptability, resilience, and survival of living organisms in stress. The aim of this review was to summarize the growing knowledge about common adaptogenic plants used in various traditional medical systems (TMS) and conventional medicine and to provide a modern rationale for their use in the treatment of stress-induced and aging-related disorders. Adaptogens have pharmacologically pleiotropic effects on the neuroendocrine-immune system, which explain their traditional use for the treatment of a wide range of conditions. They exhibit a biphasic dose-effect response: at low doses they function as mild stress-mimetics, which activate the adaptive stress-response signaling pathways to cope with severe stress. That is in line with their traditional use for preventing premature aging and to maintain good health and vitality. However, the potential of adaptogens remains poorly explored. Treatment of stress and aging-related diseases require novel approaches. Some combinations of adaptogenic plants provide unique effects due to their synergistic interactions in organisms not obtainable by any ingredient independently. Further progress in this field needs to focus on discovering new combinations of adaptogens based on traditional medical concepts. Robust and rigorous approaches including network pharmacology and systems pharmacology could help in analyzing potential synergistic effects and, more broadly, future uses of adaptogens. In conclusion, the evolution of the adaptogenic concept has led back to basics of TMS and a new level of understanding of holistic approach. It provides a rationale for their use in stress-induced and aging-related diseases.

Effects of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) on cognitive function. A systematic review of RCTs

INTRODUCTION

Improvement of cognitive function may be desirable for healthy individuals and clinically beneficial for those with cognitive impairment such as from Alzheimer's disease (AD) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the cognitive effects of oral saffron intake, in patients with MCI/AD and/or in non-demented individuals, by following the PRISMA guidelines.

METHODS

We performed a literature search on MedLine, Cochrane library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of oral saffron administration in patients with MCI/AD and/or in non-demented individuals.

RESULTS

Five studies (enrolling 325 individuals) met our inclusion criteria. Four studies included patients with MCI/AD, and one study included cognitively normal individuals. Saffron was well-tolerated in all groups. Regarding cognitively impaired patients, scores on Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale or Mini mental state examination were significantly better when saffron was compared with placebo and did not differ significantly when saffron was compared with donepezil or memantine. Saffron effects on functional status were similar with its effects on cognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Saffron was shown to be equally effective to common symptomatic drugs for MCI/AD and resulted in no difference in the incidence of side effects, when compared with placebo or drugs. The promising results should be seen cautiously, since the evidence was derived from studies with potentially high risk of bias (ROB). RCTs with larger sample sizes and low ROB are required to definitively assess the potential role of saffron as an MCI/AD treatment.

Efficacy and safety of lavender essential oil (Silexan) capsules among patients suffering from anxiety disorders: A network meta-analysis

A systematic review and network-meta analysis (NMA) were performed to estimate significance of the anxiolytic effect of lavender essential oil taken as silexan capsules versus other comparators (i.e., placebo/paroxetine/lorazepam). The outcome of interest was Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated to estimate the treatment effect at the confidence interval of 95%. League tables were generated using treatment effect, for all pairwise comparisons, where WMD < 0 favors the column-defining treatment. Five studies were identified with a total of 524 participants receiving treatment with silexan 80 mg and 121 participants taking silexan 160 mg. The NMA results indicated that consumption of silexan 160 mg resulted in higher decline of HAMA score [WMD −1.14 (−1.10, 3.39)] in comparison to silexan 80 mg, placebo [−2.20 (−4.64, 0.24)] and paroxetine [−1.24 (−5.34, 2.85)]. The effect of silexan 80 mg was observed to be same as that of paroxetine. Overall, silexan 160 mg was noticed to be a more efficient treatment giving significant decline in HAMA score across other comparators. However, no improvements in HAMA score was observed for the group receiving lorazepam 0.5 mg when compared to silexan 160 mg, silexan 80 mg, paroxetine 20 mg, and placebo.

Saffron: The Golden Spice with Therapeutic Properties on Digestive Diseases

Saffron is a natural compound that has been used for centuries in many parts of the world as a food colorant and additive. It was shown to have the ability to mitigate various disorders through its known anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of saffron in the treatment of various chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel diseases, Alzheimer's, rheumatoid arthritis as well as common malignancies of the colon, stomach, lung, breast, and skin. Modern day drugs generally have unwanted side effects, which led to the current trend to use naturally occurring products with therapeutic properties. In the present review, the objective is to systematically analyze the wealth of information regarding the potential mechanisms of action and the medical use of saffron, the "golden spice", especially in digestive diseases. We summarized saffron influence on microbiome, molecular pathways, and inflammation in gastric, colon, liver cancers, and associated inflammations.

Crocus sativus L. Versus Methylphenidate in Treatment of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders of childhood and adolescence. About 30% of patients do not respond to stimulants or cannot tolerate their side effects. Thus, alternative medication, like herbal medicine, should be considered. The aim of this trial is to compare the safety and efficacy of Crocus sativus (saffron) versus methylphenidate in improving symptoms of children with ADHD.

METHODS

In a 6-week randomized double-blind study, 54 patients (children 6-17 years old) with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) diagnosis of ADHD were randomly assigned to receive either 20-30 mg/d (20 mg/d for <30 kg and 30 mg/d for >30 kg) methylphenidate (MPH) or 20-30 mg/d saffron capsules depending on weight (20 mg/d for <30 kg and 30 mg/d for >30 kg). Symptoms were assessed using the Teacher and Parent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS-IV) at baseline and weeks 3 and 6.

RESULTS

Fifty patients completed the trial. General linear model repeated measures showed no significant difference between the two groups on Parent and Teacher Rating Scale scores (F = 0.749, df = 1.317, p = 0.425, and F = 0.249, df = 1.410, p = 0.701, respectively). Changes in Teacher and Parent ADHD Rating Scale scores from baseline to the study end were not significantly different between the saffron group and the MPH group (p = 0.731 and p = 0.883, respectively). The frequency of adverse effects was similar between saffron and MPH groups.

CONCLUSION

Short-term therapy with saffron capsule showed the same efficacy compared with methylphenidate. Nevertheless, larger controlled studies with longer treatment periods are necessary for future studies.

Polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol and phenolic metabolites from the aerial parts of Hypericum elatoides and their neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory activities

A phytochemical study on the aerial parts of Hypericum elatoides led to the isolation of a previously undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol derivative, hyperelatone A, seven previously undescribed phenolic metabolites, hyperelatones B-H, along with ten known analogues. The structures of hyperelatones A-H were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, HRESIMS experiment, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and comparison of experimental and calculated ECD spectra, as well as chemical derivatization. All compounds were evaluated for their neuroprotective activity against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced cell injury in rat pheochromocytoma PC-12 cells and inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in BV-2 microglial cells. Hyperelatones B-D and H, cinchonain Ib, and tenuiside A showed noticeable neuroprotection at concentrations of 1.0-100.0 μM. Hyperelatones D, G, and H, (-)-epicatechin, tenuiside A, and (Z)-3-hexenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside exhibited significant anti-neuroinflammatory activity with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.75 ± 0.02 to 5.83 ± 0.23 μM.

Potential plant-derived catecholaminergic activity enhancers for neuropharmacological approaches: A review

BACKGROUND

Catecholamines (CAs) have been reported to be involved in numerous functions including central nervous system. CA release from the intra neuronal storage vesicles aid in the therapy of various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders where the catecholaminergic neurotransmission is compromised. Bioavailability of CA at the synapse can be increased through stimulated neurotransmitter release, monoamine oxidase and CA reuptake inhibition. Plant based galenicals are reported to have similar CA enhancement activities and have been used for the management of neurological disorders.

AIM

To review evidence-based literature with plant extracts, bioactive compounds, and composite extracts that modulate central catecholaminergic system, thereby enhancing CA activity for beneficial neurological effect.

METHODS

Electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect were used to search scientific contributions until January 2018, using relevant keywords. Literature focusing plant-derived CA enhancing compounds, extracts and/or composite extracts were identified and summarized. In all cases, dose, route of administration, the model system and type of extract were accounted.

RESULTS

A total of 49 plant extracts, 31 compounds and 16 herbal formulations have shown CA activity enhancement. Stimulated CA release from the storage vesicles, monoamine oxidase and CA reuptake inhibition were the major mechanisms involved in the increase of CA bioavailability by these phytoconstituents.

CONCLUSION

This review provides an overview on the phytoconstituents with CA enhancement property that have been used for neuropsychiatric disorders. Such herbal remedies will provide an avenue for cost effective and easily available medication which have holistic approach towards disease management. There is also scope for alternate medicines or prototype drug development utilizing these phytomedicines for treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, hurdles are to be met for analyzing the mode and mechanism of action associated with these phytomedicines and their proper scientific documentation.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: Potential Neuro-Psychopharmacotherapeutic Plant-Based Drugs

Over the years, scientific researches have validated the healing benefits of many psychopharmacotherapeutic plant-based drugs to ameliorate psychiatric disorders. In contrast, the use of chemical procedures to isolate and purify specific compounds from plants that have been used to treat autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and its clinical features may contribute to improve the quality of life of many patients. Also, herbal pharmacological treatments could improve the core symptoms of autism with fewer side effects. This review will focus on the uses and actions of phytopharmaceuticals in the behavioral conditions of ASDs. A large number of natural compound-based plant drugs have been tested in murine models of autism and in clinical trials with remarkable success in reversing the core and associated behaviors with autism such as flavonoids, cannabinoids, curcuminoids, piperine, resveratrol, and bacosides. This plant-based drug alternative is safer given that many psychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative pathologies do not often respond well to currently prescribed medications or have significant side effects. However, it is noteworthy to consider the need for large clinical trials to determine safety and efficacy. Many results are based on case reports or small size samples, and often the studies are open label. Standardization of procedures (i.e., purity and concentrations) and quality controls are strictly required to ensure the absence of side effects.

The Confrontation between Ethnopharmacology and Pharmacological Tests of Medicinal Plants Associated with Mental and Neurological Disorders

For neurological disorders, pharmacological tests have shown promising results in the reduction of side effects when using plants with known therapeutic effects in the treatment of some types of dementia. Therefore, the goals of this study are to gather data about the major medicinal plants used in the nervous system as described in ethnopharmacological surveys from South America and Brazil and to compare this data with the results from pharmacological tests on the active principles of those same plants found in the scientific literature. After collecting the data about each plant, their respective popular indication was compared with the results found through pharmacological tests. The discrepancy rate between the effects observed by ethnopharmacological and pharmacological methods in this study is greater than 50%. In conclusion, despite the importance of ethnopharmacological data, it is important to make comparisons with pharmacological tests for the same plants, since the pharmacological studies, although few, have shown a high rate of discrepancy in the results.

Hyperelatosides A-E, biphenyl ether glycosides from Hypericum elatoides, with neurotrophic activity

Five new biphenyl ether glycosides, hyperelatosides A-E (1-5), one new benzoate glycoside, hyperelatoside F (6), along with nine known phenolic compounds (7-15), were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum elatoides. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS, as well as chemical derivatization. This is the first report of the identification of biphenyl ether glycosides as plant metabolites and their possible biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Except for 3, the new phenolic metabolites exhibited significant neurotrophic activities to enhance nerve growth factor-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. In addition, the anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidant activities of compounds 1-15 were preliminarily evaluated in vitro.

The Use of Larval Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Model for Identifying New Anxiolytic Drugs from Herbal Medicine

Anxiety is a widespread psychiatric disorder. The search for a cure is still continuing since many of the synthetic drugs were inefficient in completely treating anxiety, yet caused some dangerous side effects until many of the drugs were withdrawn from the market. One promising source of new anxiolytics could be herbal medicines. The challenge is to screen plant extracts. Rodent models can be used for this purpose but are expensive. Moreover, rodent tests are costly and consume relatively large quantities of sample. For this reason, alternative animal models may be useful. Zebrafish larvae have many advantages for screening natural products. The main advantage is that they can be produced cheaply and in large numbers. Several studies have shown that the zebrafish is a good model for studying drugs that affect anxiety. This review focuses on the use of animal models, including zebrafish larvae, for studying anxiety and screening for herbal medicines that modulate anxiety. Finally, future prospects of the zebrafish larva as an alternative model in this field are also discussed.

An epidemiological study on herbal product self-medication practice among psychotic outpatients from Serbia: A cross-sectional study

Utilization of herbal products (HPs) is a common practice in the traditional medicine of people from southeastern Serbia. In this study, we focused on the usage of HPs as a self-medication practice among patients diagnosed with a mental illness, by aiming to ascertain the usage prevalence, the identity of the main plant taxa utilized, their formulations and target symptoms. This was accomplished through a cross-sectional study of psychiatric outpatients, conducted in the Clinic for Mental Health Protection in Niš, and which included a questionnaire on HP utilization and a non-structured psychiatric interview. Typically, single, middle-aged males, with a secondary education degree, utilized Matricaria chamomilla and/or Melissa officinalis in a form of an infusion (tea) for relieving anxiety and psychotic symptoms. In some cases, adverse effects were noted when HPs were used in combination with prescribed psychotropic medications. Our and previous results urge a thorough evaluation of possible benefits and/or harmful interactions of HP with standard medication in the treatment of psychiatric patients.

The anxiolytic effect of Juniperus virginiana L. essential oil and determination of its active constituents

Essential oil from Juniperus virginiana L. (eastern red cedarwood essential oil, CWO) has been used to relax mind and enhance comfort for medical purposes. Few reports showed its effect on anxiety behaviors in animal models. The present study investigated the anxiolytic effect of CWO using two anxiety tests in mice, then determined the major active constituents, examined the change of neurotransmitters after intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration. Analysis using GC/MS revealed that the CWO contained (-)-α-cedrene (28.11%), (+)-β-cedrene (7.81%), (-)-thujopsene (17.71%) and (+)-cedrol (24.58%). CWO at 400-800mg/kg increased the percentage of open arm entries and the percentage of the time spent in open arms in the elevated plus maze (EPM), suggesting that the oil has anxiolytic effect. However, it didn't show anxiolytic effect in the light-dark box (LDB) test. Tests of the cedrene did not show anxiolytic effect in either test, but rather induced anxiety-related behaviors and inhibited the locomotor activity in EPM and LDB. Cedrol produced significant anxiolytic effect in both EPM and LDB tests at 400-1600mg/kg and 800-1600mg/kg, respectively. A more significant increase in locomotor activity was observed in cedrol at 200-1600mg/kg administration than CWO. CWO increased the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) concentration at 800mg/kg, whereas it didn't affect the dopamine (DA) concentration. Cedrol significantly reduced the DA level at 100-200mg/kg and elevated the 5-HT level at 1200-1600mg/kg. Moreover, it changed the ratio of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid/5-HT and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid/DA at 1200-1600mg/kg. CWO and cedrol, in particular might act in an anxiolytic effect through the 5-HTnergic and DAnergic pathways.

Vitex agnus castus for premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a systematic review

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether Vitex agnus castus is a safe and effective treatment for PMS and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and to discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice. A systematic review of literature was conducted using PubMed and Scielo databases. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCT) using V. agnus castus in individuals with PMS or PMDD that compared this intervention with placebo or an active comparator and included a description of blinding and dropouts/withdrawals. The search was conducted by two independent investigators who reached consensus on the included trials. A total of eight RCTs were included in this study. Most studies focused on PMS, and the diagnostic criteria of PMS and PMDD changed over the years. Three different preparations of V. agnus castus (VAC) were tested, and there was significant variability in the measurement of treatment outcomes between the studies. Nevertheless, all eight studies were positive for VAC in the treatment of PMS or PMDD and VAC was overall well tolerated. Main limitations were differences in definition of diagnostic criteria, the instruments used as main outcome measures, and different preparations of VAC extracts limit the comparison of results between studies. In conclusion, the RCTs using VAC for treatment of PMS/PMDD suggested that the VAC extract is a safe and efficacious alternative to be considered for the treatment of PMS/PMDD symptoms.

Antinociceptive effect of Valeriana fauriei regulates BDNF signaling in an animal model of fibromyalgia

The genus Valeriana has been widely used in popular medicine for centuries, to treat sleep disorders, anxiety, epilepsy and insomnia. Recent studies have focused on the novel pharmacological effects of Valeriana fauriei Briq. (VF) species. Previous studies have attempted to determine the pharmacological functions of Valeriana in various human diseases, particularly with regards to its neuroprotective effects, and its ability to reduce pain and stress. The present study constructed an animal model of fibromyalgia (FM), which was induced by intermittent cold stress with slight modification. Subsequently, the study aimed to determine whether VF exerts antinociceptive effects on the FM‑like model following oral administration of VF extracts. The effects of VF extracts on the FM model were investigated by analyzing behavioral activity, including pain, and detecting protein expression. In the behavioral analysis, the results of a nociception assay indicated that the pain threshold was significantly decreased in the FM group. Subsequently, western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses of the hippocampus demonstrated that the protein expression levels of brain‑derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated‑cAMP response element‑binding protein were downregulated in the FM group. Conversely, VF restored these levels. These results suggested that the effects of VF extract on a model of FM may be associated with its modulatory effects on the BDNF signaling pathway in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex. In conclusion, the mechanism underlying the protective effects of VF as a therapeutic agent against FM may involve the BDNF signaling pathway.

Comparison of Effect of Lavandula officinalis and Venlafaxine in Treating Depression: A Double Blind Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Major depressive disorder is a chronic disease which may be associated with other mental illnesses. Lavandula officinalis and venlafaxine, herbal and chemical drugs respectively, are used to treat depression. Despite pharmacotherapy, major depressive disorder has a complicated pattern of resistance and recurrence.

AIM

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of L. officinalis and venlafaxine in treating depression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this study, 120 patients referred to the psychiatry clinic of the Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran, were randomly selected. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups: venlafaxine (Control Group), venlafaxine + L. officinalis (L. officinalis Group), and venlafaxine + placebo (Placebo Group). All the patients underwent treatment for six weeks. Depression test was administered to the three groups at different time intervals before the treatment, four weeks after the treatment and at completion of the treatment. The data were analysed by SPSS version17.0.

RESULTS

Depression scores of all the groups decreased over time (p=0.001). The depression scores were significantly different between the control and L. officinalis groups (p=0.004), and the control and placebo groups (p=0.002), but were not significantly different between the L. officinalis and placebo groups (p=0.95).

CONCLUSION

Adding L. officinalis or a placebo is equally effective in decreasing mean depression score and venlafaxine obviously decreased this score.

Therapeutic Effects of Phytochemicals and Medicinal Herbs on Depression

Background. Depression is a recurrent, common, and potentially life-threatening psychiatric disease related to multiple assignable causes. Although conventional antidepressant therapy can help relieve symptoms of depression and prevent relapse of the illness, complementary therapies are required due to disadvantage of the current therapy such as adverse effects. Moreover, a number of studies have researched adjunctive therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes for depression patients. Purpose. One potential complementary method with conventional antidepressants involves the use of medicinal herbs and phytochemicals that provide therapeutic benefits. Studies have revealed beneficial effects of medical herbs and phytochemicals on depression and their central nervous system mechanism. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of phytochemicals and medicinal herbs against depression and describe their detailed mechanisms. Sections. There are two sections, phytochemicals against depression and medical herbs against depression, in this review. Conclusion. Use of phytomedicine may be an alternative option for the treatment of depression in case conventional drugs are not applicable due to their side effects, low effectiveness, or inaccessibility. However, the efficacy and safety of these phytomedicine treatments for depression have to be supported by clinical studies.

Papaver Rhoeas L. Hydroalcoholic Extract Exacerbates Forced Swimming Test-Induced Depression in Mice

Introduction:

Depression is one of the most frequent psychiatric disorders in the world with occurs with higher incidence in women. In the present study, the effect of water-alcoholic extract of Papaver rhoeas L. on forced swimming test (FST) in Swiss-Webster mice were examined.

Methods:

We used Swiss-Webster mice (20–25 g) to execute FST on them. The plant extract (1, 10, 30, and 100 mg/kg) was injected to the animals 30 minutes before each session. Fluoxetine (20 mg/kg) was used as standard antidepressant drug. In another group of animals, 30 minutes after extract administration, blood samples were taken from retro-orbital sinus for corticosterone assay. Yet in third group, the drugs were injected to the animals and 30 minutes later, their activities were tested in an open field apparatus.

Results:

Our experiments showed that the extract efficiently reduced FST time both in male and female mice dose-dependently. This effect was comparable with fluoxetine. In addition, corticosterone assay indicated that plasma corticosterone in animals which received extract was higher than those amounts in fluoxetine and saline controls. Moreover, the animals did not show any motor activity deficit in all doses of the extract and fluoxetine compared to saline control.

Conclusion:

The extract of Papaver rhoeas can reduce immobility time which is comparable to the effect of fluoxetine. Also the effect of the extract is contrary to its effects on plasma corticosterone level and or animals’ activity.

Prenylated phenyl polyketides and acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum peplidifolium

In search for new or chemo-taxonomically relevant bioactive compounds from chemically unexplored Hypericum species, four previously undescribed natural products, named peplidiforones A-D were isolated and characterized from Hypericum peplidifolium A. Rich., together with six known compounds. The structures of all compounds were elucidated by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, high resolution mass spectrometric analyses (HR-MS), and by comparison with data reported in the literature. Seven of these compounds are phenyl polyketides while three are acylphloroglucinol type compounds. Peplidiforone C, which possesses an unusual carbon skeleton consisting of a furan ring substituted by a 2,2-dimethylbut-3-enoyl moiety, is the first example of a prenylated furan derivative isolated from the genus Hypericum. The cytotoxicity, antifungal, and anti-herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) activities of extracts and compounds are described.

The role of allopregnanolone in the anxiolytic-like effect of free and easy wanderer plus (FEWP), a polyherbal preparation

Anxiety disorders are the serious and burdensome psychiatric illnesses, which are closely correlated with allopregnanolone. The down-regulation of allopregnanolone biosynthesis has been implicated as the possible contributor to the aetiology of anxiety disorders. Free and easy wanderer plus (FEWP) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that had been shown to be effective in various mood disorders. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the anxiolytic-like effect of FEWP and its association with the level of allopregnanolone in the brain. The animal behavioral tests were processed by the acute FEWP (2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg, p.o.) treatment. It had been shown that FEWP produced anxiolytic-like effects in behavioral models, including novelty suppressed feeding (5, 10mg/kg, p.o.), Vogel-type conflict test (10mg/kg, p.o.), elevated plus-maze test (5, 10mg/kg, p.o.). The animals were decapitated after the end of the behavioral tests and measured the allopregnanolone level of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The allopregnanolone level of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was increased by administration of FEWP (5, 10mg/kg, p.o.). Overall, these results indicated that FEWP exerts anxiolytic-like effects that were associated with the stiumlation of the allopregnanolone biosynthesis.

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Inpatient Care

The aim of this report is to provide the reader an overview of the complex therapy currently used within the German health system. Complex therapies in inpatient care in Germany establish the basis for an integrative and interdisciplinary provision of services. They define minimal criteria for the organization of a hospital, enable the integration of different therapeutic approaches, and therefore, lead to an intensive and holistic treatment by a specially trained team. The German model can be viewed as a pilot program for the introduction of integrative patient-centered care in other hospitals around the world.

Rare biscoumarin derivatives and flavonoids from Hypericum riparium

Hypericum riparium A. Chev. is a Cameroonian medicinal plant belonging to the family Guttiferae. Chemical investigation of the methanol extract of the stem bark of H. riparium led to the isolation of four natural products, 7,7'-dihydroxy-6,6'-biscoumarin (1), 7,7'-dihydroxy-8,8'-biscoumarin (2), 7-methoxy-6,7'-dicoumarinyl ether (3), 2'-hydroxy-5'-(7″-methoxycoumarin-6″-yl)-4'-methoxyphenylpropanoic acid (4), together with one known 7,7'-dimethoxy-6,6'-biscoumarin (5), two flavones, 2'-methoxyflavone (6) and 3'-methoxy flavone (7), and two steroids, stigmast-4-en-3-one (8) and ergosta-4,6,8,22-tetraen-3-one (9). In addition, tetradecanoic acid (10), n-pentadecanoic acid (11), hexadecanoic acid (12), cis-10-heptadecenoic acid (13), octadecanoic acid (14) campesterol (15), stigmasterol (16), β-sitosterol (17), stigmastanol (18), β-eudesmol (19), 1-hexadecanol (20), and 1-octadecanol (21) were identified by GC-MS analysis. Compound 4 consists of a phenylpropanoic acid derivative fused with a coumarin unit, while compounds 2 and 3 are rare members of C8-C8' and C7-O-C6 linked biscoumarins. Their structures were elucidated by UV, IR, extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and electrospray (ESI) high resolution mass spectrometry (MS) including detailed MS/MS studies. This is the first report on the isolation of biscoumarins from the genus Hypericum, although simple coumarin derivatives have been reported from this genus in the literature. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 2-5 were evaluated against the human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 and the colon cancer cell line HT-29. They do not exhibit any significant cytotoxic activity.

Traditional knowledge and formulations of medicinal plants used by the traditional medical practitioners of bangladesh to treat schizophrenia like psychosis

Schizophrenia is a subtle disorder of brain development and plasticity; it affects the most basic human processes of perception, emotion, and judgment. In Bangladesh the traditional medical practitioners of rural and remote areas characterized the schizophrenia as an insanity or a mental problem due to possession by ghosts or evil spirits and they have used various plant species' to treat such symptoms. The aim of the present study was to conduct an ethnomedicinal plant survey and documentation of the formulations of different plant parts used by the traditional medical practitioners of Rangamati district of Bangladesh for the treatment of schizophrenia like psychosis. It was observed that the traditional medical practitioners used a total of 15 plant species to make 14 formulations. The plants were divided into 13 families, used for treatment of schizophrenia and accompanying symptoms like hallucination, depression, oversleeping or insomnia, deterioration of personal hygiene, forgetfulness, and fear due to evil spirits like genies or ghost. A search of the relevant scientific literatures showed that a number of plants used by the medicinal practitioners have been scientifically validated in their uses and traditional medicinal knowledge has been a means towards the discovery of many modern medicines. Moreover, the antipsychotic drug reserpine, isolated from the dried root of Rauvolfia serpentina species, revolutionized the treatment of schizophrenia. So it is very much possible that formulations of the practitioner, when examined scientifically in their entireties, can form discovery of lead compounds which can be used as safe and effective antipsychotic drug to treat schizophrenia.

Reduction of metabolic signs of acute stress in male mice by Papaver rhoaes hydro-alcoholic extract

In the present study, effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Papaver rhoeas L. (Papaveraceae) on the metabolic changes induced by electro foot shock stress in male NMRI mice (25-30 g) has been investigated. The mice were received electric foot shock (40 mV) for 100 sec. Plasma corticosterone levels, food and water intake and delay to eating (Anorexia) were assessed 20 min later. Different doses of the plant extract (15, 30 and 60 mg kg(-1)), or saline (10 mL kg(-1)) was injected to the animals intraperitoneally 30 min before the stress. The control groups received saline (10 mL kg(-1)) or the extract (15, 30 and 60 mg kg(-1)) and 30 min later were exposed to the apparatus but did not received stress. Our results indicated that stress can increase plasma corticosterone level significantly and the extract can exacerbate the stress effect. However, stress could reduce food and water intake and increase delay to eating times which were inhibited by the extract pretreatment. The results indicate that administration of the extract of Papaver rhoeas can reduce the side effects of stress but increases plasma corticosterone level which may be due to its effects on the adrenal gland.

A preliminary investigation of anticholinesterase activity of some Iranian medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of some commonly used herbal medicine in Iran to introduce a new source for management of Alzheimer's disease. A total of 18 aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v) from the following plants: Brassica alba, Brassica nigra, Camellia sinensis, Cinchona officinalis, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus x aurantium, Ferula assafoetida, Humulus lupulus, Juglans regia, Juniperus sabina, Myristica fragrans, Pelargonium graveolens, Pistacia vera, Punica granatum, Rheum officinale, Rosa damascena, Salix alba, and Zizyphus vulgaris were prepared and screened for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity using in vitro Ellman spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS

According to the obtained results, the order of inhibitory activity (IC50 values, μg /ml) of extracts from highest to the lowest was: C. sinensis (5.96), C. aurantifolia (19.57), Z. vulgaris (24.37), B. nigra (84.30) and R. damascena (93.1).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated and confirmed the traditional use of these herbs for management of central nervous system disorders. C. sinensis showed the highest activity in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. However, further investigations on identification of active components in the extracts are needed.

The globalization of traditional medicine in northern peru: from shamanism to molecules

Northern Peru represents the center of the Andean "health axis," with roots going back to traditional practices of Cupisnique culture (1000 BC). For more than a decade of research, semistructured interviews were conducted with healers, collectors, and sellers of medicinal plants. In addition, bioassays were carried out to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of plants found. Most of the 510 species encountered were native to Peru (83%). Fifty percent of the plants used in colonial times have disappeared from the pharmacopoeia. Market vendors specialized either on common and exotic plants, plants for common ailments, and plants only used by healers or on plants with magical purposes. Over 974 preparations with up to 29 different ingredients were used to treat 164 health conditions. Almost 65% of the medicinal plants were applied in these mixtures. Antibacterial activity was confirmed in most plants used for infections. Twenty-four percent of the aqueous extracts and 76% of the ethanolic extracts showed toxicity. Traditional preparation methods take this into account when choosing the appropriate solvent for the preparation of a remedy. The increasing demand for medicinal species did not increase the cultivation of medicinal plants. Most species are wild collected, causing doubts about the sustainability of trade.

Antidepressant-like effects and memory enhancement of a herbal formula in mice exposed to chronic mild stress

Shen Yuan Gan (SYG) is a Chinese herbal prescription composed of total saponins of Panax ginseng and total oligosaccharide esters of Polygala tenuifolia (2:1). Our previous studies have demonstrated that SYG has antidepressant-like effects in various mouse models of behavioral depression. The present study aimed to test whether SYG affected chronic mild stress (CMS)-induced depression and cognitive impairment in mice. We found that a 5-week CMS schedule induced significant degradation of the coat state, decreased sucrose intake in the sucrose-preference test, and increased the latency to feed in the noveltysuppressed feeding test. All of these CMS-induced changes were ameliorated by SYG (100 and 200 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg). In addition, SYG restored the decreased monoamine neurotransmitter concentrations (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine) induced by CMS in the prefrontal cortex. Interestingly, SYG ameliorated CMS-induced cognitive impairment in the step-through test, and increased the acetylcholine level in the prefrontal cortex. These results suggest that SYG has an antidepressant-like action and enhances cognition by modulating the serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine levels in the prefrontal cortex.

Anti-oxidative and DNA Protecting Effects of Flavonoids-rich Scutellaria Lateriflora

Scutellaria lateriflora (American skullcap), a native plant of North America, has been used by Americans and Europeans as a nerve tonic for more than 200 years. In vivo studies have shown anxiolytic activity of S. lateriflora in animals and humans. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms of S. lateriflora are not fully understood. Oxidative stress plays a vital role in the neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases such as anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, depression, and Parkinson's disease. Bioactive compounds present in various medicinal plants neutralize or scavenge toxic free radicals and thus suppress oxidative stress. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of S. lateriflora. The antioxidant potential of aqueous or ethanolic extracts of S. lateriflora was determined in mouse brain tissue using various biochemical assays. Protective effects of S. lateriflora against oxidative stress induced DNA fragmentation was determined using plasmid DNA. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts scavenged the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The ethanolic extract reduced tert-butyl peroxide-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxides in the mouse brain homogenates. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract of S. lateriflora protected hydrogen peroxide-UV induced cleavage of supercoiled plasmid DNA. In conclusion, S. lateriflora exhibited significant antioxidant effects. The current findings posit S. lateriflora as one of the potential experimental herbal drugs that should be screened for its therapeutic potential against various oxidative stress associated mental disorders.

An overview on saffron, phytochemicals, and medicinal properties

Saffron is the most valuable medicinal food product because of its importance in Iran's agricultural economy. The dried stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus (Iridaceae) are processing to produce saffron as a well-known spice which has some other importance in pharmaceutics, cosmetics, perfumery, and textile dye-producing industries. Recently, reports about the pharmacological activity of this plant increase its importance in the world. The world's annual saffron production is estimated around 300 tons per year (Iran produces 76% of total) and also saffron is considered to be the most expensive spice in the world; hence, there are efforts for its artificial production or defraud. Therefore, the quality conservation of saffron needs to certify in the international trade market following international ISO or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria and standards. In this paper, the recent (or sometimes less documented) reports on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and standard methods for quality evaluation of saffron, as a medicinal food spice, from field cultivation to market are reviewed.