Involvement of the adenosine A1 receptor in the hypnotic effect of rosmarinic acid

Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review

Insomnia affects millions of people worldwide, prompting considerable interest in herbal remedies for its treatment. This review aims to assess the therapeutic potential of such remedies for insomnia by analyzing current scientific evidence. The analysis identified several herbs, including Rosmarinus officinalis, Crocus sativus, Rosa damascena, Curcuma longa, Valeriana officinalis, Lactuca sativa, Portulaca oleracea, Citrus aurantium, Lippia citriodora, and Melissa officinalis, which show promise in improving overall sleep time, reducing sleep latency, and enhancing sleep quality. These plants act on the central nervous system, particularly the serotonergic and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic systems, promoting sedation and relaxation. However, further research is necessary to fully understand their mechanisms of action, optimal dosages, and treatment protocols. Combining herbal medicines with conventional treatments may offer an effective natural alternative for those seeking medication. Nevertheless, individuals should consult their healthcare provider before using herbal remedies for insomnia. While this review provides evidence supporting their use, additional high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish their clinical efficacy.

Functions and mechanisms of adenosine and its receptors in sleep regulation

Sleep is a natural and recurring state of life. Long-term insomnia can lead to physical and mental fatigue, inattention, memory loss, anxiety, depression and other symptoms, imposing immense public health and economic burden worldwide. The sleep and awakening regulation system is composed of many nerve nuclei and neurotransmitters in the brain, and it forms a neural network that interacts and restricts each other to regulate the occurrence and maintenance of sleep-wake. Adenosine (AD) is a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and a driver of sleep. Meanwhile, the functions and mechanisms underlying sleep-promoting effects of adenosine and its receptors are still not entirely clear. However, in recent years, the increasing evidence indicated that adenosine can promote sleep through inhibiting arousal system and activating sleep-promoting system. At the same time, astrocyte-derived adenosine in modulating sleep homeostasis and sleep loss-induced related cognitive and memory deficits plays an important role. This review, therefore, summarizes the current research on the functions and possible mechanisms of adenosine and its receptors in the regulation of sleep and homeostatic control of sleep. Understanding these aspects will provide us better ideas on clinical problems such as insomnia, hypersomnia and other sleep disorders.

Dietary polyphenols and sleep modulation: Current evidence and perspectives

Polyphenols are plant compounds with several biological activities. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the potential role of polyphenols in modulating sleep. A total of 28 preclinical studies, 12 intervention studies and four observational studies exploring the role of polyphenol intake on sleep were identified. From animal studies, 26 out of the 28 studies found beneficial effects of polyphenols on sleep architecture. Three out of four human observational studies found a beneficial association between polyphenol intake and sleep parameters. And, among clinical intervention studies, eight from a total of 12 studies found some beneficial effect of polyphenol intake on various sleep parameters, although some discrepancies between studies were found. Overall, emerging evidence suggests a benefit of polyphenol intake on sleep. Several mechanisms of action have been suggested, ranging from effects on neurotransmitters to an action through the gut-brain axis. However, more research in this field is needed, emphasizing the use of nutritional doses in mechanistic studies and interventions targeting participants with sleep problems. This would allow to elucidate whether an additional biological effect of polyphenols is modulation of sleep, a behavior associated with adverse health outcomes.

Functioning and Gene Expression of Adenosine A1 Receptor During Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Development

The A1 adenosine receptor is the most widely expressed P1 receptor in vertebrates, performing inhibitory tone of the nervous system. Increased levels of adenosine are crucial to promote tissue protection in threatening situations, such as convulsion and hypoxia. Zebrafish is an established model organism for studies on health and disease. In this study, we evaluated the functionality of A1 adenosine receptor through development of zebrafish (6-7-day-, 3-, 8-, and 24-month-old), assessing: (I) the effects of the agonist N6-cyclopenthyladenosine (CPA) over locomotor parameters, (II) the anticonvulsant properties of CPA and adenosine per se in the pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure, and (III) the gene expression of adora1b through development. CPA promoted decreased distance traveled in the highest concentrations/doses tested (larvae: 75 to 500 μM; adults: 20 mg.kg-1), altered mean velocity (larvae: 50-500 μM; adults: 20 mg.kg-1) and time in the bottom zone of apparatus (adults: decrease in 20 mg.kg-1). Adenosine increased the latency of the larvae to reach stage II at 5 and 10 μM. CPA anticonvulsant effect against convulsive stage II was reached at 75 μM, although it decreased basal locomotor activity in larvae. For adults, CPA 10 mg.kg-1 was effective as anticonvulsant without locomotory effects. Adenosine had minor anticonvulsant effects in the concentration tested (larvae: 5 and 10 μM). The level of gene expression of adora1b was stable in brain from adult animals (8- and 24-month-old animals). These results suggest that zebrafish has similar responses to CPA as mammals. To avoid confounding factors, such as locomotor effects, during any brain function investigation using A1 adenosine receptor as a target, the concentration below 75 μM or below the dose of 20 mg.kg-1 of CPA is ideal for zebrafish at larval and adult stages, respectively.

Pharmacology of Adenosine Receptors: Recent Advancements

Adenosine receptors (ARs) are widely acknowledged pharmacological targets yet are still underutilized in clinical practice. Their ubiquitous distribution in almost all cells and tissues of the body makes them, on the one hand, excellent candidates for numerous diseases, and on the other hand, intrinsically challenging to exploit selectively and in a site-specific manner. This review endeavors to comprehensively depict the substantial advancements witnessed in recent years concerning the development of drugs that modulate ARs. Through preclinical and clinical research, it has become evident that the modulation of ARs holds promise for the treatment of numerous diseases, including central nervous system disorders, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. The latest studies discussed herein shed light on novel mechanisms through which ARs exert control over pathophysiological states. They also introduce new ligands and innovative strategies for receptor activation, presenting compelling evidence of efficacy along with the implicated signaling pathways. Collectively, these emerging insights underscore a promising trajectory toward harnessing the therapeutic potential of these multifaceted targets.

Potential of Polyphenols for Improving Sleep: A Preliminary Results from Review of Human Clinical Trials and Mechanistic Insights

Global epidemiologic evidence supports an interrelationship between sleep disorders and fruits and vegetable ingestion. Polyphenols, a broad group of plant substances, are associated with several biologic processes, including oxidative stress and signaling pathways that regulate the expression of genes promoting an anti-inflammatory environment. Understanding whether and how polyphenol intake is related to sleep may provide avenues to improve sleep and contribute to delaying or preventing the development of chronic disease. This review aims to assess the public health implications of the association between polyphenol intake and sleep and to inform future research. The effects of polyphenol intake, including chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, and catechins, on sleep quality and quantity are discussed to identify polyphenol molecules that may improve sleep. Although some animal studies have investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of polyphenols on sleep, the paucity of trials, especially randomized controlled trials, does not allow for conducting a meta-analysis to reach clear conclusions about the relationships among these studies to support the sleep-improving effects of polyphenols.

Analysis of the interaction between A1 R and A2A R proteins in living cells based on FRET imaging and batch processing method

The quantitative FRET analysis of living cells is a tedious and time-consuming task for freshman lacks technical training. In this study, FRET imaging and batch processing method were combined to analyze reagents-induced interactions of A₁ R and A_2A R on cell membranes. Results showed that the method had taken less time than if cell-by-cell was analyzed. The accuracy and repeatability of FRET efficiency values were likewise improved by removing the interference from anthropogenic factors. Then this method was applied to rapidly analyze acetaldehyde-induced interactions, which analyzed hundreds of single-cell trends by one operation, and the results revealed that interactions were consistently attenuated in LX-2 cells, and statistical differences appeared after 30 min. Combined with batch processing method, procedures of cells FRET analysis have been greatly simplified without additional technical work, which has broad prospects in large-scale analysis of cellar protein interaction.

Regulation of clock and clock-controlled genes during morphine reward and reinforcement: Involvement of the period 2 circadian clock

BACKGROUND

Morphine abuse is a devastating disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and literature evidence indicates a relationship between opioid abuse and the circadian clock.

AIM

We explored morphine reward and reinforcement using mouse models with Per2 gene modifications (knockout (KO); overexpression (OE)).

METHODS

Mice were exposed to various behavioral, electroencephalographic, pharmacological, and molecular tests to assess the effects of morphine and identify the underlying mechanisms with a focus on reward and reinforcement and the corresponding involvement of circadian and clock-controlled gene regulation.

RESULTS

Per2 deletion enhances morphine-induced analgesia, locomotor sensitization, conditioned place preference (CPP), and self-administration (SA) in mice, whereas its overexpression attenuated these effects. In addition, reduced withdrawal was observed in Per2 KO mice, whereas an augmented withdrawal response was observed in Per2 OE mice. Moreover, naloxone and SCH 23390 blocked morphine CPP in Per2 KO and wild-type (WT) mice. The rewarding (CPP) and reinforcing effects (SA) observed in morphine-conditioned and morphine self-administered Per2 KO and WT mice were accompanied by activated μ-opioid and dopamine D1 receptors and TH in the mesolimbic (VTA/NAcc) system. Furthermore, genetic modifications of Per2 in mice innately altered some clock genes in response to morphine.

CONCLUSION

These findings improve our understanding of the role of Per2 in morphine-induced psychoactive effects. Our data and those obtained in previous studies indicate that targeting Per2 may have applicability in the treatment of substance abuse.

Biomedical features and therapeutic potential of rosmarinic acid

For decades, the use of secondary metabolites of various herbs has been an attractive strategy in combating human diseases. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a bioactive phenolic compound commonly found in plants of Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae families. RA is biosynthesized using amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine via enzyme-catalyzed reactions. However, the chemical synthesis of RA involves an esterification reaction between caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxy phenyl lactic acid contributing two phenolic rings to the structure of RA. Several studies have ascertained multiple therapeutic benefits of RA in various diseases, including cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders, neurodegenerative disorders, and liver diseases. Many previous scientific papers indicate that RA can be used as an anti-plasmodic, anti-viral and anti-bacterial drug. In addition, due to its high anti-oxidant capacity, this natural polyphenol has recently gained attention for its possible application as a nutraceutical compound in the food industry. Here we provide state-of-the-art, flexible therapeutic potential and biomedical features of RA, its implications and multiple uses. Along with various valuable applications in safeguarding human health, this review further summarizes the therapeutic advantages of RA in various human diseases, including cancer, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, the challenges associated with the clinical applicability of RA have also been discussed.