Berberine: Pathways to protect neurons

Berberine can be a Potential Therapeutic Agent in Treatment of Huntington's Disease: A Proposed Mechanistic Insight

Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, producing mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. This leads to neuronal damage through protein aggregation, transcriptional dysregulation, excitotoxicity, and mitochondrial dysfunction. mHTT impairs protein clearance and alters gene expression, energy metabolism, and synaptic function. Therapeutic strategies include enhancing mHTT degradation, gene silencing via antisense oligonucleotides and RNAi, promoting neuroprotection through BDNF signaling, and modulating neurotransmitters like glutamate and dopamine. Berberine, a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, has emerged as a promising therapeutic option for HD due to its multifaceted neuroprotective properties. Research indicates that berberine can mitigate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including HD, by targeting various molecular pathways. It exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and autophagy-enhancing effects, which are crucial in reducing neuronal damage and apoptosis associated with HD. These properties make berberine a potential candidate for therapeutic intervention in HD, as demonstrated in both cellular and animal models. Berberine activates the PI3K/Akt pathway, which is vital for cell survival and neuroprotection. It reduces oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, both of which are implicated in HD pathology. Berberine enhances autophagic processes, promoting the degradation of mutant huntingtin protein, a key pathological feature of HD. In transgenic HD mouse models, berberine administration has been shown to alleviate motor dysfunction and prolong survival. It effectively reduces the accumulation of mutant huntingtin in cultured cells, suggesting a direct impact on the disease's molecular underpinnings. Berberine's safety profile, established through its use in treating other conditions, supports its potential for clinical trials in HD patients. Its ability to modulate neurotransmitter levels and engage multiple signaling pathways further underscores its therapeutic promise. While berberine shows significant potential as a therapeutic agent for HD, further research is necessary to fully elucidate its mechanisms and optimize its clinical application. The current evidence in the review paper, primarily from preclinical studies, provides a strong foundation for future investigations into berberine's efficacy and safety in human HD patients.

Neuroinflammation and Natural Antidepressants: Balancing Fire with Flora

Background/Objectives: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major global health concern that is intimately linked to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and complicated metabolic abnormalities. Traditional antidepressants frequently fall short, highlighting the urgent need for new, safer, and more acceptable therapeutic techniques. Phytochemicals, i.e., natural antidepressants derived from plants, are emerging as powerful plant-based therapies capable of targeting many pathogenic pathways at the same time. Summary: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from preclinical and clinical studies on the efficacy of phytochemicals such as curcumin, polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids in lowering depressed symptoms. Consistent data show that these substances have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, altering neuroimmune interactions, reducing oxidative damage, and improving mitochondrial resilience. Particularly, polyphenols and flavonoids have great therapeutic potential because of their capacity to penetrate the blood-brain barrier, inhibit cytokine activity, and encourage neuroplasticity mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Despite promising results, the heterogeneity in study designs, phytochemical formulations, and patient demographics highlights the importance of thorough, standardized clinical studies. Conclusions: This review identifies phytochemicals as compelling adjuvant or independent therapies in depression treatment, providing multimodal mechanisms and enhanced tolerability. Additional research into improved dosage, pharmacokinetics, long-term safety, and integrative therapy approaches is essential. Using phytotherapeutics could considerably improve holistic and customized depression care, encouraging new research routes in integrative neuroscience and clinical psychiatry.

Reshaping the gut microbiota: Tangliping decoction and its core blood-absorbed component quercetin improve diabetic cognitive impairment

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, which can result in diabetic cognitive impairment (DCI). Recent studies have indicated that gut microbiota plays a significant role in the development of DCI. Tangliping Decoction (TLP), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, contains various active ingredients that have been shown to regulate the microecology of gut microbiota and potentially improve DCI. However, it remains unclear whether TLP can improve DCI by modulating gut microbiota, as well as which specific component is primarily responsible for these effects.

PURPOSE

Assess the impact of TLP on alleviating DCI and investigate the contribution of quercetin (QR), the core blood-absorbed component of TLP, in this process. and investigate the underlying mechanisms through which TLP and QR enhance DCI by modulating gut microbiota composition.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Initially, experiments such as morris water maze (MWM), morphological analysis, and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing from DCI mice, were performed to validate the pharmacological efficacy of TLP in mitigating DCI. The results indicated that TLP possesses the capacity to modulate the composition and quantity of gut microbiota and safeguard the integrity of the gut barrier and brain barrier. Secondly, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) combined with network pharmacology methods were used to screen for blood-absorbed components, suggesting that QR may be a potential core blood-absorbed component of TLP in the treatment of DCI. Subsequently, the pharmacological efficacy of QR in ameliorating DCI was confirmed, and the characteristics of gut microbiota as well as the permeability of the gut and brain barrier, were assessed. Finally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments were conducted, wherein fecal matter from TLP and QR-treated mice (donor mice) was transplanted into pseudo-sterile DCI mice with antibiotic-induced depletion of gut microbiota. This approach aimed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which TLP and QR improve DCI through the modulation of the structure, composition, and abundance of gut microbiota.

RESULTS

TLP and QR have the potential to enhance learning and memory capabilities in DCI mice, as well as reduce homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and restore homeostasis model assessment-β function (HOMA- β), leading to increased fasting insulin (FIN) levels and decreased fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. Simultaneously, the administration of FMT from donor mice to pseudo-sterile DCI mice has been shown to alter the composition and abundance of gut microbiota, leading to amelioration of pathological damage in the colon and hippocampal tissues. Ultimately, FMT utilizing fecal suspensions from donor mice treated with TLP and QR improved cognitive function in pseudo-sterile DCI mice, restore gut microbiota dysbiosis, and maintained the integrity of the gut and brain barriers.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that TLP and its core component, QR, which is absorbed into the bloodstream, improve DCI through a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism, providing further evidence for gut microbiota as a therapeutic target for DCI treatment.

Microglia-targeting nanosystems that cooperatively deliver Chinese herbal ingredients alleviate behavioral and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer's disease model mice

The effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is challenging because of its complex and controversial pathological mechanisms. Moreover, multiple barriers, such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), reduce drug delivery efficiency. Microglia-related neuroinflammation has recently attracted increasing attention as a possible cause of AD and has become a novel therapeutic target. Therefore, overcoming the BBB and targeted delivery of anti-inflammatory agents to microglia seem to be effective practical strategies for treating AD. A large proportion of natural active extracts possess exceptional immunomodulating capabilities. In this study, the cooperative delivery of berberine (Ber) and palmatine (Pal) by transferrin-decorated extracellular vesicles (Tf-hEVs-Ber/Pal), which can cross the BBB and precisely target microglia, was performed. This nanosystem effectively cleared amyloid β-protein (Aβ) aggregates, significantly regulated the neuroinflammatory environment both in vitro and in vivo and markedly altered the behavior and improved the cognitive and learning abilities of AD model mice. The efficacy of a microglia-targeting combined therapeutic approach for AD was demonstrated, which broadens the potential application of Chinese herbal ingredients.

Unraveling Berberine's Molecular Mechanisms in Neuroprotection Against Neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) exhibit significant global public health challenges due to the lack of effective treatments. Berberine (BBR), a natural alkaloid compound in various plants, has been recognized for its potential neuroprotective properties. This review explores the current understanding of BBR's mechanisms of action and its therapeutic potential in preventing and treating NDs such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. BBR's neuroprotective properties are attributed to its multifaceted actions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and neurotrophic effects. In addition, BBR can influence many signaling pathways involved in neurodegeneration, including AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor pathways. Furthermore, BBR targets vital signaling pathways, including AMPK, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK, which are essential for developing NDs. In addition, BBR's efficacy in reducing neurodegenerative pathology and improving cognitive function has been demonstrated through preclinical studies using cellular and animal models. Clinical trials demonstrating BBR's therapeutic potential in NDs have yielded promising results, but further research is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans.

Neuroprotective effects of berberine in preclinical models of ischemic stroke: a systematic review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Berberine, a naturally occurring alkaloid, has shown promise as a neuroprotective agent in preclinical models of ischemic stroke. This systematic review aims to comprehensively evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine in animal models of cerebral ischemia and elucidate its potential mechanisms of action.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted across nine databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Europe PMC, DOAJ, and Google Scholar, from inception to June 30, 2024. Controlled in vivo studies investigating the neuroprotective effects of berberine in animal models of focal cerebral ischemia were included. Two independent reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias using the SYRCLE tool.

RESULTS

Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing various animal models of ischemic stroke. Berberine treatment consistently resulted in significant reductions in infarct volume and improvements in neurological function compared to control groups. Specifically, berberine doses ranging from 10 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg significantly decreased infarct sizes (p < 0.05). Berberine also exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and downregulating the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway (p < 0.05). Antioxidant effects were evidenced by decreased malondialdehyde levels and increased antioxidant enzymes like superoxide dismutase and glutathione (p < 0.05). Additional findings from studies with smaller sample sizes indicated that berberine reduced apoptotic cell death by decreasing TUNEL-positive cells and modulating apoptosis-related proteins, including increasing Bcl-2 and decreasing cleaved caspase-3 levels (p < 0.05). Berberine also promoted neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity by increasing the expression of BDNF, TrkB, and synaptic proteins SYP and PSD95 (p < 0.05), and enhanced autophagic flux by modulating key autophagy markers (p < 0.05). The risk of bias varied among studies, with some lacking detailed reporting on randomization and blinding procedures.

CONCLUSION

Berberine demonstrates significant neuroprotective effects in preclinical models of ischemic stroke through multiple mechanisms, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroregenerative actions. These findings support the potential of berberine as a multifaceted therapeutic agent for ischemic stroke. Further well-designed clinical trials are warranted to confirm its efficacy and safety in human patients.

Berberine Enhances Neuroregeneration in a Rat Model of Peroneal Nerve Transection Injury: An Animal Study

Background

Berberine has therapeutic potential in central nervous system disorders, however, few studies have investigated the effect of berberine on axonal regeneration in PNS injury models. Thus, this study aims to assess the effects of berberine on axonal regeneration in a peroneal nerve transection rat model.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: group B, berberine (20 mg/kg) intraperitoneal injection after peroneal nerve transection; and group C, normal saline injection as a control. The sciatic nerve functional index (SNFI) was used to assess functional recovery after nerve injury at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post-transection. Electromyography (EMG) was performed to evaluate quantitative neuromuscular function (latency and amplitude) and the regeneration ratio of the injured nerve was evaluated through histological analysis at 6 weeks post-transection. To analyze the effect of various concentrations of berberine on nerve regeneration, Schwann cell viability was analyzed at 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 5.0 and 10.0 μM of berberine.

Results

At 2 and 4 weeks post-transection, SNFI showed no significant difference between groups B and C. However, at 6 weeks post-transection, the SNFI was significantly higher in group B than in group C. On EMG, the latency and amplitude was significantly lower and higher, respectively, in group B than in group C. Histological analysis showed that the regeneration ratio was significantly higher in group B than in group C. Schwann cell viability was highest when 1.0 μM of berberine was administered (136.7±3.5%), and was significantly higher compared to the groups administered with 0.1 μM (114.5±10.6%) and 0.5 μM (118.5±4.8%).

Conclusion

Berberine injections have a therapeutic effect on nerve regeneration after peripheral nerve transection. In in vitro studies, a minimum dose of 1.0 μM berberine was required to obtain optimal nerve regeneration. Further in vivo studies are needed to analyze the optimal concentration.

Target modulation of glycolytic pathways as a new strategy for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases

Neuroinflammation is an innate and adaptive immune response initiated by the release of inflammatory mediators from various immune cells in response to harmful stimuli. While initially beneficial and protective, prolonged or excessive neuroinflammation has been identified in clinical and experimental studies as a key pathological driver of numerous neurological diseases and an accelerant of the aging process. Glycolysis, the metabolic process that converts glucose to pyruvate or lactate to produce adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), is often dysregulated in many neuroinflammatory disorders and in the affected nerve cells. Enhancing glucose availability and uptake, as well as increasing glycolytic flux through pharmacological or genetic manipulation of glycolytic enzymes, has shown potential protective effects in several animal models of neuroinflammatory diseases. Modulating the glycolytic pathway to improve glucose metabolism and ATP production may help alleviate energy deficiencies associated with these conditions. In this review, we examine six neuroinflammatory diseases-stroke, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and depression-and provide evidence supporting the role of glycolysis in their treatment. We also explore the potential link between inflammation-induced aging and glycolysis. Additionally, we briefly discuss the critical role of glycolysis in three types of neuronal cells-neurons, microglia, and astrocytes-within physiological processes. This review highlights the significance of glycolysis in the pathology of neuroinflammatory diseases and its relevance to the aging process.

Progress of Exosomal MicroRNAs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomers in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Exosomes, extracellular vesicles secreted by various cells, actively participate in intercellular communication by facilitating the exchange of crucial molecular information such as DNA, RNA, and lipids. Within this intricate network, microRNAs, endogenous non-coding small RNAs, emerge as pivotal regulators of post-transcriptional gene expression, significantly influencing the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The historical prominence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in clinical practice in China underscores its enduring significance. Notably, TCM monomers, serving as active constituents within herbal medicine, assume a critical role in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in mitigating oxidative stress, inhibiting apoptosis, and reducing inflammation. This comprehensive review aims to delineate the specific involvement of exosomal microRNAs in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Furthermore, the exploration extends to the application of TCM monomers, elucidating their efficacy as therapeutic agents in these conditions. Additionally, the review examines the utilization of exosomes as drug delivery carriers in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, providing a nuanced understanding of the potential synergies between TCM and modern therapeutic approaches. This synthesis of knowledge aims to contribute to the advancement of our comprehension of the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and the potential therapeutic avenues offered by TCcom interventions.

Insulin Resistance, a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's Disease: Pathological Mechanisms and a New Proposal for a Preventive Therapeutic Approach

Peripheral insulin resistance (IR) is a well-documented, independent risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and cellular senescence. Recently, the brain has also been identified as an insulin-responsive region, where insulin acts as regulator of the brain metabolism. Despite the clear link between IR and the brain, the exact mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. Therapeutic intervention in patients showing symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases has produced little or no results. It has been demonstrated that insulin resistance plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly cognitive decline. Peripheral and brain IR may represent a modifiable state that could be used to prevent major brain disorders. In this review, we will analyse the scientific literature supporting IR as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease and suggest some therapeutic strategies to provide a new proposal for the prevention of brain IR and its consequences.

Bitter yet beneficial: The dual role of dietary alkaloids in managing diabetes and enhancing cognitive function

With the rising prevalence of diabetes and its association with cognitive impairment, interest in the use of dietary alkaloids and other natural products has grown significantly. Understanding how these compounds manage diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is crucial. This comprehensive review explores the etiology of DCD and the effects of alkaloids in foods and dietary supplements that have been investigated as DCD therapies. Data on how dietary alkaloids like berberine, trigonelline, caffeine, capsaicin, 1-deoxynojirimycin, nuciferine, neferine, aegeline, tetramethylpyrazine, piperine, and others regulate cognition in diabetic disorders were collected from PubMed, Research Gate, Web of Science, Science Direct, and other relevant databases. Dietary alkaloids could improve memory in behavioral models and modulate the mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of these compounds, including their effects on glucose metabolism, gut microbiota, vasculopathy, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Evidence suggests that dietary alkaloids hold promise for improving cognition in diabetic patients and could open exciting avenues for future research in diabetes management.

Optic Nerve Neuroprotection in Glaucoma: A Narrative Review

In recent years, researchers have been interested in neuroprotective therapies as a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy to treat neurodegenerative disorders by shielding the brain system from harmful events. Millions of individuals worldwide suffer from glaucoma, an ocular neurodegenerative disease characterized by gradual excavation of the optic nerve head, retinal axonal damage, and consequent visual loss. The pathology's molecular cause is still mostly unknown, and the current treatments are not able to alter the disease's natural progression. Thus, the modern approach to treating glaucoma consists of prescribing medications with neuroprotective properties, in line with the treatment strategy suggested for other neurodegenerative diseases. For this reason, several naturally derived compounds, including nicotinamide and citicoline, have been studied throughout time to try to improve glaucoma management by exploiting their neuroprotective properties. The purpose of this review is to examine the naturally derived compounds that are currently utilized in clinical practice for neuroprotection in glaucomatous patients based on scientific data, emphasizing these compounds' pivotal mechanism of action as well as their proven therapeutic and neuroprotective benefits.

Mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine in elderly diabetes mellitus and a systematic review of its clinical application

Objective: Affected by aging, the elderly diabetes patients have many pathological characteristics different from the young people, including more complications, vascular aging, cognitive impairment, osteoporosis, and sarcopenia. This article will explore their pathogenesis and the mechanism of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) intervention, and use the method of systematic review to evaluate the clinical application of TCM in elderly diabetes. Method: Searching for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from January 2000 to November 2023 in the following databases: Web of Science, Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Sinomed, China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang and VIP. They were evaluated by three subgroups of Traditional Chinese Prescription, Traditional Chinese patent medicines and Traditional Chinese medicine extracts for their common prescriptions, drugs, adverse reactions and the quality of them. Results and Conclusion: TCM has the advantages of multi-target and synergistic treatment in the treatment of elderly diabetes. However, current clinical researches have shortcomings including the inclusion of age criteria and diagnosis of subjects are unclear, imprecise research design, non-standard intervention measures, and its safety needs further exploration. In the future, the diagnosis of elderly people with diabetes needs to be further clarified. Traditional Chinese patent medicines included in the pharmacopoeia can be used to conduct more rigorous RCTs, and then gradually standardize the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions and traditional Chinese medicine extracts, providing higher level evidence for the treatment of elderly diabetes with traditional Chinese medicine.

A network pharmacology method explores the molecular mechanism of Coptis chinensis for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

To predict the molecular mechanisms of action of Coptis chinensis in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease using network pharmacology. The active ingredients and targets of Coptis chinensis were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database. Target information for Alzheimer's disease was screened using the GeneCard and OMIM databases. The Venn diagram tool was used to identify the intersecting targets of Coptis chinensis and Alzheimer's disease. The obtained target information was entered into the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction network. The R language was used to perform Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses of significant targets. Auto Dock Vina software was used for molecular docking. Fourteen effective active ingredients and 158 key targets associated with Coptis chinensis were identified. There were 1113 targets related to Alzheimer's disease genes. A drug-component-disease-target network was constructed and 84 key targets were identified for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by Coptis chinensis. The main signaling pathways were the PI3K-Akt, AGE-RAGE, MAPK, HIF-1, TNF, and relaxin signaling pathways. The molecular docking results showed that berberine has a high affinity for Alzheimer's Disease. Coptis chinensis could play a multi-target and multi-pathway role against Alzheimer's disease, which has guiding significance for clinical research.

The pharmacological effects of Berberine and its therapeutic potential in different diseases: Role of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling pathway

The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway plays a central role in cell growth and survival and is disturbed in various pathologies. The PI3K is a kinase that generates phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PI (3-5) P3), as a second messenger responsible for the translocation of AKT to the plasma membrane and its activation. However, due to the crucial role of the PI3K/AKT pathway in regulation of cell survival processes, it has been introduced as a main therapeutic target for natural compounds during the progression of different pathologies. Berberine, a plant-derived isoquinone alkaloid, is known because of its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antitumor properties. The effect of this natural compound on cell survival processes has been shown to be mediated by modulation of the intracellular pathways. However, the effects of this natural compound on the PI3K/AKT pathway in various pathologies have not been reviewed so far. Therefore, this paper aims to review the PI3K/AKT-mediated effects of Berberine in different types of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular, and central nervous system diseases.

Evaluation of berberine nanoparticles as a strategy to modulate acetylcholinesterase activity

Researchers have concentrated efforts in the search for natural-based reversible inhibitors for cholinesterase enzymes as they may play a key role in the treatment of degenerative diseases. Diverse plant alkaloids can inhibit the action of acetylcholinesterase and, among them, berberine is a promising bioactive. However, berberine has poor water solubility and low bioavailability, which makes it difficult to use in treatment. The solid dispersion technique can improve the water affinity of hydrophobic substances, but berberine solid dispersions have not been extensively studied. Safety testing is also essential to ensure that the berberine-loaded solid dispersions are safe for use. This study investigated the effectiveness of berberine-loaded solid dispersions (SD) as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). Docking simulation was used to investigate the influence of berberine on AChE, and in vitro assays were conducted to confirm the enzymatic kinetics of AChE in the presence of berberine. Berberine SD also showed improved cytotoxic effects on tumoral cells when dispersed in aqueous media. In vivo assays using Allium cepa were implemented, and no cytotoxicity/genotoxicity was found for the berberine solid dispersion. These results suggest that berberine SD could be a significant step towards safe nanostructures for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Neuroprotective Properties of Berberine: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid natural product, is isolated primarily from Coptis chinensis and other Berberis plants. BBR possesses various bioactivities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, immune-regulation, and antimicrobial activities. Growing scientific evidence underscores BBR's substantial neuroprotective potential, prompting increased interest and scrutiny. In this comprehensive review, we elucidate the neuroprotective attributes of BBR, delineate the underlying molecular mechanisms, and assess its clinical safety and efficacy. The multifaceted molecular mechanisms responsible for BBR's neuroprotection encompass the attenuation of oxidative stress, mitigation of inflammatory responses, inhibition of apoptotic pathways, facilitation of autophagic processes, and modulation of CYP450 enzyme activities, neurotransmitter levels, and gut microbiota composition. Furthermore, BBR engages numerous signaling pathways, including the PI3K/Akt, NF-κB, AMPK, CREB, Nrf2, and MAPK pathways, to confer its neuroprotective effects. This comprehensive review aims to provide a substantial knowledge base, stimulate broader scientific discourse, and facilitate advancements in the application of BBR for neuroprotection.

Age-related decline in hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is a mechanistic factor in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or "chemo brain" is a devastating neurotoxic sequela of cancer-related treatments, especially for the elderly individuals. Here we show that PTPRO, a tyrosine phosphatase, is highly enriched in the hippocampus, and its level is tightly associated with neurocognitive function but declined significantly during aging. To understand the protective role of PTPRO in CRCI, a mouse model was generated by treating Ptpro-/- female mice with doxorubicin (DOX) because Ptpro-/- female mice are more vulnerable to DOX, showing cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration. By analyzing PTPRO substrates that are neurocognition-associated tyrosine kinases, we found that SRC and EPHA4 are highly phosphorylated/activated in the hippocampi of Ptpro-/- female mice, with increased sensitivity to DOX-induced CRCI. On the other hand, restoration of PTPRO in the hippocampal CA3 region significantly ameliorate CRCI in Ptpro-/- female mice. In addition, we found that the plant alkaloid berberine (BBR) is capable of ameliorating CRCI in aged female mice by upregulating hippocampal PTPRO. Mechanistically, BBR upregulates PTPRO by downregulating miR-25-3p, which directly targeted PTPRO. These findings collectively demonstrate the protective role of hippocampal PTPRO against CRCI.

Berberine modulates gut microbiota to attenuate cerebral ferroptosis induced by ischemia-reperfusion in mice

Ferroptosis was reported to be involved in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI), on which the effects of berberine (BBR) remain unclear. Moreover, based on the critical role of gut microbiota in pleiotropic actions of BBR, we hypothesized that BBR can suppress CIRI-induced ferroptosis by modulating the gut microbiota. In this study, the results showed that BBR obviously attenuated the behavioral deficits of CIRI mice, accompanied with the improved survival rate and neuron damages, as phenocopied by dirty cage experiment. The typical morphological changes in ferroptotic cells and biomarkers of ferroptosis were attenuated in BBR- and its fecal microbiota-treated mice, accompanied by reduced malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species, and the increased glutathione (GSH). BBR was found to alter the gut microbiota of CIRI mice with decreased abundance of Muribaculaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Helicobacteraceae, Streptococcaceae and Tannerellaceae, but elevated Bacteroidaceae and Enterobacteriaceae. KEGG analysis based on the 16S rRNA results indicated that multiple metabolic pathways including ferroptosis and GSH metabolism, were altered by BBR. Oppositely, the antibiotics administration counteracted the protective properties of BBR. Summarily, this study revealed the therapeutic potential of BBR on CIRI via inhibiting neuronal ferroptosis, in which upregulated glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) was possibly involved. Moreover, the BBR-modulated gut microbiota was shown to play the critical role in the underlying mechanism.

Cellular Metabolism: A Fundamental Component of Degeneration in the Nervous System

It is estimated that, at minimum, 500 million individuals suffer from cellular metabolic dysfunction, such as diabetes mellitus (DM), throughout the world. Even more concerning is the knowledge that metabolic disease is intimately tied to neurodegenerative disorders, affecting both the central and peripheral nervous systems as well as leading to dementia, the seventh leading cause of death. New and innovative therapeutic strategies that address cellular metabolism, apoptosis, autophagy, and pyroptosis, the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), growth factor signaling with erythropoietin (EPO), and risk factors such as the apolipoprotein E (APOE-ε4) gene and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can offer valuable insights for the clinical care and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders impacted by cellular metabolic disease. Critical insight into and modulation of these complex pathways are required since mTOR signaling pathways, such as AMPK activation, can improve memory retention in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and DM, promote healthy aging, facilitate clearance of β-amyloid (Aß) and tau in the brain, and control inflammation, but also may lead to cognitive loss and long-COVID syndrome through mechanisms that can include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytokine release, and APOE-ε4 if pathways such as autophagy and other mechanisms of programmed cell death are left unchecked.

Jiedu Yizhi Formula Improves Cognitive Function by Regulating the Gut Dysbiosis and TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of JDYZF in treating AD from the perspective of inflammation and intestinal microflora.

METHODS

A total of 24 APP/PS1 mice were randomly divided into four groups: model (n = 6), JDYZF low-dose (n = 6), JDYZF high-dose (n = 6), and positive drug (n = 6), six C57 mice were used as the control group. The body weights and diets of all mice were examined daily. After 8 weeks of administration, the learning and memory of mice were evaluated by the Morris water maze test. The histopathological changes of hippocampus, liver and kidney in mice were observed by HE staining after being euthanized. The expression of p-tau in hippocampus tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry. After that, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to investigate the relationship between JDYZF and intestinal microbiota. Finally, a comparison of TLR4, p65, p-p65, iκB, p-iκB, and IL-1β protein expression in the hippocampus tissue of mice in each group was measured by Western blot.

RESULTS

The results showed that APP/PS1 mice taking JDYZF orally were generally in good condition. Compared with the control group, JDYZF significantly improved learning and memory ability in ethology. Histology showed that JDYZF improved the hippocampal structure of mice and inhibited the deposition of p-tau. JDYZF treatment could regulate the gut microbiota of APP/PS1 mice by increasing the richness of Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Actinobacteria and reducing that of Alistipes and Muribaculaceae. It also significantly inhibited the activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in the brain. In addition, no obvious toxic reactions were found in the liver and kidney of APP/PS1 mice after taking JDYZF for 8 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The findings revealed that JDYZF improved cognitive ability and alleviated the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in APP/PS1 mice, and the modulating the gut microbiota presented here may help illuminate its activation mechanism.

Neuroprotective Effect of Root Extracts of Berberis Vulgaris (Barberry) on Oxidative Stress on SH-SY5Y Cells

Objectives

Oxidative stress plays a key role in chronic and acute brain disorders and neuronal damage associated with Alzheimer disease (AD) and other neurodegeneration symptoms. The neuroprotective effects of berberine and Berberis vulgaris (barberry) root extract against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in the human SH-SY5Y cell line were studied.

Methods

The methanolic extraction of barberry root was performed using a maceration procedure. Oxidative stress was induced in SH-SY5Y cells by H₂O₂, and an MTT assay was applied to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of berberine and barberry root extract. The cells were pretreated with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each compound (including berberine, barberry root extract, and H₂O₂), and the anti-apoptotic effects of all components were investigated using RT-PCR.

Results

The SH-SY5Y cell viability increased in both groups exposed to 75 and 150 ppm barberry extract compared with that in the H₂O₂-treated group. The data showed that exposing SH-SY5Y cells to 30 ppm berberine significantly increased the cell viability compared with the H₂O₂-treated group; treatment with 150 and 300 ppm berberine and H₂O₂ significantly decreased the SH-SY5Y cell viability and was associated with berberine cytotoxicity. The mRNA levels of Bax decreased significantly under treatment with berberine at 30 ppm compared with the control group. A significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was observed only after treatment with the IC₅₀ of berberine. The expression level of Bcl-2 in cells exposed to both berberine and barberry extracts was also significantly higher than that in cells exposed to H₂O₂.

Conclusion

The outcomes of this study suggest that treatment of SH-SY5Y cells with barberry extract and berberine could suppress apoptosis by regulating the actions of Bcl-2 family members.

Activation of the GABA-alpha receptor by berberine rescues retinal ganglion cells to attenuate experimental diabetic retinopathy

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of berberine (BBR) in the protection of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods

Experimental diabetic retinopathy rat model was successfully induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg/kg) in male SD rats with sufficient food and water for 8 weeks. Animals were randomly divided into four groups: (1) non-diabetic, (2) diabetic, (3) diabetic + BBR + PBS, and (4) diabetic + BBR + SR95531. BBR (100 mg/kg) was given daily by gavage to rats in the group (3) and group (4) for 8 weeks, and weekly intravitreal injections were conducted to rats in the group (3) with 5 μL of 1×PBS and rats in the group (4) with 5 μL of GABA-alpha receptor antagonist SR95531 to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The survival and apoptosis of RGCs were observed by fluorescence gold labeling technology and TUNEL staining. Visual function was evaluated by visual electrophysiological examination. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze the expression of GABA-alpha receptors in RGCs.

Results

In an animal model, BBR can increase the survival of RGCs, reduce RGCs apoptosis, and significantly improve the visual function. The reduction of GABA, PKC-α, and Bcl-2 protein expression caused by DR can be considerably increased by BBR. SR95531 inhibits BBR's protective effect on RGC and visual function, as well as its upregulation of PKC-α and Bcl-2.

Conclusion

BBR is a promising preventive or adjuvant treatment for DR complications, and its key protective effect may involve the regulation of RGC apoptosis through the GABA-alpha receptor/protein kinase C-alpha (GABAAR/PKC-α) pathway.

The suppressive role of phytochemical-induced glutathione S-transferase Mu 2 in human urothelial carcinoma cells

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) belong to one class of phase 2 detoxification enzymes which are important in metabolism and/or detoxification of various electrophilic endogenous metabolites and xenobiotics. From the available database, we found that GSTM2 gene expression is lower in high stages of bladder urothelial carcinoma than in stage 1 and normal bladder tissue. GSTM2 overexpression retards invasion, migration and tumor sphere formation of bladder cancer cells. Analysis of GSTM2 promoter activity shows that one SP1 site located at - 48 to - 40 bp is important for GSTM2 gene expression in BFTC 905 cells. An SP1 inhibitor, mithramycin A, inhibits GSTM2 promoter activity and protein expression. SP1 overexpression also increases GSTM2 expression in BFTC 905 and 5637 cells. Eight potential phytochemicals were analyzed for GSTM2 promoter activation, and results indicated that baicalein, berberrubine, chalcone, curcumin, resveratrol, and wogonin can increase promoter activity. In endogenous GSTM2 expression, berberrubine and resveratrol activated GSTM2 mRNA and protein expression the most. A DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-deoxycytidine, can decrease GSTM2 gene methylation level and then increase its gene expression; 50 μM berberrubine decreased the GSTM2 gene methylation level, providing a mechanism for activating GSTM2 gene expression. Berberrubine and resveratrol also increased SP1 protein expression as one of the mechanisms for GSTM2 gene expression. In summary, berberrubine and resveratrol activates GSTM2 expression which inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of bladder cancer cells. The GSTM2 expression mechanism is partially via SP1 activation, and the effect of berberrubine is also partly via DNA CpG demethylation.

Novel Flavan-3,4-diol vernicidin B from Toxicodendron Vernicifluum (Anacardiaceae) as potent antioxidant via IL-6/Nrf2 cross-talks pathways

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress is considered to be a pathological factor of various neurodegenerative diseases. Studies have confirmed the antioxidant activity of T. vernicifluum. However, the main active components responsible for antioxidant activity remain unknown.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to explore the activities of vernicidin B on oxidative stress injury induced by H₂O₂ in SH-SY5Y cells, and the underlying mechanism of vernicidin B in oxidative stress-related neurological diseases is further discussed.

METHODS

Various separation methods were used to isolate and identify the compounds in an EtOAc extract of T. vernicifluum. The structures of the isolates were clarified by HR-TOF-MS and 1D/2D NMR data and compared with findings in previous literature. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the potential antioxidant activity of the isolated flavonoids. The apoptosis rate, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and mitochondrial potential were measured by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope. The levels of related proteins were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTS

Four new flavan-3,4-diols (1-4, vernicidins A-D) and 11 known flavonoids (5-15) were purified from the EtOAc extract of T. vernicifluum. Among these compounds, vernicidin B showed the most promising potential for protecting SH-SY5Y cells from H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. Moreover, pretreatment with vernicidin B decreased ROS production and mitochondrial membrane potential and significantly attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, the antioxidant stress activities of vernicidin B were confirmed to be related to the IL-6/Nrf2 cross-talks pathway and its downstream pathways, including PI3K/Akt/mToR-Gsk3β, JAK2/STAT3 and MAPKs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggested that vernicidin B can improve the oxidative stress injury induced by H₂O₂ through IL-6/Nrf2 cross-talks pathway, indicating that it may be a potential candidate drug for the treatment of oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Vagus nerve stimulated by microbiota-derived hydrogen sulfide mediates the regulation of berberine on microglia in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats

Amelioration of neuroinflammation via modulating microglia is a promising approach for cerebral ischemia therapy. The aim of the present study was to explore gut-brain axis signals in berberine-modulating microglia polarization following cerebral ischemia. The potential pathway was determined through analyzing the activation of the vagus nerve, hydrogen sulfide (H₂ S) metabolism, and cysteine persulfides of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor. The cerebral microenvironment feature was explored with a metabolomics assay. The data indicated that berberine ameliorated behavioral deficiency in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion rats through modulating microglia polarization and neuroinflammation depending on microbiota. Enhanced vagus nerve activity following berberine treatment was blocked by antibiotic cocktails, capsazepine, or sodium molybdate, respectively. Berberine-induced H₂ S production was responsible for vagus nerve stimulation achieved through assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfate reduction with increased synthetic enzymes. Sulfation of the TRPV1 receptor resulted in vagus nerve activation and promoted the c-fos and ChAT in the nucleus tractus solitaries with berberine. Sphingolipid metabolism is the primary metabolic characteristic with berberine in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebral spinal fluid disrupted by antibiotics. Berberine, in conclusion, modulates microglia polarization in a microbiota-dependent manner. H₂ S stimulates the vagus nerve through TRPV1 is responsible for the berberine-induced gut-brain axis signal transmission. Sphingolipid metabolism might mediate the neuroinflammation amelioration following vagus afferent fiber activation.

Berberine, a Herbal Metabolite in the Metabolic Syndrome: The Risk Factors, Course, and Consequences of the Disease

In recent years, the health of patients exposed to the consequences of the metabolic syndrome still requires the search for new solutions, and plant nutraceuticals are currently being intensively investigated. Berberine is a plant alkaloid possessing scientifically determined mechanisms of the prevention of the development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, as well as cardiovascular complications and cancer. It positively contributes to elevated levels of fasting, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin, while decreasing insulin resistance. It stimulates glycolysis, improving insulin secretion, and inhibits gluconeogenesis and adipogenesis in the liver; by reducing insulin resistance, berberine also improves ovulation. The anti-obesity action of berberine has been also well-documented. Berberine acts as an anti-sclerotic, lowering the LDL and testosterone levels. The alkaloid exhibits an anti-inflammatory property by stalling the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. Berberine is neuroprotective and acts as an antidepressive. However, the outcomes in psychiatric patients are nonspecific, as it has been shown that berberine improves metabolic parameters in schizophrenic patients, acting as an adjuvant during antipsychotic treatment. Berberine acts as an anticancer option by inducing apoptosis, the cell cycle arrest, influencing MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and influencing transcription regulation. The inhibition of carcinogenesis is also combined with lipid metabolism.

The role of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in type 2 diabetes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Diabetic cognitive dysfunction (DCD) is mainly one of the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with complex and obscure pathogenesis. Extensive evidence has demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for DCD management.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review attempted to systematically summarize the possible pathogenesis of DCD and the current Chinese medicine on the treatment of DCD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We acquired information of TCM on DCD treatment from PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and CNKI databases. We then dissected the potential mechanisms of currently reported TCMs and their active ingredients for the treatment of DCD by discussing the deficiencies and giving further recommendations.

RESULTS

Most TCMs and their active ingredients could improve DCD through alleviating insulin resistance, microvascular dysfunction, abnormal gut microbiota composition, inflammation, and the damages of the blood-brain barrier, cerebrovascular and neurons under hyperglycemia conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM is effective in the treatment of DCD with few adverse reactions. A large number of in vivo and in vitro, and clinical trials are still needed to further reveal the potential quality markers of TCM on DCD treatment.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease in Zebrafish model with a berberine derivative capable of crossing blood brain barrier, targeting mitochondria, and convenient for bioimaging experiments

Berberine is a famous alkaloid extracted from Berberis plants and has been widely used as medications and functional food additives. Recent studies reveal that berberine exhibits neuroprotective activity in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders all over the world. However, the actual site of anti-PD action of berberine remains largely unknown. To this end, we employed a fluorescently labeled berberine derivative BBRP to investigate the subcellular localization and blood brain barrier (BBB) permeability in a cellular model of PD and zebrafish PD model. Biological investigations revealed that BBRP retained the neuroprotective activity of berberine against PD-like symptoms in PC12 cells and zebrafish, such as protecting 6-OHDA induced cell death, relieving MPTP induced PD-like behavior and increasing dopaminergic neuron loss in zebrafish. We also found that BBRP could readily penetrate BBB and function in the brain of zebrafish suffering from PD. Subcellular localization study indicated that BBRP could rapidly and specifically accumulate in mitochondria of PC12 cells when it exerted anti-PD effect. In addition, BBRP could suppress accumulation of Pink1 protein and inhibit the overexpression of LC3 protein in 6-OHDA damaged cells. All these results suggested that the potential site of action of berberine is mitochondria in the brain under the PD condition. Therefore, the findings described herein would be useful for further development of berberine as an anti-PD drug.

Zebrafish as a tool for the discovery of anticonvulsant compounds from botanical constituents

Epilepsy affects about 65 million people in the world, which makes this disease a public health problem. In addition to the incidence of recurrent seizures, this neurological condition also culminates in cognitive, psychological, behavioral, and social consequences to the patients. Epilepsy treatment is based on the use of drugs that aim to inhibit repetitive neuronal discharges, and consequently, the recurrence of seizures. However, despite the large number of antiepileptic drugs currently available, about 30-40% of patients with epilepsy do not respond satisfactorily to treatments. Therefore, the investigation of new therapeutic alternatives for epilepsy becomes relevant, especially the search for new compounds with anticonvulsant properties. The therapeutic potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds has been a target for alternative treatments for epilepsy. The use of animal models for drug screening, such as zebrafish, contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in seizures and for investigating methods and alternative treatments to decrease seizure incidence. The sensitivity of zebrafish to chemoconvulsants and its use in genetic approaches reinforces the contribution of this animal to epilepsy research. Moreover, we summarize advances in zebrafish-based studies that focus on plant-derived bioactive compounds with potential antiseizure properties, contributing to the screening of new drugs for epilepsy treatment.

Plant isoquinoline alkaloids: Advances in the chemistry and biology of berberine

Alkaloids are one of the most important classes of plant bioactives. Among these isoquinoline alkaloids possess varied structures and exhibit numerous biological activities. Basically these are biosynthetically produced via phenylpropanoid pathway. However, occasionally some mixed pathways may also occur to provide structural divergence. Among the various biological activities anticancer, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, and antimicrobial are important. A few notable bioactive isoquinoline alkaloids are antidiabetic berberine, anti-tussive codeine, analgesic morphine, and muscle relaxant papaverine etc. Berberine is one of the most discussed bioactives from this class possessing broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. Present review aims at recent updates of isoquinoline alkaloids with major emphasis on berberine, its detailed chemistry, important biological activities, structure activity relationship and implementation in future research.

Protective effects of berberine against MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuron injury through promoting autophagy in mice

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from Coptis chinensis, has been widely studied for its efficacy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the detailed mechanisms are unknown. In this study, the effects of berberine on 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced mice model of Parkinson's disease were investigated. We showed that treatment with berberine significantly ameliorates the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra compacta (SNc) and improves motor impairment in MPTP-treated mice. Berberine also significantly decreased the level of α-synuclein and enhanced the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-II)-associated autophagy in the SN of MPTP-treated mice. Furthermore, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) was activated by berberine. Berberine's actions were abolished by pre-treatment with 3-methyladenine (an autophagy inhibitor) or compound c (an AMPK inhibitor) in the MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggested that the protective effects of berberine on the toxicity of MPTP could be attributed to berberine-enhanced autophagy via the AMPK dependent pathway.

Lipid-Coated MCM-41 Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Loaded with Berberine Improved Inhibition of Acetylcholine Esterase and Amyloid Formation

Selective permeability of the blood-brain barrier limits effective treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In the present study, brain-targeted lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) containing berberine (BBR) were synthesized for the effective treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study involved synthesis of Mobil Composition of Matter-41 (MCM-41) mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), BBR loading, and lipid coating of MSNs (MSNs-BBR-L) and in vitro and in vivo characterization of MSNs-BBR-L. The liposomes (for lipid coating) were prepared by the thin-film hydration method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated 5 nm thickness of the lipid coating. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) and TEM results confirmed that the size of synthesized MSNs-BBR-L was in the range of 80-100 nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern demonstrated retention of the ordered structure of BBR after encapsulation and lipid coating. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum confirmed the formation of a lipid coat over the MSN particles. MSNs-BBR-L displayed significantly (p < 0.05) higher acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. The study confirmed significant (p < 0.05) amyloid fibrillation inhibition and decreased the malondialdehyde (MDA) level by MSNs-BBR-L. Pure BBR- and MSNs-BBR-L-treated AD animals showed a significant decrease in the BACE-1 level compared to scopolamine-intoxicated mice. Eight times higher area under the curve for MSNs-BBR-L (2400 ± 27.44 ng h/mL) was recorded compared to the pure BBR (295.5 ± 0.755 ng h/mL). Overall, these results highlight the utility of MSNs-BBR-L as promising drug delivery vehicles for brain delivery of drugs.

Functional effects of berberine in modulating mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory response in the respective amyloidogenic cells and activated microglial cells - In vitro models simulating Alzheimer's disease pathology

AIM

Berberine (BBR) is an alkaloid extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma, also known as Huang-Lian. Huang-Lian has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, including diabetes and dementia. Because Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex disease that involves various pathophysiological changes, the diverse neuroprotective effects of BBR may be useful for improving the brain's energy state at an early stage of the disease.

MAIN METHODS

We performed extracellular flux and ¹H NMR-based metabolic profiling analyses to investigate the effects of BBR on metabolic processes in these cells. Pioglitazone (PIO), a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) agonist has been studied extensively for the treatment of AD. We explored the combination dosing effects of BBR and PIO in vitro, then leveraged computational methods to explain the experimental finding.

KEY FINDINGS

BBR demonstrates potential in modulating the mitochondrial bioenergetics and attenuating dysfunction of the primary energy and glutathione metabolism pathways in an AD cell model. It also suppresses basal respiration and reduces the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated microglial cells. Both experimental and computational observations indicate that BBR and PIO have comparable binding affinities to the PPARγ protein, suggesting both drugs may have some overlapping effects for AD.

SIGNIFICANCE

BBR exerts beneficial effects on disrupted metabolic processes in amyloidogenic cells and activated microglial cells, which are important for preventing or delaying early-stage disease progression. The choice of BBR or PIO for AD treatment depends on their respective pharmacokinetic profiles, delivery, efficacy and safety, and warrants further study.

The neuroprotective attribution of Ocimum basilicum: a review on the prevention and management of neurodegenerative disorders

Background

Bioactive principles from various natural resources including medicinal herbs have always played a crucial role in healthcare settings and increasingly became key players in drug discovery and development for many biopharmaceutical applications. Additionally, natural products (NPs) have immense arrangement of distinctive chemical structures with diverse functional groups that motivated numerous investigators including synthetic chemists to discover new therapeutic entities. Numerous pre-clinical investigations involving the animal models have evident the usefulness of these NPs against various human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs).

Main text

Ocimum basilicum Linn (O. basilicum L.), also known as sweet basil, is well practiced in traditional healthcare systems and has been used to treat various human illnesses, which include malaria, skin disease, diarrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, and insect bites and emphasize the significance of the ethno-botanical approach as a potential source of novel drug leads With the growing interest in advanced techniques, herbal medicine and medicinal plants explorations are still considered to be a novel resource for new pharmacotherapeutic discovery and development. O. basilicum L and its bioactive principles including apigenin, eugenol, myretenal, β-sitosterol, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, essential oil (EO)-rich phenolic compounds, and others like anthocyanins and flavones could be of therapeutic values in NDs by exhibiting their neuro-protective efficacy on various signaling pathways. The present comprehensive review collected various related information using the following searching engines such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. and focused mainly the English written documents. The search period comprised of last two decades until present.

Conclusion

Although these efficacious plant genera of prime importance and has potential medical and socioeconomic importance, yet the pivotal evidence for its neuroprotective potential in novel clinical trials remains lacking. However, with the available wealth of obtainable literature on this medicinal plant, which supports this review and concludes that O. basilicum L may function as a promising therapeutics for the treatment of NDs.

Berberine inhibits colorectal tumor growth by suppressing SHH secretion

Hedgehog plays an important role in a wide range of physiological and pathological conditions. Paracrine activation of Hedgehog pathway in stromal cells increases the expression of VEGF, which promotes neovascularization in colorectal cancer and ultimately the growth of colorectal cancer. Berberine (BBR) has anticancer activity. In this study we investigated whether BBR inhibited the growth of colon cancer through suppressing the paracrine sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling in vitro and in vivo. We showed that BBR (1-10 μM) dose-dependently inhibited the secretion and expression of SHH protein in HT-29 and SW480 cells. BBR did not influence the transcription of SHH, but promoted the degradation of SHH mRNA, thus decreased the SHH mRNA expression in the colorectal cancer cells. In nude mice bearing HT-29 xenograft, oral administration of BBR (100 mg · kg-1 · d-1) or a positive control drug GDC-0449 (100 mg · kg-1 · d-1) for 4 weeks markedly suppressed the growth of HT-29 tumor with BBR exhibiting a better antitumor efficacy. The tumor growth inhibition caused by BBR or GDC-0449 was comparable to their respective inhibitory effect on the mouse-specific Gli mRNA expression in the tumor. However, BBR (20 μM) did not affect the expression of human transcription factor Gli1 mRNA in HT-29 and SW480 cells. In conclusion, BBR promotes the degradation of SHH mRNA in colorectal cancer cells, interrupting the paracrine Hedgehog signaling pathway activity thus suppresses the colorectal cancer growth. This study reveals a novel molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer action of BBR.

Berberine-Albumin Nanoparticles: Preparation, Thermodynamic Study and Evaluation Their Protective Effects Against Oxidative Stress in Primary Neuronal Cells as a Model of Alzheimer's Disease

Berberine has shown an outstanding antioxidant activity, however the low bioavailability limits its applications in pharmaceutical platforms. Therefore, in this paper, after fabrication of the berberine-HSA nanoparticles by desolvation method, they were well characterized by TEM, SEM, DLS, and FTIR techniques. Afterwards the interaction of HSA and the berberine was evaluated by molecular docking analysis. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the berberine-HSA nanoparticles against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in cultured neurons as a model of AD was evaluated by cellular assays. The results showed that the prepared berberine-HSA nanoparticles have a spherical-shaped morphology with a size of around 100 nm and zeta potential value of -31.84 mV. The solubility value of nanoparticles was calculated to be 40.27%, with a berberine loading of 19.37%, berberine entrapment efficiency of 70.34%, and nanoparticles yield of 88.91%. Also, it was shown that the berberine is not significantly released from HSA nanoparticles within 24 hours. Afterwards, molecular docking investigation revealed that berberine spontaneously interacts with HSA through electrostatic interaction. Finally, cellular assays disclosed that the pretreatment of neuronal cultures with berberine-HSA nanoparticles decreased the H₂O₂-stimulated cytotoxicity and relevant morphological changes and enhanced the CAT activity. In conclusion, it can be indicated that the nanoformulation of the berberine can be used as a promising platform for inhibition of oxidative damage-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Orthosiphon stamineus Proteins Alleviate Hydrogen Peroxide Stress in SH-SY5Y Cells

The neuroprotective potential of Orthosiphon stamineus leaf proteins (OSLPs) has never been evaluated in SH-SY5Y cells challenged by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). This work thus aims to elucidate OSLP neuroprotective potential in alleviating H₂O₂ stress. OSLPs at varying concentrations were evaluated for cytotoxicity (24 and 48 h) and neuroprotective potential in H₂O₂-induced SH-SY5Y cells (24 h). The protective mechanism of H₂O₂-induced SH-SY5Y cells was also explored via mass-spectrometry-based label-free quantitative proteomics (LFQ) and bioinformatics. OSLPs (25, 50, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL; 24 and 48 h) were found to be safe. Pre-treatments with OSLP doses (250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL, 24 h) significantly increased the survival of SH-SY5Y cells in a concentration-dependent manner and improved cell architecture—pyramidal-shaped cells, reduced clumping and shrinkage, with apparent neurite formations. OSLP pre-treatment (1000 µg/mL, 24 h) lowered the expressions of two major heat shock proteins, HSPA8 (heat shock protein family A (Hsp70) member 8) and HSP90AA1 (heat shock protein 90), which promote cellular stress signaling under stress conditions. OSLP is, therefore, suggested to be anti-inflammatory by modulating the “signaling of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13” pathway as the predominant mechanism in addition to regulating the “attenuation phase” and “HSP90 chaperone cycle for steroid hormone receptors” pathways to counteract heat shock protein (HSP)-induced damage under stress conditions.

Berberine Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Induced Neuronal Apoptosis by Down-Regulating the CNPY2 Signaling Pathway

Berberine (BBR) has a neuroprotective effect against ischemic stroke, but its specific protective mechanism has not been clearly elaborated. This study explored the effect of BBR on the canopy FGF signaling regulator 2 (CNPY2) signaling pathway in the ischemic penumbra of rats. The model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) was established by the thread embolization method, and BBR was gastrically perfused for 48 h or 24 h before operation and 6 h after operation. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: the Sham group, BBR group, CIRI group, and CIRI + BBR group. After 2 h of ischemia, followed by 24 h of reperfusion, we confirmed the neurologic dysfunction and apoptosis induced by CIRI in rats (p < 0.05). In the ischemic penumbra, the expression levels of CNPY2-regulated endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis proteins (CNPY2, glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like ER kinase (PERK), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and Caspase-3) were significantly increased, but these levels were decreased after BBR treatment (p < 0.05). To further verify the inhibitory effect of BBR on CIRI-induced neuronal apoptosis, we added an endoplasmic reticulum-specific agonist and a PERK inhibitor to the treatment. BBR was shown to significantly inhibit the expression of apoptotic proteins induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress agonist, while the PERK inhibitor partially reversed the ability of BBR to inhibit apoptotic protein (p < 0.05). These results confirm that berberine may inhibit CIRI-induced neuronal apoptosis by downregulating the CNPY2 signaling pathway, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect.

Flavonoids and Polyphenolic Compounds as Potential Talented Agents for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and their Antioxidant Activities

Aging is a normal human cycle and the most important risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. Alternations in cells due to aging contribute to loss of the nutrient-sensing, cell function, increased oxidative stress, loss of the homeostasis cell, genomic instability, the build-up of malfunctioning proteins, weakened cellular defenses, and a telomere split. Disturbance of these essential cellular processes in neuronal cells can lead to life threats including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), Lewy's disease, etc. The most common cause of death in the elderly population is AD. Specific therapeutic molecules were created to alleviate AD's social, economic, and health burden. In clinical practice, almost every chemical compound was found to relieve symptoms only in palliative treatment. The reason behind these perfect medicines is that the current medicines are not effective in targeting the cause of this disease. In this paper, we explored the potential role of flavonoid and polyphenolic compounds, which could be the most effective preventative anti-Alzheimer's strategy.

Neuroprotective Effect for Cerebral Ischemia by Natural Products: A Review

Natural products have a significant role in the prevention of disease and boosting of health in humans and animals. Stroke is a disease with high prevalence and incidence, the pathogenesis is a complex cascade reaction. In recent years, it’s reported that a vast number of natural products have demonstrated beneficial effects on stroke worldwide. Natural products have been discovered to modulate activities with multiple targets and signaling pathways to exert neuroprotection via direct or indirect effects on enzymes, such as kinases, regulatory receptors, and proteins. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the established pharmacological effects and multiple target mechanisms of natural products for cerebral ischemic injury in vitro and in vivo preclinical models, and their potential neuro-therapeutic applications. In addition, the biological activity of natural products is closely related to their structure, and the structure-activity relationship of most natural products in neuroprotection is lacking, which should be further explored in future. Overall, we stress on natural products for their role in neuroprotection, and this wide band of pharmacological or biological activities has made them suitable candidates for the treatment of stroke.

A New Therapeutic Candidate for Cardiovascular Diseases: Berberine

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death in the world. However, due to the limited effectiveness and potential adverse effects of current treatments, the long-term prognosis of CVD patients is still discouraging. In recent years, several studies have found that berberine (BBR) has broad application prospects in the prevention and treatment of CVD. Due to its effectiveness and safety for gastroenteritis and diarrhea caused by bacterial infections, BBR has been widely used in China and other Asian countries since the middle of the last century. The development of pharmacology also provides evidence for the multi-targets of BBR in treating CVD. Researches on CVD, such as arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, myocarditis and cardiomyopathy, heart failure, etc., revealed the cardiovascular protective mechanisms of BBR. This review systematically summarizes the pharmacological research progress of BBR in the treatment of CVD in recent years, confirming that BBR is a promising therapeutic option for CVD.

Plant Extracts and their Secondary Metabolites as Modulators of Kinases

Natural Products (NP), specifically from medicinal plants or herbs, have been extensively utilized to analyze the fundamental mechanisms of ultimate natural sciences as well as therapeutics. Isolation of secondary metabolites from these sources and their respective biological properties, along with their lower toxicities and cost-effectiveness, make them a significant research focus for drug discovery. In recent times, there has been a considerable focus on isolating new chemical entities from natural flora to meet the immense demand for kinase modulators, and also to overcome major unmet medical challenges in relation to signal transduction pathways. The signal transduction systems are amongst the foremost pathways involved in the maintenance of life and protein kinases play an imperative part in these signaling pathways. It is important to find a kinase inhibitor, as it can be used not only to study cell biology but can also be used as a drug candidate for cancer and metabolic disorders. A number of plant extracts and their isolated secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids have exhibited activities against various kinases. In the current review, we have presented a brief overview of some important classes of plant secondary metabolites as kinase modulators. Moreover, a number of phytocompounds with kinase inhibition potential, isolated from different plant species, are also discussed.

Berberine alleviates rotenone-induced cytotoxicity by antioxidation and activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely studied for its efficacy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. However, berberine-mediated neuroprotection in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease is still uncertain. In this study, the effects of berberine on rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells were investigated. The results showed that berberine treatment significantly alleviated rotenone-induced decrease in the cell viability in SH-SY5Y cells. Further studies demonstrated that berberine suppressed the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, restored the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increased Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and decreased caspase-3 activation that induced by rotenone. Furthermore, berberine also restored the phosphorylation of Akt, which was downregulated by rotenone in SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggest that berberine protects rotenone-treated SH-SY5Y cells by antioxidation and activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Nicotinamide as a Foundation for Treating Neurodegenerative Disease and Metabolic Disorders

Neurodegenerative disorders impact more than one billion individuals worldwide and are intimately tied to metabolic disease that can affect another nine hundred individuals throughout the globe. Nicotinamide is a critical agent that may offer fruitful prospects for neurodegenerative diseases and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus. Nicotinamide protects against multiple toxic environments that include reactive oxygen species exposure, anoxia, excitotoxicity, ethanolinduced neuronal injury, amyloid (Aß) toxicity, age-related vascular disease, mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, excess lactate production, and loss of glucose homeostasis with pancreatic β-cell dysfunction. However, nicotinamide offers cellular protection in a specific concentration range, with dosing outside of this range leading to detrimental effects. The underlying biological pathways of nicotinamide that involve the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) (SIRT1), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), and mammalian forkhead transcription factors (FoxOs) may offer insight for the clinical translation of nicotinamide into a safe and efficacious therapy through the modulation of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. Nicotinamide is a highly promising target for the development of innovative strategies for neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disease, but the benefits of this foundation depend greatly on gaining a further understanding of nicotinamide's complex biology.

Effects and Mechanism of Berberine on the Dexamethasone-Induced Injury of Human Tendon Cells

Objective

To investigate the effects of berberine (Berb) on dexamethasone- (Dex-) induced injury of human tendon cells and its potential mechanism.

Methods

CCK-8 assay was used to explore the appropriate concentration of Dex-induced injury of tendon cells and the doses of Berb attenuates Dex cytotoxicity; cell wound healing assay was used to detect the effects (P < 0.05) of Berb and Dex on the migration ability of tendon cells; flow cytometry was used to measure cell apoptosis; DCF DA fluorescent probe was used to measure the ROS activity of cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of phenotype related factors including smooth muscle actin α (SMA-α), type I collagen (Col I), col III, apoptosis-related factors, caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3, caspase-9, cleaved caspase-9, and PI3K/AKT.

Results

CCK-8 assay showed that 1-100 μM Dex significantly inhibited the proliferation of tendon cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05), where the inhibitory effect of 100 μM Dex was most significant (P < 0.005), and the pretreatment of 150, 200 μM Berb could reverse those inhibitions (all P < 0.05). Compared with the control group, Dex significantly inhibited cell migration (P < 0.05), while Berb pretreatment could enhance cell migration (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry and ROS assay showed that Dex could induce apoptosis and oxidative stress response of tendon cells (all P < 0.05), while Berb could reverse those responses (P < 0.05). Western blot showed that Dex could inhibit the expression of the col I and III as well as α-SMA (all P < 0.05) and enhance the expression of apoptosis-related factors including cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9 (all P < 0.05). Besides, Dex could also inhibit the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway (all P < 0.05), thus affecting cell function, while Berb treatment significantly reversed the expression of those above proteins (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Berb attenuated DEX induced reduction of proliferation and migration, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of tendon cells by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and regulated the expression of phenotype related biomarkers in tendon cells. However, further studies are still needed to clarify the protective effects of Berb in vivo.

Biological Activity of Berberine-A Summary Update

Berberine is a plant metabolite belonging to the group of isoquinoline alkaloids with strong biological and pharmacological activity. Currently, berberine is receiving considerable interest due to its anticancer activity based on many biochemical pathways, especially its proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, the growing number of papers on berberine demands summarizing the knowledge and research trends. The efficacy of berberine in breast and colon cancers seems to be the most promising aspect. Many papers focus on novel therapeutic strategies based on new formulations or search for new active derivatives. The activity of berberine is very important as regards sensitization and support of anticancer therapy in combination with well-known but in some cases inefficient therapeutics. Currently, the compound is being assessed in many important clinical trials and is one of the most promising and intensively examined natural agents.

Dysregulation of metabolic flexibility: The impact of mTOR on autophagy in neurodegenerative disease

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that involve neurodegenerative disorders and metabolic disease impact over 400 million individuals globally. Interestingly, metabolic disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, are significant risk factors for the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Given that current therapies for these NCDs address symptomatic care, new avenues of discovery are required to offer treatments that affect disease progression. Innovative strategies that fill this void involve the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and its associated pathways of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1), mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2), AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), trophic factors that include erythropoietin (EPO), and the programmed cell death pathways of autophagy and apoptosis. These pathways are intriguing in their potential to provide effective care for metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, future work is necessary to fully comprehend the entire breadth of the mTOR pathways that can effectively and safely translate treatments to clinical medicine without the development of unexpected clinical disabilities.