Antidepressive effects of kaempferol mediated by reduction of oxidative stress, proinflammatory cytokines and up-regulation of AKT/β-catenin cascade

Integrating network pharmacology and bioinformatics to explore the mechanism of Xiaojian Zhongtang in treating major depressive disorder: An observational study

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness. The traditional Chinese medicine compound Xiaojian Zhongtang (XJZT) has a good therapeutic effect on MDD, but the specific mechanism is not clear. The aim of this study is to explore the molecular mechanism of XJZT in the treatment of MDD through network pharmacology and bioinformatics. The traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology database was used to screen the chemical components and targets of XJZT, while the online Mendelian inheritance in man, DisGeNET, Genecards, and therapeutic target database databases were used to collect MDD targets and identify the intersection targets of XJZT and MDD. A "drugs-components-targets" network was constructed using the Cytoscape platform, and the STRING was used for protein-protein interaction analysis of intersecting targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis of intersecting targets was performed using the DAVID database. Obtain serum and brain transcriptome datasets of MDD from the gene expression omnibus database, and perform differentially expressed genes, weighted gene co-expression network analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, and receiver operating characteristic analysis. A total of 127 chemical components and 767 targets were obtained from XJZT, among which quercetin, kaempferol, and maltose are the core chemical components, and 1728 MDD targets were screened out, with 77 intersecting targets between XJZT and MDD. These targets mainly involve AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complexes, epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, and HIF-1 signaling pathway, and these core targets have strong binding activity with core components. In addition, 1166 differentially expressed genes were identified in the MDD serum transcriptome dataset, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified the most relevant gene modules (1269 genes), among which RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), D(4) dopamine receptor (DRD4), and kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) were target genes for the treatment of MDD with XJZT, these 3 genes are mainly related to the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, and Huntington disease pathways, and the expression of AKT1, DRD4, and KMO was also found in the MDD brain transcriptome dataset, which is significantly correlated with the occurrence of MDD. We have identified 3 key targets for XJZT treatment of MDD, including AKT1, KMO, and DRD4, and they can be regulated by the key components of XJZT, including quercetin, maltose, and kaempferol. This provides valuable insights for the early clinical diagnosis and development of therapeutic drugs for MDD.

PI3K/AKT signaling pathway: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential in depression

Depression is a serious global mental disorder. Numerous studies have found that depression may be closely related to decreased neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, and synaptic plasticity dysfunction. The pathogenesis of depression is complex and involves multiple signal transduction pathways and molecular changes. The PI3K/AKT pathway is an essential signaling pathways in neurons, which is widely expressed in emotion-related regions of the brain. Therefore, the PI3K/AKT pathway may play a moderating role in mood disorders. However, the role and mechanism of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in depression have not been fully described. This review systematically summarized the role of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of depression and discussed its potential in the treatment of depression. This will help in the treatment of depression and the development of antidepressants.

Research status of pathogenesis of anxiety or depression after percutaneous coronary intervention and Traditional Chinese Medicine intervention

ETHNIC PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anxiety or depression after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common clinical disease. Currently, conventional pharmacotherapy primarily involves the administration of anxiolytic or antidepressant medications in conjunction with anticoagulants, antiplatelet agents, and other cardiovascular drugs. However, challenges such as drug dependence, adverse reactions and related concerns persist in the treatment of this disease. Numerous pertinent studies have demonstrated that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) exhibits significant therapeutic efficacy and distinctive advantages in managing post-PCI anxiety or depression.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review attempted to summarize the characteristics of TCM for treating anxiety or depression after PCI, including single Chinese herbs, Chinese medicine monomers, compound TCM prescriptions, TCM patented drugs, and other TCM-related treatment methods, focusing on the analysis of the relevant mechanism of TCM treatment of this disease.

METHODS

By searching the literature on treating anxiety or depression after PCI with TCM in PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, and other relevant databases, this review focuses on the latest research progress of TCM treatment of this disease.

RESULTS

In the treatment of anxiety or depression after PCI, TCM exerts significant pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-anxiety or anti-depression, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, and neuroprotection, mainly by regulating the levels of related inflammatory factors, oxidative stress markers, neurotransmitter levels, and related signaling pathways. TCM has a good clinical effect in treating anxiety or depression after PCI with individualized treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM has terrific potential and good prospects in the treatment of anxiety or depression after PCI. The main direction of future exploration is the study of the mechanism related to Chinese medicine monomers and the large sample clinical study related to compound TCM prescriptions.

Quercetin and Kaempferol inhibit HMC-1 activation via SOCE/NFATc2 signaling and suppress hippocampal mast cell activation in lipopolysaccharide-induced depressive mice

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

Mast cells (MCs), as the fastest immune responders, play a critical role in the progression of neuroinflammation-related diseases, especially in depression. Quercetin (Que) and kaempferol (Kae), as two major diet-derived flavonoids, inhibit MC activation and exhibit significant antidepressant effect due to their anti-inflammatory capacity. The study aimed to explore the mechanisms of inhibitory effect of Que and Kae on MC activation, and whether Que and Kae suppress hippocampal mast cell activation in LPS-induced depressive mice.

SUBJECTS AND TREATMENT

In vitro assays, human mast cells (HMC-1) were pretreated with Que or Kae for 1 h, then stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 2,5-di-t-butyl-1,4-benzohydroquinone (tBHQ) for 3 h or 12 h. In vivo assays, Que or Kae was administered by oral gavage once daily for 14 days and then lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intraperitoneally injection to induce depressive behaviors.

METHODS

The secretion and expression of TNF-α were determined by ELISA and Western blotting. The nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcriptional activity was measured in HMC-1 stably expressing NFAT luciferase reporter gene. Nuclear translocation of NFATc2 was detected by nuclear protein extraction and also was fluorescently detected in HMC-1 stably expressing eGFP-NFATc2. We used Ca2+ imaging to evaluate changes of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) in HMC-1 stably expressing fluorescent Ca2+ indicator jGCamP7s. Molecular docking was used to assess interaction between the Que or Kae and calcium release-activated calcium modulator (ORAI). The  hippocampal mast cell accumulation and activation  were detected by toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry with β-tryptase.

RESULTS

In vitro assays of HMC-1 activated by PtBHQ (PMA and tBHQ), Que and Kae significantly decreased expression and secretion of TNF-α. Moreover, NFAT transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation of NFATc2 were remarkably inhibited by Que and Kae. In addition, the Ca2+ influx mediated by SOCE was suppressed by Que, Kae and the YM58483 (ORAI inhibitor), respectively. Importantly, the combination of YM58483 with Que or Kae had no additive effect on the inhibition of SOCE. The molecular docking also showed that Que and Kae both exhibit high binding affinities with ORAI at the same binding site as YM58483. In vivo assays, Que and Kae significantly reversed LPS-induced depression-like behaviors in mice, and inhibited hippocampal mast cell activation  in LPS-induced depressive mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicated that suppression of SOCE/NFATc2 pathway-mediated by ORAI channels may be the mechanism of inhibitory effect of Que and Kae on MC activation, and also suggested Que and Kae may exert the antidepressant effect through suppressing hippocampal mast cell activation.

Exploration of the mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine for anxiety and depression in patients with diarrheal irritable bowel syndrome based on network pharmacology and meta-analysis

Background

The efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in managing irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) accompanied by anxiety and depression remains uncertain. Thus, a systematic review was carried out employing meta-analysis and network pharmacology to ascertain the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of CHM therapy.

Methods

By conducting a systematic review, including literature search, screening, and data extraction, we identified 25 randomized controlled trials to assess CHM's effectiveness in treating irritable bowel syndrome alongside anxiety and depression. Network pharmacology was utilized to scrutinize the metabolite utility of CHM in addressing this condition. Potential primary mechanisms were synthesized using information sourced from the PubMed database.

Results

Twenty-five studies, including 2055 patients, were analyzed, revealing significant treatment efficacy for IBS-D in the trial group compared to controls [OR = 4.01, 95% CI (2.99, 5.36), I2 = 0%] Additionally, treatment for depression [SMD = -1.08, 95% CI (-1.30, -0.86), p < 0.00001, I2 = 68%; SDS: SMD = -1.69, 95% CI (-2.48, -0.90), p < 0.0001, I2 = 96%] and anxiety [HAMA: SMD = -1.29, 95% CI (-1.68, -0.91), p < 0.00001, I2 = 89%; SAS: SMD = -1.75, 95% CI (-2.55, -0.95), p < 0.00001, I2 = 96%] significantly improved in the trial group. Furthermore, the trial group exhibited a significantly lower disease relapse rate [OR = 0.30, 95% CI (0.20, 0.44), p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%]. CHM treatment consistently improved IBS severity (IBS-SSS) and symptom scores. Network pharmacology analysis identified key chemical metabolites in traditional Chinese medicine formulations, including Beta-sitosterol, Stigmasterol, Quercetin, Naringenin, Luteolin, Kaempferol, Nobiletin, Wogonin, Formononetin, and Isorhamnetin. Utilizing the STRING database and Cytoscape v3.9.0 software, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network revealed the top eight key targets: IL-6, TNF, PPARG, PTGS2, ESR1, NOS3, MAPK8, and AKT1, implicated in anti-inflammatory responses, antioxidant stress modulation, and neurotransmitter homeostasis maintenance.

Conclusion

Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) offers a promising and safe treatment approach for patients dealing with Diarrheal Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D) accompanied by anxiety and depression; thus, indicating its potential for practical implementation. The most active metabolites of CHM could simultaneously act on the pathological targets of IBS-D, anxiety, and depression.The diverse scope of CHM's therapeutic role includes various aspects and objectives, underscoring its potential for broad utilization.

Kaempferol: Paving the path for advanced treatments in aging-related diseases

Aging-related diseases (ARDs) are a major global health concern, and the development of effective therapies is urgently needed. Kaempferol, a flavonoid found in several plants, has emerged as a promising candidate for ameliorating ARDs. This comprehensive review examines Kaempferol's chemical properties, safety profile, and pharmacokinetics, and highlights its potential therapeutic utility against ARDs. Kaempferol's therapeutic potential is underpinned by its distinctive chemical structure, which confers antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Kaempferol counteracts reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulates crucial cellular pathways, thereby combating oxidative stress and inflammation, hallmarks of ARDs. Kaempferol's low toxicity and wide safety margins, as demonstrated by preclinical and clinical studies, further substantiate its therapeutic potential. Compelling evidence supports Kaempferol's substantial potential in addressing ARDs through several mechanisms, notably anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic actions. Kaempferol exhibits a versatile neuroprotective effect by modulating various proinflammatory signaling pathways, including NF-kB, p38MAPK, AKT, and the β-catenin cascade. Additionally, it hinders the formation and aggregation of beta-amyloid protein and regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factors. In terms of its anticancer potential, kaempferol acts through diverse pathways, inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, and affecting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways. Subsequent studies should focus on refining dosage regimens, exploring innovative delivery systems, and conducting comprehensive clinical trials to translate these findings into effective therapeutic applications.

Use of gene regulatory network analysis to repurpose drugs to treat bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND

Bipolar disorder (BD) presents significant challenges in drug discovery, necessitating alternative approaches. Drug repurposing, leveraging computational techniques and expanding biomedical data, holds promise for identifying novel treatment strategies.

METHODS

This study utilized gene regulatory networks (GRNs) to identify significant regulatory changes in BD, using network-based signatures for drug repurposing. Employing the PANDA algorithm, we investigated the variations in transcription factor-GRNs between individuals with BD and unaffected individuals, incorporating binding motifs, protein interactions, and gene co-expression data. The differences in edge weights between BD and controls were then used as differential network signatures to identify drugs potentially targeting the disease-associated gene signature, employing the CLUEreg tool in the GRAND database.

RESULTS

Using a large RNA-seq dataset of 216 post-mortem brain samples from the CommonMind consortium, we constructed GRNs based on co-expression for individuals with BD and unaffected controls, involving 15,271 genes and 405 TFs. Our analysis highlighted significant influences of these TFs on immune response, energy metabolism, cell signalling, and cell adhesion pathways in the disorder. By employing drug repurposing, we identified 10 promising candidates potentially repurposed as BD treatments.

LIMITATIONS

Non-drug-naïve transcriptomics data, bulk analysis of BD samples, potential bias of GRNs towards well-studied genes.

CONCLUSIONS

Further investigation into repurposing candidates, especially those with preclinical evidence supporting their efficacy, like kaempferol and pramocaine, is warranted to understand their mechanisms of action and effectiveness in treating BD. Additionally, novel targets such as PARP1 and A2b offer opportunities for future research on their relevance to the disorder.

Targeting autophagy to counteract neuroinflammation: A novel antidepressant strategy

Depression is a common disease that affects physical and mental health and imposes a considerable burden on afflicted individuals and their families worldwide. Depression is associated with a high rate of disability and suicide. It causes a severe decline in productivity and quality of life. Unfortunately, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying depression have not been fully elucidated, and the risk of its treatment is still presented. Studies have shown that the expression of autophagic markers in the brain and peripheral inflammatory mediators are dysregulated in depression. Autophagy-related genes regulate the level of autophagy and change the inflammatory response in depression. Depression is related to several aspects of immunity. The regulation of the immune system and inflammation by autophagy may lead to the development or deterioration of mental disorders. This review highlights the role of autophagy and neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of depression, sumaries the autophagy-targeting small moleculars, and discusses a novel therapeutic strategy based on anti-inflammatory mechanisms that target autophagy to treat the disease.

Investigating the Mechanism of Chufan Yishen Formula in Treating Depression through Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification

Objective: To investigate the antidepressant effect and potential mechanism of the Chufan Yishen Formula (CFYS) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. Methods: The active ingredients and their target genes of CFYS were identified through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and TCM-ID. We obtained the differentially expressed genes in patients with depression from the GEO database and screened out the genes intersecting with the target genes of CFYS to construct the PPI network. The key pathways were selected through STRING and KEGG. Then, molecular docking and experimental verification were performed. Results: A total of 113 effective components and 195 target genes were obtained. After intersecting the target genes with the differentially expressed genes in patients with depression, we obtained 37 differential target genes, among which HMOX1, VEGFA, etc., were the key genes. After enriching the differential target genes by KEGG, we found that the "chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species" pathway was the key pathway for the CFYS antidepressant effect. Besides, VEGFA might be a key marker for depression. Experimental verification found that CFYS could significantly improve the behavioral indicators of rats with depression models, including improving the antioxidant enzyme activity and increasing VEGFA levels. The results are consistent with the network pharmacology analysis. Conclusions: CFYS treatment for depression is a multicomponent, multitarget, and multipathway complex process, which may mainly exert an antidepressant effect by improving the neuron antioxidant stress response and regulating VEGFA levels.

Current understanding and future directions of cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals to combat neurological diseases

Neurological disorders incidences are increasing drastically due to complex pathophysiology, and the nonavailability of disease-modifying agents. Several attempts have been made to identify new potential chemicals to combat these neurological abnormalities. At present, complete abolishment of neurological diseases is not attainable except for symptomatic relief. However, dietary recommendations to help brain development or improvement have increased over the years. In recent times, cruciferous vegetables and their phytochemicals have been identified from preclinical and clinical investigations as potential neuroprotective agents. The present review highlights the beneficial effects and molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals such as indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane, sulforaphane, kaempferol, selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, and vitamins of cruciferous vegetables against neurological diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, Huntington's disease, autism spectra disorders, anxiety, depression, and pain. Most of these cruciferous phytochemicals protect the brain by eliciting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Regular dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables may benefit the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases. The present review suggests that there is a lacuna in identifying the clinical efficacy of these phytochemicals. Therefore, high-quality future studies should firmly establish the efficacy of the above-mentioned cruciferous phytochemicals in clinical settings.

Investigating the mechanism of Sinisan formula in depression treatment: a comprehensive analysis using GEO datasets, network pharmacology, and molecular docking

The herbal formula Sinisan (SNS) is a commonly used treatment for depression; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This article uses a combination of the GEO database, network pharmacology and molecular docking technologies to investigate the mechanism of action of SNS. The aim is to provide new insights and methods for future depression treatments. The study aims to extract effective compounds and targets for the treatment of depression from the T CMSP database. Relevant targets were searched using the GEO, Disgenet, Drugbank, PharmGKB and T T D databases, followed by screening of core targets. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to explore potential pathways for the treatment of depression. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the potential targets and compounds and to identify the optimal core protein-compound complex. Molecular dynamics was used to further investigate the dynamic variability and stability of the complex. The study identified 118 active SNS components and 208 corresponding targets. Topological analysis of P P I networks identified 11 core targets. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the mechanism of action for depression involves genes associated with inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and the MAP K3 and P I3K-Akt signalling pathways. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations showed a strong binding affinity between these compounds and the screened targets, indicating promising biological activity. The present study investigated the active components, targets and pathways of SNS in the treatment of depression. Through a preliminary investigation, key signalling pathways and compounds were identified. These findings provide new directions and ideas for future research on the therapeutic mechanism of SNS and its clinical application in the treatment of depression.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology identifying the mechanisms and molecular targets of Guipi Decoction for treatment of comorbidity with depression and gastrointestinal disorders

BACKGROUND

Guipi decoction (GPD) not only improves gastrointestinal (GI) function, but also depressive mood. The bioinformatics study aimed to reveal potential crosstalk genes and related pathways between depression and GI disorders. A network pharmacology approach was used to explore the molecular mechanisms and potential targets of GPD for the simultaneous treatment of depression comorbid GI disorders.

METHODS

Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of major depressive disorder (MDD) were identified based on GSE98793 and GSE19738, and GI disorders-related genes were screened from the GeneCards database. Overlapping genes between MDD and GI disorders were obtained to identify potential crosstalk genes. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen for hub genes, signature genes were identified by LASSO regression analysis, and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was performed to analyze immune cell infiltration. In addition, based on the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, we screened the active ingredients and targets of GPD and identified the intersection targets of GPD with MDD and GI disorder-related genes, respectively. A "component-target" network was constructed using Cytoscape, the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed.

RESULTS

The MDD-corrected dataset contained 2619 DEGs, and a total of 109 crosstalk genes were obtained. 14 hub genes were screened, namely SOX2, CRP, ACE, LEP, SHH, CDH2, CD34, TNF, EGF, BDNF, FN1, IL10, PPARG, and KIT. These genes were identified by LASSO regression analysis for 3 signature genes, including TNF, EGF, and IL10. Gamma.delta.T.cell was significantly positively correlated with all three signature genes, while Central.memory.CD4.T.cell and Central.memory.CD8.T.cell were significantly negatively correlated with EGF and TNF. GPD contained 134 active ingredients and 248 targets, with 41 and 87 relevant targets for the treatment of depression and GI disorders, respectively. EGF, PPARG, IL10 and CRP overlap with the hub genes of the disease.

CONCLUSION

We found that GPD may regulate inflammatory and oxidative stress responses through EGF, PPARG, IL10 and CRP targets, and then be involved in the treatment of both depression and GI disorders.

Impact of Grinding and Sorting Particle Size on Phytochemical Yield in Dipterocarpus alatus Leaf Extract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of grinding (pretreatment) with a pin mill on the crude extract yields of Dipterocarpus alatus (Yang-Na) leaves. A factorial design in a completely randomized design was conducted to study the combinational effects of sieve sizes (1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 mm) and feed rates (1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 kg min-1), examining the interaction of parameters for grinding oven-dried Yang-Na leaves. Ethanol extraction initially evaluated the influence of Yang-Na leaf powder with diverse particle sizes. When sorting particle size, the crude extract yield increased as the particle size decreased, with 0.038-0.150 mm particles yielding the highest extraction, although yields decline when the particle size is lower than 0.038 mm. The average particle sizes, production capacity, and fineness modulus all exhibited a significant decrease as the sieve size and feeding rate were reduced, while the specific energy consumption showed an inversely proportional relationship with these parameters. Intriguingly, the crude extract yield remained independent of the average particle size. Notably, the highest yield (14.79 g kg-1) was derived from a 0.31 mm average particle size, ground with a 1.5 mm sieve and a 3 kg min-1 feeding rate. This suggests that the pretreatment, involving both grinding conditions and sorting size, has an impact on the performance of the extraction process. However, this study offers an energy-efficient alternative, advocating for using average particle sizes without prior sorting, streamlining the extraction process while maintaining substantial yields. These insights underline the crucial influence of particle size and grinding techniques, advancing our understanding of efficient herbal extraction techniques for industrial applications.

Polyherbal and Multimodal Treatments: Kaempferol- and Quercetin-Rich Herbs Alleviate Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairing cognition and memory in the elderly. This disorder has a complex etiology, including senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and damaged neuroplasticity. Current treatment options are limited, so alternative treatments such as herbal medicine could suppress symptoms while slowing cognitive decline. We followed PRISMA guidelines to identify potential herbal treatments, their associated medicinal phytochemicals, and the potential mechanisms of these treatments. Common herbs, including Ginkgo biloba, Camellia sinensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cyperus rotundus, and Buplerum falcatum, produced promising pre-clinical results. These herbs are rich in kaempferol and quercetin, flavonoids with a polyphenolic structure that facilitate multiple mechanisms of action. These mechanisms include the inhibition of Aβ plaque formation, a reduction in tau hyperphosphorylation, the suppression of oxidative stress, and the modulation of BDNF and PI3K/AKT pathways. Using pre-clinical findings from quercetin research and the comparatively limited data on kaempferol, we proposed that kaempferol ameliorates the neuroinflammatory state, maintains proper cellular function, and restores pro-neuroplastic signaling. In this review, we discuss the anti-AD mechanisms of quercetin and kaempferol and their limitations, and we suggest a potential alternative treatment for AD. Our findings lead us to conclude that a polyherbal kaempferol- and quercetin-rich cocktail could treat AD-related brain damage.

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) Extract: Possible Effects on Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis in Modulating Chronic Stress

Depression presents a significant global health burden, necessitating the search for effective and safe treatments. This investigation aims to assess the antidepressant effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Anacardium occidentale (AO) on depression-related behaviors in rats. The depression model involved 42 days of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) exposure and was assessed using the sucrose preference and the forced swimming (FST) test. Additionally, memory-related aspects were examined using the tests Y-maze and Morris water maze (MWM), following 21 days of treatment with varying doses of the AO extract (150, 300, and 450 mg/kg) and Imipramine (20 mg/kg), commencing on day 21. The monoamines (norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine), oxidative stress markers (MDA and SOD), and cytokines levels (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) within the brain were evaluated. Additionally, the concentration of blood corticosterone was measured. Treatment with AO significantly alleviated UCMS-induced and depressive-like behaviors in rats. This was evidenced by the ability of the extract to prevent further decreases in body mass, increase sucrose consumption, reduce immobility time in the test Forced Swimming, improve cognitive performance in both tests Y-maze and the Morris water maze by increasing the target quadrant dwelling time and spontaneous alternation percentage, and promote faster feeding behavior in the novelty-suppressed feeding test. It also decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines, corticosterone, and MDA levels, and increased monoamine levels and SOD activity. HPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of triterpenoid compounds (ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, and lupane) and polyphenols (catechin quercetin and kaempferol). These results evidenced the antidepressant effects of the AO, which might involve corticosterone and monoaminergic regulation as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Kaempferol, a potential neuroprotective agent in neurodegenerative diseases: From chemistry to medicine

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) encompass a range of conditions that involve progressive deterioration and dysfunction of the nervous system. Some of the common NDDs include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although significant progress has been made in understanding the pathological mechanisms of NDDs in recent years, the development of targeted and effective drugs for their treatment remains challenging. Kaempferol is a flavonoid whose derivatives include kaempferol-O-rhamnoside, 3-O-β-rutinoside/6-hydroxykaempferol 3,6-di-O-β-d-glucoside, and kaempferide. Emerging studies have suggested that kaempferol and its derivatives possess neuroprotective properties and may have potential therapeutic benefits in NDDs. Here, we aimed to provide a theoretical basis for the use of kaempferol and its derivatives in the clinical treatment of NDDs. We systematically reviewed the literature in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases until June 2022 using the search terms "kaempferol," "kaempferol derivatives," "NDDs," "pharmacokinetics," and "biosynthesis" according to the reporting items for systematic review (PRISMA) standard. Based on combined results of in vivo and in vitro studies, we summarize the basic mechanisms and targets of kaempferol and its derivatives in the management of AD, PD, HD, and ALS. Kaempferol and its derivatives exert a neuroprotective role mainly by preventing the deposition of amyloid fibrils (such as Aβ, tau, and α-synuclein), inhibiting microglia activation, reducing the release of inflammatory factors, restoring the mitochondrial membrane to prevent oxidative stress, protecting the blood-brain barrier, and inhibiting specific enzyme activities (such as cholinesterase). Kaempferol and its derivatives are promising natural neuroprotective agents. By determining their pharmacological mechanism, kaempferol and its derivatives may be new candidate drugs for the treatment of NDDs.

Exploring the multifocal role of phytoconstituents as antidepressants

Depression is the most prevalent and devastating neuropsychiatric disorder. There are several conventional antidepressants used for the treatment of depression. But due to their undesired adverse effects, patient compliance is very poor. Thus, developing novel medications for the treatment of depression is a critical strategic priority for meeting therapeutic demands. Current research is looking for alternatives to traditional antidepressants to reduce undesired side effects and increase efficacy. Phytoconstituents provide a wide research range in antidepressant treatments. In the present article, we have conducted a comprehensive assessment of neurological evidence, which supports the usefulness of phytoconstituents in the treatment of the depressive disorder. Secondary plant metabolites including alkaloids, polyphenols, glycosides, saponins, and terpenoids were found to exhibit antidepressant action. Most of the phytoconstituents were found to mediate their antidepressant effect through the upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), serotonin, noradrenaline, and dopamine. Some were also found to exert antidepressant effects by inhibiting the monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis overactivity.

Flavonols in Action: Targeting Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental illnesses that highly impairs quality of life. Pharmacological interventions are mainly focused on altered monoamine neurotransmission, which is considered the primary event underlying the disease's etiology. However, many other neuropathological mechanisms that contribute to the disease's progression and clinical symptoms have been identified. These include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, hippocampal atrophy, reduced synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis, the depletion of neurotrophic factors, and the dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Current therapeutic options are often unsatisfactory and associated with adverse effects. This review highlights the most relevant findings concerning the role of flavonols, a ubiquitous class of flavonoids in the human diet, as potential antidepressant agents. In general, flavonols are considered to be both an effective and safe therapeutic option in the management of depression, which is largely based on their prominent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, preclinical studies have provided evidence that they are capable of restoring the neuroendocrine control of the HPA axis, promoting neurogenesis, and alleviating depressive-like behavior. Although these findings are promising, they are still far from being implemented in clinical practice. Hence, further studies are needed to more comprehensively evaluate the potential of flavonols with respect to the improvement of clinical signs of depression.

Vitiligo and Mental Health: Natural Compounds' Usefulness

Vitiligo is an autoimmune dermatosis frequently associated with other comorbidities, such as mental health disorders. It is unclear if vitiligo triggers mental disorders or if mental disorders trigger vitiligo, but each one affects and worsen the other, if present at the same time. Both mental health disorders and vitiligo present a multifactorial pathogenesis and often require prolonged periods of therapy, sometimes with poor results. Given the possible link of common pathogenetic factors and the need of integrated therapies, the aim of this review is to look at natural compounds as possible supplements for both conditions. The results yielded show a possible role of these supplements in ameliorating both conditions, thus helping these patients to achieve a better quality of life and reduce the need for prolonged therapies. The limitations regarding the relative lack of in vivo studies, and the increasing need to lighten the burden of these chronic diseases, suggests that it is mandatory to proceed with further trials.

Antidepressant effects of the traditional Chinese herbal formula Xiao-Yao-San and its bioactive ingredients

BACKGROUND

Depression is one of the most debilitating and severe psychiatric disorders and a serious public health concern. Currently, many treatments are indicated for depression, including traditional Chinese medicinal formulae such as Xiao-Yao-San (XYS), which has effective antidepressant effects in clinical and animal studies.

PURPOSE

To summarize current evidence of XYS in terms of the preclinical and clinical studies and to identify the multi-level, multi-approach, and multi-target potential antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and active components of XYS by a comprehensive search of the related electronic databases.

METHODS

The following electronic databases were searched from the beginning to April 2022: PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure.

RESULTS

This review summarizes the antidepressant mechanisms of XYS and its active ingredients, which are reportedly correlated with monoamine neurotransmitter regulation, synaptic plasticity, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, etc. CONCLUSION: XYS plays a critical role in the treatment of depression by the regulation of several factors, including the monoaminergic systems, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, synaptic plasticity, inflammation, brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, brain-gut axis, and other pathways. However, more clinical and animal studies should be conducted to further investigate the antidepressant function of XYS and provide more evidence and recommendations for its clinical application. Our review provides an overview of XYS and guidance for future research direction.

Current Knowledge of the Antidepressant Activity of Chemical Compounds from Crocus sativus L

Psychotropic effect of Crocus sativus L. (family Iridaceae) biologically active chemical compounds are quite well documented and they can therefore be used in addition to the conventional pharmacological treatment of depression. This systematic review on antidepressant compounds in saffron crocus and their mechanisms of action and side effects is based on publications released between 1995−2022 and data indexed in 15 databases under the following search terms: antidepressant effect, central nervous system, Crocus sativus, cognitive impairement, crocin, crocetin, depression, dopamine, dopaminergic and serotonergic systems, picrocrocin, phytotherapy, neurotransmitters, safranal, saffron, serotonin, and biologically active compounds. The comparative analysis of the publications was based on 414 original research papers. The investigated literature indicates the effectiveness and safety of aqueous and alcoholic extracts and biologically active chemical compounds (alkaloids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, flavonoid, phenolic, saponins, and terpenoids) isolated from various organs (corms, leaves, flower petal, and stigmas) in adjuvant treatment of depression and anxiety. Monoamine reuptake inhibition, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonism, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-α agonism are the main proposed mechanism of the antidepressant action. The antidepressant and neuroprotective effect of extract components is associated with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. The mechanism of their action, interactions with conventional drugs and other herbal preparations and the safety of use are not fully understood; therefore, further detailed research in this field is necessary. The presented results regarding the application of C. sativus in phytotherapy are promising in terms of the use of herbal preparations to support the treatment of depression. This is particularly important given the steady increase in the incidence of this disease worldwide and social effects.

Methanolic Extract of Aerva javanica Leaves Prevents LPS-Induced Depressive Like Behavior in Experimental Mice

Aim

Depression is a chronic recurrent neuropsychiatric disorder associated with inflammation. This study explored the pharmacological activities of Aerva javanica leaves crude extract (Aj.Cr) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depressive-like behavior in experimental mice.

Methods

Aj.Cr was evaluated for its phenolic and flavonoid contents, bioactive potential, amino acid profiling and enzyme inhibition assays using different analytical techniques followed by in-silico molecular docking was performed. In addition, three ligands identified in HPLC analysis and standard galantamine were docked to acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) enzyme to assess the ligand interaction along with their binding affinities. In in-vivo analysis, mice were given normal saline (10 mL/kg), imipramine (10 mg/kg) and Aj.Cr (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) orally for 14-consecutive days. On the 14th day, respective treatment was given 30-minutes before intra-peritoneal administration of (0.83 mg/kg) LPS. Open field, forced swim and tail suspension tests were performed 24-hours after LPS injection, followed by a sucrose preference test 48-hours later. Serum corticosterone levels, as well as levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamines were determined in brain tissues.

Results

In-vitro results revealed that crude extract of Aj.Cr possesses anti-depressant agents with solid antioxidant potential. In-vivo analysis showed that LPS significantly increased depressive-like behavior followed by alteration in serum and tissue biomarkers as compared to normal control (p < 0.001). While imipramine and Aj.Cr (100, 300, and 500 mg/kg) treated groups significantly (p<0.05) improved the depressive-like behavior and biomarkers when compared to the LPS group.

Conclusion

The mitigation of LPS-induced depressive-like behavior by Aj.Cr may be linked to the modulation of oxidative stress, neuro-inflammation and catecholamines due to the presence of potent bioactive compounds exerting anti-depressant effects.

Antidepressant effects of cherry leaf decoction on a chronic unpredictable mild stress rat model based on the Glu/GABA-Gln metabolic loop

Cherry leaves (Prunus pseudocerasus Lindl. [Rosaceae]), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, can regulate the factors closely related to depression including inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and blood glucose level. However, the antidepressant effects of cherry leaves and underlying neuromodulatory mechanisms remain relatively have not been elucidated explicitly. The present study investigated the antidepressant effects of cherry leaf decoction (CLD). The underlying neuromodulatory mechanism was explored by examining the glutamate (Glu)/γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-glutamine (Gln) metabolic loop. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rodent model was used in this study. The main flavonoids components of CLD were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The antidepressant effects of CLD were assessed throughout behavioural tests including the bodyweight, sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FPT) and tail suspension test (TST). Moreover, The baseline levels of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were quantified. The expression of proteins integrally involved in the Glu/GABA-Gln metabolic loop were observed and quantified by Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. This study found that CLD ameliorated depressive-like behaviours induced by CUMS. The increase of serum ACTH and CORT baseline levels induced by CUMS was also reversed after CLD intervention. Furthermore, CUMS reduced the expression of GAD65, GAD67, GLT-1, GS and GABA_A and increased NMDAR1 levels in the rat hippocampus, which was normalized by CLD treatment. The findings demonstrated that CLD could ameliorate the depression-like behaviours induced by CUMS, potentially through the inhibition of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity and the regulation of Glu/GABA-Gln metabolic loop.

Antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anticholinesterase potential of Chenopodium murale L. extracts using in vitro and in vivo approaches

In this study, Chenopodium murale Linn. extracts have been evaluated for its in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and in vivo neuropharmacological properties in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced memory impairment in rat model. First, the plant was subjected to extraction and fractionation, then quantitative phytochemical analysis was performed to estimate the major phytochemical groups in the extract where high amounts of phenolics and saponins were detected in crude and chloroform extract. The highest total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and total tannin content were also recorded in crude extract and chloroform fraction. The in vitro antioxidant potential of chloroform fraction was high with IC50 value of 41.78 and 67.33 μg/mL against DPPH and ABTS radicals, respectively, followed by ethyl acetate fraction. The chloroform fraction (ChMu-Chf) also exhibited potent activity against glucosidase with IC50 of 89.72 ± 0.88 μg/mL followed by ethyl acetate extract (ChMu-Et; IC50 of 140.20 ± 0.98 μg/mL). ChMu-Chf again exhibited potent activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) with IC50 of 68.91 ± 0.87 μg/mL followed by ChMu-Et with IC50 of 78.57 ± 0.95 μg/mL. In vivo memory impairment was assessed using the novel object discrimination task, Y-maze, and passive avoidance task. Ex vivo antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidative stress markers like catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde, and glutathione were quantified, and the AChE activity was also determined in the rat brain. No significant differences were observed amongst all the groups treated with crude, chloroform, and ethyl acetate in comparison with positive control donepezil group in connection to initial latency; whereas, the STZ diabetic group displayed a significant fall in recall and retention capability. The blood glucose level was more potently lowered by chloroform extract. The crude extract also increased the SOD level significantly in the brain of the treated rat by 8.01 ± 0.51 and 8.19 ± 0.39 units/mg at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (P < 0.01, n = 6), whereas the chloroform extract increased the SOD level to 9.41 ± 0.40 and 9.72 ± 0.51 units/mg, respectively, at 75 and 150 mg/kg body weight as compared to STZ group. The acetylcholine level was also elevated to greater extent by chloroform fraction that might contain a potential inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase. Treatment with C. murale ameliorated cognitive dysfunction in behavioral study, and provided significant defense from neuronal oxidative stress in the brain of the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Thus C. murale Linn. could be an inspiring plant resource that needs to be further investigated for isolation of potential compounds in pure form and their evaluation as a potent neuropharmacological drug.

Antidepressant Active Components of Bupleurum chinense DC-Paeonia lactiflora Pall Herb Pair: Pharmacological Mechanisms

Depression is a serious psychological disorder with a rapidly increasing incidence in recent years. Clinically, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the main therapy. These drugs, have serious adverse reactions, however. Traditional Chinese medicine has the characteristics of multiple components, targets, and pathways, which has huge potential advantages for the treatment of depression. The antidepressant potential of the herbal combination of Bupleurum chinense DC (Chaihu) and Paeonia lactiflora Pall (Baishao) has been extensively studied previously. In this review, we summarized the antidepressant active components and mechanism of Chaihu-Baishao herb pair. We found that it works mainly through relieving oxidative stress, regulating HPA axis, and protecting neurons. Nevertheless, current research of this combined preparation still faces many challenges. On one hand, most of the current studies only stay at the level of animal models, lacking of sufficient clinical double-blind controlled trials for further verification. In addition, studies on the synergistic effect between different targets and signaling pathways are scarce. On the other hand, this preparation has numerous defects such as poor stability, low solubility, and difficulty in crossing the blood-brain barrier.

Anxiolytic effect of YangshenDingzhi granules: Integrated network pharmacology and hippocampal metabolomics

Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental diseases. It is mainly characterized by a sudden, recurring but indescribable panic, fear, tension and/or anxiety. Yangshendingzhi granules (YSDZ) are widely used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, but its active ingredients and underlying mechanisms are not yet clear. This study integrates network pharmacology and metabolomics to investigate the potential mechanism of action of YSDZ in a rat model of anxiety. First, potential active ingredients and targets were screened by network pharmacology. Then, predictions were verified by molecular docking, molecular dynamics and western blotting. Metabolomics was used to identify differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. All results were integrated for a comprehensive analysis. Network pharmacology analysis found that Carotene, β-sitosterol, quercetin, Stigmasterol, and kaempferol in YSDZ exert anxiolytic effects mainly by acting on IL1β, GABRA1, PTGS1, ESR1, and TNF targets. Molecular docking results showed that all the affinities were lower than -5 kcal/mol, and the average affinities were -7.7764 kcal/mol. Molecular dynamics simulation results showed that RMSD was lower than 2.5 A, and the overall conformational changes of proteins were small, indicating that the small molecules formed stable complexes with proteins. The results of animal experiments showed that YSDZ exerts anxiolytic effects by regulating GABRA1 and TNF-α, ameliorating pathological damage in hippocampal CA1, and regulating metabolic pathways such as thiamine, cysteine and methionine metabolism, lysine biosynthesis and degradation. Altogether, we reveal multiple mechanisms through which YSDZ exerts its anti-anxiety effects, which may provide a reference for its clinical application and drug development.

Integrated meta-analysis, data mining, and animal experiments to investigate the efficacy and potential pharmacological mechanism of a TCM tonic prescription, Jianpi Tongmai formula, in depression

BACKGROUND

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder and has become a growing public health issue. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) tonic prescriptions have been clinically proven to be an effective treatment for depression.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to identify the core prescription to improve depression among the numerous TCM tonic prescriptions.

METHODS AND RESULTS

First, we used meta-analysis to clarify the efficacy and safety of tonic prescriptions in depression among 37 studies and identified 16 effective tonic prescriptions. Second, we conducted data mining to analyze the tonic prescriptions and identified important nourishing herbs. Third, based on the data mining results, we constructed a Delphi experiment to investigate the effects of these important nourishing herbs in depression. Combining the results of Delphi expert questionnaires and weight analysis, a core TCM tonic prescription, Jianpi Tongmai formula (JPTMF) for the treatment of depression, was constructed and was composed of invigorating Spleen qi herbs. Fourth, we verified that JPTMF can improve chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) induced depression-like behaviors in mice. Fifth, we predicted that the mechanism of JPTMF in the treatment of depression was mainly associated with chemical synaptic transmission and neuroinflammation through network pharmacology and determined preliminary confirmation through animal experiments.

CONCLUSION

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of TCM tonic prescriptions on depression and construct a core TCM tonic prescription, JPTMF, through a progressive analysis. Network pharmacology and animal experiments verified the reliability of JPTMF. The proposal of JPTMF is of innovative significance, and may provide far-reaching implications for improving depression by using nourishing herbs. Furthermore, the integrated methods applied in this study provide an innovative paradigm for the standardization and scientific basis of TCM research.

Sirtuin 3 Plays a Critical Role in the Antidepressant- and Anxiolytic-like Effects of Kaempferol

An estimated 20% of women experience depression at some point during menopause. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), as the main therapy for depression and other menopausal syndromes, comes with a few undesirable side effects and a potential increase in cancer and cardiovascular risk. Consequently, there is a dire need for the development of new therapies to treat menopausal depression. Oxidative stress combined with the decline in sex hormones might explain the occurrence of psychological symptoms characteristic of menopause. Therefore, antioxidants have been suggested as a promising therapy for aging-associated diseases, such as menopausal depression. As a flavonoid antioxidant, kaempferol might have a potential neuroprotective action. Hence, the study was conducted to assess the potential antidepressant action of kaempferol and clarify the underlying mechanism. The results show that kaempferol has potential beneficial effects on VCD-induced rodent model of menopausal depression and produces antioxidant effects as well as increases the deacetylation of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) and the protein level of Sirtuin3 (Sirt3) in the hippocampus. On the contrary, Sirt3 depletion abrogated the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects as well as antioxidant effects of kaempferol. In conclusion, kaempferol might produce antidepressant effects via upregulating the expression of Sirt3, the major deacetylase in mitochondria, and subsequently activate the mitochondrial antioxidases. These findings shed some light on the use of kaempferol or vegetables and herbs that contain kaempferol as a complementary therapy for menopausal depression.

Chemical Structures and Pharmacological Properties of Typical Bioflavonoids in Polygonati Rhizoma (PGR)

Most medicines are coming with toxic and detrimental side effects. In addition, microbials are resisting the medicine. Therefore, alternative drugs with low toxic and side effects and low microbial resistance are needed. Plants offer good potential candidates due to a broad range of chemicals they contain. These chemicals have been studied, and research is still going on to probe chemical properties of plant chemicals. In China, traditional Chinese medicine is practised, whereby plant extracts are obtained, and then sold in packages for reasons like memory enhancement, cancer treatment, boosting immune system, and so on. Among the herbs cultivated in China is Polygonati rhizoma (PGR). This plant contains various bioflavonoids such as diosgenin, kaempferol, catechin, daidzein, and 3'-methoxydaidzein. In this review, we discussed the pharmacological effects of these chemicals, including luteolin antimicrobial activity in a manner that it circumvents antibiotic resistance; rutin antivenom property; kaempferol as an agent that mitigates neuropathic pain; genistein anticancer property; isorhamnetin's ability to alleviate chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD); proanthocyanidins' ability to deal with diabetic neuropathy and analgesic property of catechin.

Antidepressant Mechanism of Kaixinsan and Its Active Compounds Based on Upregulation of Antioxidant Thioredoxin

Objectives

Kaixinsan (KXS), a traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of depression. The present study applied a network pharmacology approach to dig out the new targets and mechanism of action of KXS and the active compounds in the treatment of depression.

Methods

A network pharmacology approach based on public databases including ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) evaluation, targets prediction, construction of networks, and molecule docking was used and validated the predicted new antioxidant targets and mechanisms in vitro. Based on an in vitro experiment, we verified the AKT1/Nrf2 pathway related to the thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant mechanism.

Results

The present study sorted 31 pharmacologically active components (kaempferol, ginsenoside rh2, ginsenoside rh4, stigmasterol, etc.) through the ADME algorithm from KXS. 136 potential molecular targets (AKT1, TNF, IL-1b, JUN, ESR1, NOS3, etc.) were predicted, of which there were 69 targets clearly related to depression. By compound-depression targets (C-DTs) network constructed, and protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) and KEGG pathway enrichment analyzed, we identified active compounds mediating depression-related targets to exert synergism on the predictive AKT1/Nrf2 pathway related to thioredoxin (Trx) antioxidant mechanism and other inflammation-related signaling pathways as well as neurotransmitter related signaling pathways. In the H₂O₂ induced SH-SY5Y cell damage model, this showed kaempferol and ginsenoside rh2 could enhance the activity of the Trx system by upregulation of AKT1 to activate Nrf2 in vitro.

Conclusions

Taken together, by comprehensive systems pharmacology approach analysis, we found that KXS and its active compounds might exhibit antioxidant effects by stimulating the AKT1/Nrf2 pathway in the treatment of depression, which might shed new light on innovative therapeutic tactics for the new aspects for depression in traditional Chinese medicine in future studies.

The Therapeutic Potential of Kaemferol and Other Naturally Occurring Polyphenols Might Be Modulated by Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway: Current Status and Future Direction

Kaempferol is a natural flavonoid, which has been widely investigated in the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic complications, and neurological disorders. Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) is a transcription factor involved in mediating carcinogenesis and other ailments, playing an important role in regulating oxidative stress. The activation of Nrf2 results in the expression of proteins and cytoprotective enzymes, which provide cellular protection against reactive oxygen species. Phytochemicals, either alone or in combination, have been used to modulate Nrf2 in cancer and other ailments. Among them, kaempferol has been recently explored for its anti-cancer and other anti-disease therapeutic efficacy, targeting Nrf2 modulation. In combating cancer, diabetic complications, metabolic disorders, and neurological disorders, kaempferol has been shown to regulate Nrf2 and reduce redox homeostasis. In this context, this review article highlights the current status of the therapeutic potential of kaempferol by targeting Nrf2 modulation in cancer, diabetic complications, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular disorders. In addition, we provide future perspectives on kaempferol targeting Nrf2 modulation as a potential therapeutic approach.

Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Honey in Neurological Disorders: The Role of Polyphenols

Honey is the principal premier product of beekeeping familiar to Homo for centuries. In every geological era and culture, evidence can be traced to the potential usefulness of honey in several ailments. With the advent of recent scientific approaches, honey has been proclaimed as a potent complementary and alternative medicine for the management and treatment of several maladies including various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, etc. In the literature archive, oxidative stress and the deprivation of antioxidants are believed to be the paramount cause of many of these neuropathies. Since different types of honey are abundant with certain antioxidants, primarily in the form of diverse polyphenols, honey is undoubtedly a strong pharmaceutic candidate against multiple neurological diseases. In this review, we have indexed and comprehended the involved mechanisms of various constituent polyphenols including different phenolic acids, flavonoids, and other phytochemicals that manifest multiple antioxidant effects in various neurological disorders. All these mechanistic interpretations of the nutritious components of honey explain and justify the potential recommendation of sweet nectar in ameliorating the burden of neurological disorders that have significantly increased across the world in the last few decades.

Evidence and Characteristics of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Coronary Heart Disease Patients With Anxiety or Depression: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Aims: The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and potential mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) for treating coronary heart disease (CHD) patients with anxiety or depression.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed. Screening studies, extracting data, and assessing article quality were carried out independently by two researchers. The active ingredients of CHM for the treatment of CHD with anxiety or depression were analyzed by the network pharmacology, and the main potential mechanisms were summarized by the database of Web of Science.

Results: A total of 32 studies were included. The results showed that compared with the blank control groups, CHM was more beneficial in treating anxiety or depression in patients with CHD [anxiety: OR = 3.22, 95% CI (1.94, 5.35), p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 0%; depression: OR = 3.27, 95% CI (1.67, 6.40), p = 0.0005, I2 = 0%], and the efficacy of CHM was not inferior to that of Western medicine (WM) [anxiety: OR = 1.58, 95%CI (0.39, 6.35), p = 0.52, I2 = 67%; depression: OR = 1.97, 95%CI (0.73, 5.28), p = 0.18, I2 = 33%,]. Additionally, CHM also showed a significant advantage in improving angina stability (AS) in CHD patients with anxiety or depression compared with blank groups [anxiety: SMD = 0.55, 95%CI (0.32, 0.79), p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 0%; depression: p = 0.004] and WM groups [anxiety: SMD = 1.14, 95%CI (0.80, 1.47), p &lt; 0.00001, I2 = 0%; depression: SMD = 12.15, 95%CI (6.07, 18.23), p &lt; 0.0001, I2 = 0%]. Angina frequency (AF) and electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis after using CHM demonstrated similar trends. Based on the network pharmacology, quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, beta-sitosterol, puerarin, stigmasterol, isorhamnetin, baicalein, tanshinone IIa, and nobiletin were most closely and simultaneously related to the pathological targets of CHD, anxiety, and depression. The main underlying mechanisms might involve anti-damage/apoptosis, anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress, and maintaining neurotransmitter homeostasis.

Conclusion: CHM exhibited an obvious efficacy in treating CHD patients with anxiety or depression, especially for improving the symptom of angina pectoris. The most active compounds of CHM could simultaneously act on the pathological targets of CHD, anxiety, and depression. Multiple effective components and multiple targets were the advantages of CHM compared with WM.

Kaempferol: A flavonoid with wider biological activities and its applications

Kaempferol and its derivatives are naturally occurring phytochemicals with promising bioactivities. This flavonol can reduce the lipid oxidation in the human body, prevent the organs and cell structure from deterioration and protect their functional integrity. This review has extensively highlighted the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activity of kaempferol. However, poor water solubility and low bioavailability of kaempferol greatly limit its applications. The utilization of advanced delivery systems can improve its stability, efficacy, and bioavailability. This is the first review that aimed to comprehensively collate some of the vital information published on biosynthesis, mechanism of action, bioactivities, bioavailability, and toxicological potential of kaempferol. Besides, it provides insights into the future direction on the improvement of bioavailability of kaempferol for wide applications.

Kaempferol prevents the activation of complement C3 protein and the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes that mediate rat brain degeneration induced by 3-nitropropionic acid

Kaempferol is a natural antioxidant present in vegetables and fruits used in human nutrition. In previous work, we showed that intraperitoneal (i.p.) kaempferol administration strongly protects against striatum neurodegeneration induced by i.p. injections of 3-nitropropionic acid (NPA), an animal model of Huntington's disease. Recently, we have shown that reactive A1 astrocytes generation is an early event in the neurodegeneration induced by NPA i.p. injections. In the present work, we have experimentally evaluated the hypothesis that kaempferol protects both against the activation of complement C3 protein and the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes in rat brain striatum and hippocampus. To this end, we have administered NPA and kaempferol i.p. injections to adult Wistar rats following the protocol described in previous work. Kaempferol administration prevents proteolytic activation of complement C3 protein and generation of reactive A1 astrocytes NPA-induced in the striatum and hippocampus. Also, it blocked the NPA-induced increase of NF-κB expression and enhanced secretion of cytokines IL-1α, TNFα, and C1q, which have been linked to the generation of reactive A1 astrocytes. In addition, kaempferol administration prevented the enhanced production of amyloid β peptides in the striatum and hippocampus, a novel finding in NPA-induced brain degeneration found in this work.

Ancestral Food Sources Rich in Polyphenols, Their Metabolism, and the Potential Influence of Gut Microbiota in the Management of Depression and Anxiety

The relationship between a population's diet and the risk of suffering from mental disorders has gained importance in recent years, becoming exacerbated due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This review concentrates relevant literature from Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar analyzed with the aim of rescuing knowledge that promotes mental health. In this context, it is important to highlight those flowers, seeds, herbaceous plants, fungi, leaves, and tree barks, among other ancestral matrices, that have been historically part of the eating habits of human beings and have also been a consequence of the adaptation of collectors, consuming the ethnoflora present in different ecosystems. Likewise, it is important to note that this knowledge has been progressively lost in the new generations. Therefore, this review concentrates an important number of matrices used particularly for food and medicinal purposes, recognized for their anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, establishing the importance of metabolism and biotransformation mainly of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols by the action of the gut microbiota.

Hydrangea macrophylla and Thunberginol C Attenuate Stress-Induced Anxiety in Mice

Stress is an important neurological input for successful life. However, chronic stress and stress hormones could be a cause of various neurological disorders including anxiety disorders. Therefore, there have been many efforts to find effective materials for curing stress-induced neurological disorders. In this study, we examined the effect of Hydrangea macrophylla (HM) on corticosterone-induced neurotoxicity, stress-induced anxiety in mice and suggested a possible active ingredient of HM. HM protected cortical neurons against neurotoxicity of corticosterone (CORT), a stress hormone. HM also blocked CORT-induced hippocampal synaptic deficit via regulating Akt signaling. Oral administration of HM improved chronic restraint stress-induced anxiety in Elevated Plus maze test along with reduction of plasma corticosterone and TNF-α levels. Moreover, HM reduced stress-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Thunberginol C, an active ingredient of HM, also prevented CORT-induced neuronal cell death and restraint stress-induced anxiety. Moreover, thunberginol C reduced plasma TNF-α level and neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Collectively, HM could be a good candidate for preventing stress-induced neurological disorders and thunberginol C may be an active ingredient of HM for this purpose.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers of Depression and Network Pharmacology Approach to Investigate the Mechanism of Key Genes and Therapeutic Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Depression

Background

To explore the potential target of depression and the mechanism of related traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of depression.

Method

Differential gene expression in depression patients and controls was analyzed in the GEO database. Key genes for depression were obtained by searching the disease databases. The COREMINE Medical database was used to search for Chinese medicines corresponding to the key genes in the treatment of depression, and the network pharmacological analysis was performed on these Chinese medicines. Then, protein-protein interaction analysis was conducted. Prediction of gene phenotypes was based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment scores.

Results

The total number of differentially expressed genes in the GEO database was 147. Combined with the GEO dataset and disease database, a total of 3533 depression-related genes were analyzed. After screening in COREMINE Medical, it was found that the top 4 traditional Chinese medicines with the highest frequency for depression were Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Crocus sativus L., Bupleurum chinense DC., and Cannabis sativa L. The compound target network consisted of 24 compounds and 138 corresponding targets, and the key targets involved PRKACA, NCOA2, PPARA, and so on. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that the most commonly used Chinese medicine could regulate multiple aspects of depression through these targets, related to metabolism, neuroendocrine function, and neuroimmunity. Prediction and analysis of protein-protein interactions resulted in the selection of nine hub genes (ESR1, HSP90AA1, JUN, MAPK1, MAPK14, MAPK8, RB1, RELA, and TP53). In addition, a total of four ingredients (petunidin, isorhamnetin, quercetin, and luteolin) from this Chinese medicine could act on these hub genes.

Conclusions

Our research revealed the complicated antidepressant mechanism of the most commonly used Chinese medicines and also provided a rational strategy for revealing the complex composition and function of Chinese herbal formulas.

Chinese Pharmacopoeia Revisited: A Review of Anti-Depression Herbal Sources

Depression, which can be accompanied by many fatal diseases and a low life quality, has become the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide. However, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, the most authoritative and evidence-based encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), could contain leads and insights into the development of new antidepressant drugs. In this work, nine herbal medicines with ‘dispel melancholy functions’ specifically documented in Chinese Pharmacopoeia have been comprehensively reviewed with respect to clinical trials, and phytochemical and pharmacological aspects. The nine drugs are Rosae Chinensis Flos, Croci Stigma, Albiziae Cortex and Flos, Roase Rugosae Flos, Curcumae Radix, Hyperici Perforati Herba, Cyperi Rhizoma and Bupleuri Radix. The mechanisms of action of their functional antidepressant compounds, including gallic acid, hypericin, kaempferol, crocetin, crocin, quercetin, luteolin, isorhamnetin, curcumin, hyperforin, adhyperforin, catechin, rutin, puerarin, and saikosaponins A and D, have been collected and discussed. These traditional Chinese herbs and their active compounds provide a promising resource to develop effective new antidepressant drugs in future. Moreover, mechanistic investigations, safety verification and large-scale clinical trials are still expected to finally transform such TCM-based antidepressant resources to new drugs for patients suffering from depression.

Identifying the mechanism underlying antidepressant-like effects of loganin by network pharmacology in combination with experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Loganin, an iridoid glycoside, is one of the quality control indexes of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. Increasing evidence emphasize the important role of inflammation in the pathology of depression, which links depression with other chronic diseases. Loganin prevents inflammatory response in multiple diseases and reverses depressive-like behaviors. However, the mechanisms underlying antidepressant-like effects of loganin for the treatment of inflammation-associated depression are not utterly understood.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was designed to predict the potential targets of loganin against inflammation-associated depression using a network pharmacology approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pharmmapper and Uniport were used to predict loganin-related targets. Targets of inflammation were identified through GeneCards databases and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to identify the potential mechanism. Finally, qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to confirm the role of loganin on these targets.

RESULTS

There were 15 nodes in the loganin-inflammation-depression intersection targets network. In the network, the degree value of CTNNB1 was above 3. Among top ten pathways identified by KEGG analysis, Th1/Th2 cell differentiation and IL-17 signaling pathways were related with both inflammation and depression. As indicated by qRT-PCR results, loganin increased CTNNB1 mRNA level. Moreover, loganin elevated M2 markers of microglia but decreased M1 markers of microglia against lipopolysaccharide (LPS), indicated by qRT-PCR results and ELISA results.

CONCLUSION

CTNNB1 was the main target of loganin. Loganin alleviated LPS-induced inflammation through inhibiting M1 polarization of microglia. Our results provide a better understanding of loganin-induced antidepressant-like effects for the treatment of inflammation-associated depression.

Unravelling the Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms Underlying the Effects of Social Defeat Stress on Use of Drugs of Abuse

The immune system provides the first line of the organism's defenses, working to maintain homeostasis against external threats and respond also to internal danger signals. There is much evidence to suggest that modifications of inflammatory parameters are related to vulnerability to develop mental illnesses, such as depression, autism, schizophrenia, and substance use disorders. In addition, not only are inflammatory parameters related to these disorders, but stress also induces the activation of the immune system, as recent preclinical research demonstrates. Social stress activates the immune response in the central nervous system through a number of mechanisms; for example, by promoting microglial stimulation, modifying peripheral and brain cytokine levels, and altering the blood brain barrier, which allows monocytes to traffic into the brain. In this chapter, we will first deal with the most important short- and long-term consequences of social defeat (SD) stress on the neuroinflammatory response. SD experiences (brief episodes of social confrontations during adolescence and adulthood) induce functional modifications in the brain, which are accompanied by an increase in proinflammatory markers. Most importantly, inflammatory mechanisms play a significant role in mediating the process of adaptation in the face of adversity (resilience vs susceptibility), allowing us to understand individual differences in stress responses. Secondly, we will address the role of the immune system in the vulnerability and enhanced sensitivity to drugs of abuse after social stress. We will explore in depth the effects seen in the inflammatory system in response to social stress and how they enhance the rewarding effects of drugs such as alcohol or cocaine. To conclude, we will consider pharmacological and environmental interventions that seek to influence the inflammatory response to social stress and diminish increased drug intake, as well as the translational potential and future directions of this exciting new field of research.

Advance toward isolation, extraction, metabolism and health benefits of kaempferol, a major dietary flavonoid with future perspectives

As a major ubiquitous secondary metabolite, flavonoids are widely distributed in planta. Among flavonoids, kaempferol is a typical natural flavonol in diets and medicinal plants with myriad bioactivities, such as anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer activity, antioxidant activity, and anti-diabetic activity. However, the natural sources, absorption and metabolism as well as the bioactivities of kaempferol have not been reviewed comprehensively and systematically. This review highlights the latest research progress and the effect of kaempferol in the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases, as well as its protective health effects, and provides a theoretical basis for future research to be used in nutraceuticals. Further, comparison of the different extraction and analytical methods are presented to highlight the most optimum for PG recovery and its detection in plasma and body fluids. Such review aims at improving the value-added applications of this unique dietary bioactive flavonoids at commercial scale and to provide a reference for its needed further development.

Research Progress on Natural Compounds Exerting an Antidepressant Effect through Anti-inflammatory

Depression is a common mental illness that belongs to the category of emotional disorders that causes serious damage to the health and life of patients, while inflammation is considered to be one of the important factors that causes depression. In this case, it might be important to explore the possible therapeutic approach by using natural compounds exerting an anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effect, which it filed has not been systematically reviewed recently. Hence, this review aims to systematically sort the literature related to the mechanism of exerting an antidepressant effect through anti-inflammatory actions, and to summarize the related natural products in the past 20 years, in terms of a number of inflammatory related pathways (i.e., the protein kinase B (Akt) pathway, monoamine neurotransmitters (5-hydroxytryptamine and norepinephrine) (5-HT and NE), the nod-like receptor protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, proinflammatory cytokines, neurotrophins, or cytokine-signaling pathways), which might provide a useful reference for the potential treatment of depression.

Network Pharmacology and Experimental Evidence: PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway is Involved in the Antidepressive Roles of Chaihu Shugan San

Objective

Chaihu Shugan San (CSS) is a common antidepressant prescription in traditional Chinese medicines. However, its active ingredients and mechanisms are unknown. The aim of this study was to explore the potential active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of CSS for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods

Active compounds in CSS were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. Compound-related targets were retrieved using the SwissTargetPrediction database. MDD-related targets were determined using DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database and DrugBank databases. The common targets of active compounds in CSS and MDD were retained to construct a compound-MDD target network. Then, functional enrichment analysis and protein–protein interaction analysis were performed to identify hub targets and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. Finally, hub-targeted genes and pathways were validated by Western blotting and immunofluorescence using chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice with or without CSS treatment. The affinities between the active compounds in CSS and hub-targeted genes were evaluated by molecular docking.

Results

Network pharmacology analysis revealed 24 potential targets for treatment of MDD by CSS. Functional enrichment analysis showed that PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was likely to be evidently affected by CSS in the treatment of MDD. In vivo experiments showed that CSS could improve depressive-like behaviors and promote neurogenesis in CUMS mice. Furthermore, CSS could increase phosphorylated (p) PI3K/PI3K and pAKT/AKT levels and decrease the pGSK3β/GSK3β level in the hippocampus of CUMS mice. The active compounds mainly included quercetin and luteolin, which showed good docking scores targeting the PI3K protein.

Conclusion

This network pharmacological and experimental study highlights that the PI3K/AKT pathway is the potential mechanism by which CSS is involved in MDD treatment. Quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol are probable active compounds in CSS, and these results might provide valuable guidance for further studies of MDD treatment.

Behavioral and neurochemical effects of folic acid in a mouse model of depression induced by TNF-α

Folic acid has been reported to exert antidepressant effects, but its ability to abrogate the depressive-like behavior and signaling pathways alterations elicited by an inflammatory model of depression remains to be established. This study examined: a) the efficacy of folic acid in a mouse model of depression induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α); b) whether the administration of subthreshold doses of folic acid and antidepressants (fluoxetine, imipramine, and bupropion), MK-801, or 7-nitroindazole cause antidepressant-like effects; c) the effects of TNF-α and/or folic acid on hippocampal p38^MAPK, Akt, ERK, and JNK phosphorylation. Folic acid reduced the immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST) in control mice (10-50 mg/kg, p.o) and abolished the depressive-like behavior elicited by TNF-α (0.001 fg/site, i.c.v.) in this test (1-50 mg/kg, p.o). Coadministration of subthreshold doses of folic acid (1 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluoxetine, imipramine, bupropion, MK-801, or 7-nitroindazole produced an antidepressant-like effect in mice exposed or not to TNF-α. TNF-α-treated mice presented increased p38^MAPK phosphorylation and decreased Akt phosphorylation, and the later effect was prevented by folic acid (10 mg/kg, p.o.). Additionally, ERK1 phosphorylation was increased in mice treated with TNF-α + folic acid (1 mg/kg), but no effects on ERK2 or JNK1/2/3 phosphorylation were found in any group. The results indicate the efficacy of folic acid to counteract the depressive-like behavior induced by a pro-inflammatory cytokine, an effect that might be associated with the activation of monoaminergic systems, inhibition of N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, as well as Akt modulation.

Therapeutic Targets and Mechanism of Xingpi Jieyu Decoction in Depression: A Network Pharmacology Study

Background

Depression is a common mental disease that lacks effective therapeutic drugs with good curative effects and few adverse reactions. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the advantages of multiple components, multiple channels, and fewer adverse reactions in the treatment of depression. Although Xingpi Jieyu Decoction (XPJYD) demonstrates a good therapeutic effect on depression, the pharmacological mechanism underlying its antidepressant effect is still unclear.

Methods

We used a network pharmacology strategy, including the construction and analysis of a complex drug-disease network, to explore the complex mechanism of XPJYD treatment of depression. In addition, molecular docking technology was used to preliminarily study the binding ability of the potential active components and core therapeutic targets of XPJYD.

Results

The network pharmacology results showed 42 targets of XPJYD that are involved in depression. PPI network analysis demonstrated that the top 10 core targets were AKT1, VEGFA, MAPK8, FOS, ESR1, NR3C1, IL6, HIF1A, NOS3, and AR. The molecular docking results showed that the binding energies of beta sitosterol with AR, FOS, AKT1, VEGFA, NR3C1, and NOS3 were less than −7.0 kcal·mol⁻¹, indicating a good docking effect. The GO enrichment analysis results showed that the XPJYD antidepression mechanism mainly involves the following biological processes such as apoptotic signaling pathway, cellular response to lipid, inflammatory response, and others. The KEGG analysis results indicated that XPJYD may regulate 13 pathways such as PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and estrogen signaling pathway in the treatment of depression.

Conclusions

This study reflects the characteristics of the mechanism of action by which XPJYD treats depression, which includes multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, and provides a biological basis for further verification and a novel perspective for drug discovery in depression.

Mental Health in New Mothers: A Randomised Controlled Study into the Effects of Dietary Flavonoids on Mood and Perceived Quality of Life

The postnatal period is a significant period of physical, physiological and psychological change for mothers, rendering them particularly vulnerable to changes in mood or disorders such as postnatal depression (PND). Previous interventions with foods high in flavonoids have demonstrated beneficial acute and chronic mood effects in healthy child, adolescent and adult populations. It is unclear whether mood effects persist in populations who are potentially at-risk of developing mood disorders, such as postnatal mothers. This exploratory study investigated the effects of a 2-week daily dietary flavonoid intervention on mood (PANAS-NOW), anxiety (STAI), depressive symptoms (PHQ-8) and perceived quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) in forty-one new mothers in the 0–12-month postnatal period, before and after flavonoid intervention. Mothers either added high flavonoid foods to their daily diet, or did not include additions following a randomised, between-groups, controlled design. Significant effects were observed in the flavonoid group with mothers reporting lower state anxiety and higher perceived quality of physical health at the 2-week timepoint. These findings suggest that regular dietary consumption of flavonoids may benefit mothers’ anxiety and perceived quality of life in the postnatal period. Replication of these results may indicate the potential for dietary flavonoids to promote healthy mood regulation in mothers or prevent the onset or severity of symptoms in postnatal psychological disorders, both of which would be beneficial for women’s health services and public mental health.

Pharmacogenetic-based management of depression: Role of traditional Persian medicine

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders worldwide. The genetic factors are linked to depression and anti-depressant outcomes. Traditional Persian medicine (TPM) manuscripts have provided various anti-depressant remedies, which may be useful in depression management. This review has studied the bioactive compounds, underlying mechanisms, and treatment outcomes of the medicinal plants traditionally mentioned effective for depression from "The storehouse of medicament" (a famous pharmacopeia of TPM) to merge those with the novel genetics science and serve new scope in depression prevention and management. This review paper has been conducted in two sections: (1) Collecting medicinal plants and their bioactive components from "The storehouse of medicament," "Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) for Herbal Medicines," and "Google scholar" database. (2) The critical key factors and genes in depression pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment were clarified. Subsequently, the association between bioactive components' underlying mechanism and depression treatment outcomes via considering polymorphisms in related genes was derived. Taken together, α-Mangostin, β-carotene, β-pinene, apigenin, caffeic acid, catechin, chlorogenic acid, citral, ellagic acid, esculetin, ferulic acid, gallic acid, gentiopicroside, hyperoside, kaempferol, limonene, linalool, lycopene, naringin, protocatechuic acid, quercetin, resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, and umbelliferone are suitable for future pharmacogenetics-based studies in the management of depression.

Pretreatment with kaempferol attenuates microglia-mediate neuroinflammation by inhibiting MAPKs-NF-κB signaling pathway and pyroptosis after secondary spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating injury that characterized by oxidative stress and inflammatory response. Kaempferol is reported to be an anti-neuroinflammation in neurologic disorders. Nevertheless, the role and mechanism of kaempferol in SCI remains unclear. The present study aims to investigate effects of kaempferol on SCI and its possible underlying mechanisms in in vivo and in vitro models. A C5 hemi-contusion injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate the neuroprotective effects of kaempferol after SCI. For in vitro study, the BV2 microglia cell lines were pretreated with or without kaempferol. A combination of molecular and histological methods was used to clarify the mechanism and explore the signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted with Bonferroni post hoc tests to examine the differences between groups. The in vivo studies showed that kaempferol could improve the recovery of hindlimb motor function and ameliorate tissue damage in the spinal cord after SCI. Moreover, administration of kaempferol reduced microglia activation and oxidative stress level in the spinal cord. The in vitro studies showed that kaempferol suppressed the microglia activation resulting from the administration of LPS with ATP to BV-2 cells. Pretreated BV2 cells with kaempferol reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by inhibiting NADPH oxidase 4, and then, suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and JNK, which subsequently inhibited nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 to express pro-inflammatory factors. We also observed that kaempferol could inhibite the pyroptosis related proteins (NLRP3 Caspase-1 p10 ASC N-GSDMD) and reduce the release of IL-18 and IL-1β. In conclusion, kaempferol was able to reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory response through down-regulation of ROS dependent MAPKs- NF-κB and pyroptosis signaling pathway, which suggested that kaempferol might be a novel promising therapeutic agent for SCI.