CGY-1, a biflavonoid isolated from cardiocrinum giganteum seeds, improves memory deficits by modulating the cholinergic system in scopolamine-treated mice

Influence of Neostigmine on Early Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adult Patients Undergoing Noncardiac Surgery: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

The goal of this study was to investigate the efficacy of neostigmine on postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) and determine its effect on systematic markers of oxidative stress in older patients.

METHODS

This double-blind placebo-controlled trial enrolled 118 elderly patients (≥65 years) undergoing noncardiac surgeries who were allocated to a neostigmine treatment group (0.04 mg/kg) or a placebo control group (normal saline) postoperatively. POCD was diagnosed if the Z -scores for the mini-mental state examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment were both ≤-1.96. Postoperative serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were also compared. Multivariable regression analysis with dose adjustment of atropine was used to demonstrate the influence of neostigmine on the incidence of POCD.

RESULTS

Patients receiving neostigmine had a significantly reduced incidence of POCD compared to patients who were treated with placebo on the first day after surgery (-22%, 95% confidence interval [CI], -37 to -7), but not on the third (8%, 95% CI, -4 to 20) or seventh day after surgery (3%, 95% CI, -7 to 13). Postoperative plasma MDA levels were significantly lower ( P = .016), but SOD and BDNF levels were increased ( P = .036 and .013, respectively) in the neostigmine group compared to the control group on the first day after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Neostigmine reduced POCD on the first day after noncardiac surgery in older patients. Neostigmine treatment inhibited oxidative stress and increased serum BDNF levels. There was no significant influence of neostigmine on POCD on the third or seventh day after surgery. The clinical influence of neostigmine on POCD should be further investigated.

Proceedings of Chemistry, Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics and Synthesis of Biflavonoids

Biflavonoids, composed of two monoflavonoid residues, occur naturally in angiosperms, bryophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms. More than 592 biflavonoids have been structurally elucidated, and they can be classified into two groups of C-C and C-linear fragments-C, based on whether the linker between the two residues contains an atom. As the linker can be established on two arbitrary rings from different residues, the C-C type contains various subtypes, as does the C-linear fragment-C type. Biflavonoids have a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antitumor, and cytotoxic properties, and they can be applied in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. This review mainly summarizes the distribution and chemistry of biflavonoids; additionally, their bioactivities, pharmacokinetics, and synthesis are discussed.

Sulfated Polysaccharide Isolated from the Nacre of Pearl Oyster Improves Scopolamine-Induced Memory Impairment

Pearl and nacre have been used in traditional medicines for treating brain dysfunctions, such as epilepsy, myopia, palpitations and convulsions. We previously showed that a pearl oyster nacre extract improves scopolamine-induced memory impairments using the Y-maze, Banes maze and object recognition tests. In this study, we aimed to isolate the memory-improving substance using ion-exchange column chromatography and reverse-phase column chromatography and elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying its memory-improving activity. The isolated substance was found to be a sulfated polysaccharide with a molecular weight of approximately 750 kDa. Monosaccharide composition analysis showed that it was rich in galactose, glucose, mannose and uronic acid. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory response and neuroprotective factors in the cerebral cortex were investigated. Treatment with the polysaccharide increased the expression levels of the antioxidant enzymes Cu, Zn -superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase and attenuated the scopolamine-mediated upregulation of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. In addition, the polysaccharide suppressed the decrease in the expression levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF). These findings strongly suggest that the polysaccharide in the nacre extract mediated its antiamnesic effects by preventing oxidative stress and inflammation and increasing the expression levels of BDNF and NGF.

Bioactivity of natural biflavonoids in metabolism-related disease and cancer therapies

Natural biflavonoids, such as amentoflavone, bilobetin, ginkgetin, isoginkgetin, taiwaniaflavone, morelloflavone, delicaflavone, hinokiflavone, and other derivatives (~ 40 biflavonoids), are isolated from Selaginella sp., Ginkgo biloba, Garcinia sp., and several other species of plants. They are able to exert therapeutic benefits by regulating several proteins/enzymes (PPAR-γ, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α [C/EBPα], STAT5, pancreatic lipase, PTP1B, fatty acid synthase, α-glucosidase [AG]) and insulin signaling pathways (via PI3K-AKT), which are linked to metabolism, cell growth, and cell survival mechanisms. Deregulated insulin signaling can cause complications of obesity and diabetes, which can lead to cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and dementia; therefore, the therapeutic benefits of these biflavones in these areas are highlighted. Since biflavonoids have shown potential to regulate metabolism, growth- and survival-related protein/enzymes, their relation to tumor growth and metastasis of cancer associated with angiogenesis are highlighted. The translational role of biflavones in cancer with respect to the inhibition of metabolism-related processes/pathways, enzymes, or proteins, such as STAT3/SHP-1/PTEN, kinesins, tissue kallikreins, aromatase, estrogen, protein modifiers, antioxidant, autophagy, and apoptosis induction mechanisms, are discussed. Finally, considering their observed bioactivity potential, oral bioavailability studies of biflavones and related clinical trials are outlined.

Phenolic Acid Derivatives, Flavonoids and Other Bioactive Compounds from the Leaves of Cardiocrinum cordatum (Thunb.) Makino (Liliaceae)

Cardiocrinum cordatum (Thunb.) Makino (Family: Liliaceae), commonly known as ‘Ubayuri’, is native to Japan and some islands in the Russian Far East. It has high value as food, medicinal, and ornamental species. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize the main chemical constituents of the leaves of C. cordatum. A total of 19 compounds, namely caffeic acid (1), caffeic acid methyl ester (2), caffeic acid β-glucopyranosyl ester (3), caffeic acid 4-O-β-glucopyranoside (4), ferulic acid (5), isoferulic acid (6), protocatechuic acid (7), syringic acid (8), 2,6-dimethoxy-p-hydroquinone 1-O-β-glucopyranoside (9), esculetin (10), taxifolin (11), quercetin 3-O-(6-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl)β-glucopyranoside-7-O-β-rhamnopyranoside (12), 2,7-dimethyl-2,4-diene-deca-α,ω-diacid β-glucopyranoside (13), 4-[formyl-5-(methoxymethyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl]butanoic acid (14), (3Z)-3-hexenyl β-glucopyranoside (15), tryptophan (16), adenine (17), adenosine (18), and 2-deoxyadenosine (19) were isolated using various chromatographic methods. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of their NMR spectroscopic data. All these compounds were isolated for the first time from the genus Cardiocrinum. Phenolic acid derivatives and flavonoids can be considered as chemotaxonomic markers in the leaves of Cardiocrinum species.