Ferulic acid-loaded nanostructure prevents morphine reinstatement: the involvement of dopamine system, NRF2, and ΔFosB in the striatum brain area of rats

Ultra-high dilution medicines can modulate dopaminergic molecular targets and ΔFosB in the Nucleus accumbens preventing morphine reacquisition in rats

Addiction is a recurring disease that constitutes a significant public health issue, particularly evident in the global opioid crisis involving substances like morphine (MORPH). Reestablishing to opioid use poses a major obstacle to successful detoxification treatment, as many individuals return to drug use after withdrawal. Therefore, given that drug addiction involves emotional, social, and physical factors, there is a necessity to explore integrative medicine approaches, including ultra-high dilution medicines such as isotherapic (ISO) and organotherapic (ORG) treatments. This integrative approach holds promising potential in addressing drug addiction, as frequent reinstatement to addictive substances entail comprehensive symptoms. In our study following the MORPH conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, rats were treated with ISO or ORG for 14 days during MORPH-CPP extinction and subsequently challenged with the drug to assess MORPH-CPP reacquisition. The findings confirmed the hedonic effects of MORPH in the CPP, which also increased D1- and D3-R, DAT, and ΔFosB immunoreactivity in the Nucleus accumbens (NAc). Conversely, both ISO and ORG prevented MORPH-CPP reestablishing, whereas ORG treatment was associated with increased D2- and decreased D3-R levels. Both ORG and ISO increased DAT levels and decreased D1-R and ΔFosB, thus restoring the molecular neuromodulation induced by MORPH. To our knowledge, this study represents the first demonstration of the beneficial influence of ultra-high dilution medicines as a promising treatment for opioid use disorder. This finding is particularly relevant as these medicines are not associated with toxicity or undesirable side effects. Clinical studies are warranted to validate their efficacy in rehabilitation centers for drug use disorder.

Ferulic acid lipid nano capsules versus its native form in alleviating diabetic nephropathy induced in rats through TGF-β1/Hippo pathway crosstalk modulation

Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most common leading causes of end-stage renal disease with multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms. TGF-β1 and Hippo pathway have been reported to have significant role in different kidney diseases. In addition, ferulic acid (FA) has been proposed to have pharmacological actions in different disorders such as Alzheimer, diabetes mellitus, kidney, and cardiovascular diseases but with limited oral use due to poor absorbance and bioavailability. So, recent trends aim to include FA in nano-formulations to improve its absorbance and bioavailability and to make best use of its pharmacological actions when administered orally. Thirty Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). After 28 days, rats were sacrificed, serum and kidney tissue were isolated, histopathological examination, serum creatinine level and oxidative status biomarkers in kidney tissue were estimated, besides ELISA measurements of TGF-β1, PTEN, COX2, and GLUT3 and the relative gene expressions of MST1 and TEAD4 by qRT-PCR. Treated groups show improvement of the investigated parameters in variable degrees. Noteworthy, FA nano-formulation shows superior action over double of the native form.

Chemistry to cognition: Therapeutic potential of (m-CF3-PhSe)2 targeting rats' striatum dopamine proteins in amphetamine dependence

Amphetamine (AMPH) abuse represents a major global public health issue, highlighting the urgent need for effective therapeutic interventions to manage addiction caused by this psychostimulant. This study aimed to assess the potential of m-trifluoromethyl-diphenyldiselenide [(m-CF3-PhSe)2] in preventing the addictive effects induced by AMPH through targeting dopamine metabolism proteins. (m-CF3-PhSe)2 is of interest due to its demonstrated efficacy in mitigating opioid abuse, establishing it as a promising candidate for addiction treatment research. Initially, in silico studies examined the affinity of AMPH and (m-CF3-PhSe)2 for dopamine 1, 2, and 3 receptors (D1R, D2R, D3R), and dopamine transporter (DAT). In our experimental design, male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: I) Control; II) (m-CF3-PhSe)2; III) AMPH; IV) (m-CF3-PhSe)2 + AMPH. Animals were administered (m-CF3-PhSe)2 (0.1 mg/kg, by gavage) or canola oil (vehicle) 30 min before AMPH (4.0 mg/kg, i.p.) administration. Drug administration occurred for 8 days in the conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. Twenty-four hours after the last CPP conditioning section, preference for the drug-compartment was assessed, with anxiety-related effects and working memory were evaluated using the Y-maze test. Finally, animals were euthanized for striatal dissection to quantify D1R, D2R, D3R, and DAT levels in western blot. In silico findings suggest that (m-CF3-PhSe)2 may prevent AMPH activation in DAT, interacting with Asp46 and Phe319, preventing possible addictive effects of AMPH in DAT. In vivo results showed that (m-CF3-PhSe)2 attenuated AMPH effects, reducing preference for the drug-compartment in CPP test. Furthermore, (m-CF3-PhSe)2 prevented AMPH-induced anxiogenic effects in the elevated plus maze (EPM) test, similarly to light/dark test. No differences in locomotion or working memory were observed among the experimental groups in the Y-maze test. Ex vivo western blot analyses of the entire striatum indicates that (m-CF3-PhSe)2 prevented the AMPH-induced increase in D1R levels and decrease in D2R and DAT levels, with no changes in D3R levels. Overall, our study suggests that (m-CF3-PhSe)2 may interact with DAT sites similarly to AMPH, reducing drug-compartment preference and anxiogenic behaviors while maintaining dopaminergic metabolism proteins in the striatum, a key region involved in the onset and perpetuation of addiction.

Ferulic Acid-Loaded Nanostructure Maintains Brain Levels of ACh, Glutamate, and GABA and Ameliorates Anxiety and Memory Impairments Induced by the D-Galactose Aging Process in Rats

Population aging is a global reality driven by increased life expectancy. This demographic phenomenon is intrinsically linked to the epidemic of cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, posing challenges for elderly and their families. In this context, the search for new therapeutic strategies to prevent or minimize cognitive impairments becomes urgent, as these deficits are primarily associated with oxidative damage and increased neuroinflammation. Ferulic acid (FA), a natural and potent antioxidant compound, is proposed to be nanoencapsulated to target the central nervous system effectively with lower doses and an extended duration of action. Here, we evaluated the effects of the nanoencapsulated FA on d-galactose (d-Gal)- induced memory impairments. Male Wistar adult rats were treated with ferulic acid-loaded nanocapsules (FA-Nc) or non-encapsulated ferulic acid (D-FA) for 8 weeks concurrently with d-Gal (150 mg/kg s.c.) injection. As expected, our findings showed that d-Gal injection impaired memory processes and increased anxiety behavior, whereas FA-Nc treatment ameliorated these behavioral impairments associated with the aging process induced by d-Gal. At the molecular level, nanoencapsulated ferulic acid (FA-Nc) ameliorated the decrease in ACh and glutamate induced by d-galactose (d-Gal), and also increased GABA levels in the dorsal hippocampus, indicating its therapeutic superiority. Additional studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying our current promising outcomes. Nanoscience applied to pharmacology can reduce drug dosage, thereby minimizing adverse effects while enhancing therapeutic response, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging. Therefore, the strategy of brain-targeted drug delivery through nanoencapsulation can be effective in mitigating aging-related factors that may lead to cognitive deficits.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2023

This paper is the forty-sixth consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2023 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug and alcohol abuse (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).

Nanotherapeutics for Alleviating Anesthesia-Associated Complications

Current management of anesthesia-associated complications falls short in terms of both efficacy and safety. Nanomaterials with versatile properties and unique nano-bio interactions hold substantial promise as therapeutics for addressing these complications. This review conducts a thorough examination of the existing nanotherapeutics and highlights the strategies for developing prospective nanomedicines to mitigate anesthetics-related toxicity. Initially, general, regional, and local anesthesia along with the commonly used anesthetics and related prevalent side effects are introduced. Furthermore, employing nanotechnology to prevent and alleviate the complications of anesthetics is systematically demonstrated from three aspects, that is, developing 1) safe nano-formulization for anesthetics; 2) nano-antidotes to sequester overdosed anesthetics and alter their pharmacokinetics; 3) nanomedicines with pharmacodynamic activities to treat anesthetics toxicity. Finally, the prospects and challenges facing the clinical translation of nanotherapeutics for anesthesia-related complications are discussed. This work provides a comprehensive roadmap for developing effective nanotherapeutics to prevent and mitigate anesthesia-associated toxicity, which can potentially revolutionize the management of anesthesia complications.