Effect of homeopathic Lycopodium clavatum on memory functions and cerebral blood flow in memory-impaired rats

Buot Jr., Maria Celeste Banaticla-Hilario. New records of pteridophytes in Mount Matutum Protected Landscape, South Central Mindanao, Philippines with notes on its economic value and conservation status

New records on distribution of pteridophytes in Mount Matutum Protected Landscape were documented. The species list was accounted with reference to specimen collections from various herbaria posted in digital databases and reliable literature on pteridophyte flora. Results further showed 105 new records for MMPL and its vicinity-South Cotabato, Sarangani province and General Santos City.  From these, seven were new records for South Central Mindanao Region (Region 12). About 19 families, 56 genera were represented – 41 were epiphytes, 10 lithophytes, and 45 soil inhabitants, the rest with dual habits – two (ground and lithophytic); seven (epiphytic and lithophytic). Moreover, 11 species were found to be threatened based on national list while local conservation assessment based on relative frequency noted 91 threatened species. A conservation plan for these valuable species in the protected landscape is also proposed to ensure sound intervention and sustainable environment for this plant group.

A Review on the Current Status of Homeopathy in the Clinical Manage-ment of Cancer

Homeopathy is a widely practiced alternate system of medicine around the world that employs small doses of various medicines to promote auto-regulation and self-healing. It is among the most commonly used alternative approaches in cancer and other diseases and alternative therapeutic systems. It is widely used as palliative and as supportive therapy in cancer patients. Few cases have been reported on patients using homeopathy after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, generally for overcoming side effects. The dose of Homoeopathic medicines and their mechanism of action in cancer has also been documented, while clinical trials on the effects of Homoeopathy in cancer treatment are rare. It is found that the anticancer potential of homeopathic medicines is reported for different cancer types, which show their efficacy through apoptosis and immune system modulation. Homeopathic treatment is an add-on to conventional therapy, with almost no interaction with the conventional drugs due to the small dose, and is largely attributed to improving lives by providing symptomatic relief, increasing survival time and boosting patient immunity. This review explores the accountability of the homeopathic system of medicine by highlighting some of the most commonly used homeopathic drugs for different types of cancers.

Effects of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Lycopodium selago L. on Scopolamine-Induced Memory Deficits in Zebrafish

This scientific research focused on the production of hydroethanolic extract of the plant species Lycopodium selago L. (L. selago) by the ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) and the identification of biocompounds with high antioxidant activity is of interest for possible phytotherapeutic treatment against Alzheimer's disease (AD). The extract was phytochemically analyzed to investigate polyphenols, flavonoids, and identify the sesquiterpenoid alkaloid huperzine A (HupA), which is known in the literature for its great relevance in AD. Evaluation and comparison of the antioxidant activity of the extract were performed by four complementary spectrophotometric methods (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS, ORAC). In vitro tests of the extract showed an excellent reciprocal link between the concentration of polyphenols and the measurement of the antioxidant activity of the extract with the sesquiterpenoid HupA. To confirm the antioxidant activity, L. selago hydroethanolic extract was administered in vivo to zebrafish (Danio rerio) with a pattern of scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, this study explored a possible correlation between the expression of oxidative stress markers in the brain tissue with the behavior of the scopolamine zebrafish model. In vivo tests showed that this fern could be used as a nutritional supply and as a phytotherapeutic method to prevent or treat various neurodegenerative diseases that call for high-nutritive-value medications.

Screen the Effective Components of Lycopodii herba on Rheumatoid Arthritis with the Aid of Spectrum-Effect Relationship and Uncover its Potential Mechanism

Lycopodii herba (SJC), a traditional Chinese medicine, has the effect of dispelling wind and eliminating dampness (a therapeutic principle and method of traditional Chinese medicine for rheumatoid arthritis), relaxing tendon and activating collaterals. However, the major effective components and its therapeutic mechanism were unclear. In this study, different SJC samples with slightly different compositions were prepared by extracting with different concentrations of ethanol. Then, the therapeutic effects on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of different SJC samples were evaluated. Finally, the spectrum-effect relationship between UPLC-Q-TOF/MS fingerprints and the effect of RA was explored to screen the effective components. Western blotting was used to study the potential mechanism. The volume of hind paw and the level of RF, TNF-α, and IL-1β were lower after administrating with different SJC samples, compared with the model group. Histopathological findings also confirmed that SJC could relieve the symptoms of RA. Combined with identification of the components in plasm from SJC, lycojaponicumin C, des-N-methyl-α-obscurine, 8β-acetoxy-12β-hydroxy-lycopodine or 8β-acetoxy-11α-hydroxy-lycopodine or 8β-hydroxy-11α-acetoxylycopodine were considered to be the major effective components. The mechanism may be related to AChE/NF-κB signaling pathway. This work provides a general method to screen the potential effective components of herb medicines and would be benefit to understand the mechanism of SJC for the treatment of RA.

Natural and synthetic drugs used for the treatment of the dementia

This review is devoted to comparative pharmacological analysis of synthetic drugs such as memantine and its isomers, as well as tacrine, velnacrine, rivastigmine, and donepezil, with natural alkaloids, terpenoids, and triterpenoid peroxides, which are used to treat dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, myasthenia gravis and other neurodegenerative diseases. Recently discovered by French scientists from Marseille triterpenoid hydroperoxides demonstrate high activity as potential therapeutic agents for the treatment of dementia. The information presented in this review is of great interest to pharmacologists, medical chemists, physiologists, neurologists and doctors, as well as for the pharmaceutical industry.

Lycopodium Attenuates Loss of Dopaminergic Neurons by Suppressing Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease, a chronic, age related neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by a progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. Several studies have proven that the activation of glial cells, presence of alpha-synuclein aggregates, and oxidative stress, fuels neurodegeneration, and currently there is no definitive treatment for PD. In this study, a rotenone-induced rat model of PD was used to understand the neuroprotective potential of Lycopodium (Lyc), a commonly-used potent herbal medicine. Immunohistochemcial data showed that rotenone injections significantly increased the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and decreased the striatal expression of tyrosine hydroxylase. Further, rotenone administration activated microglia and astroglia, which in turn upregulated the expression of α-synuclein, pro-inflammatory, and oxidative stress factors, resulting in PD pathology. However, rotenone-injected rats that were orally treated with lycopodium (50 mg/kg) were protected against dopaminergic neuronal loss by diminishing the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and MMP-9, as well as reduced activation of microglia and astrocytes. This neuroprotective mechanism not only involves reduction in pro-inflammatory response and α-synuclein expression, but also synergistically enhanced antioxidant defense system by virtue of the drug's multimodal action. These findings suggest that Lyc has the potential to be further developed as a therapeutic candidate for PD.