Notopterol improves cognitive dysfunction and depression-like behavior via inhibiting STAT3/NF-ĸB pathway mediated inflammation in glioma-bearing mice

Combating depression with rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.)-derived polyphenols: Major phytochemicals, functional properties, and potential

Depression is a common mental condition with high prevalence and recurrence rates worldwide. The active polyphenols in Rosmarinus officinalis L. contain several pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and neuroprotective characteristics. However, the effects of rosemary polyphenols on depression have not been thoroughly studied. The anti-inflammatory activity and regulatory effects on gut microbiota of key rosemary polyphenols, as well as their impacts on depression, are the main emphasis of this research. We conclude that the anti-depressive effects of rosemary polyphenols are due to anti-inflammatory properties and bidirectional relationship with gut microbiota, including inhibiting inflammatory pathways and cytokines (reducing pro-inflammation cytokines, suppressing NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasomes, and upregulating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway), altering intestinal microbiota structure and metabolites (polyphenols-related microbial metabolites and biotransformation of polyphenols by microbiota). This paper provides a better understanding of the anti-depressive effects of polyphenols in Rosmarinus officinalis L.

Molecular mechanisms and clinical value of the correlation between depression and cancer

According to the World Health Organization, cancer remains the primary cause of death of millions of individuals annually and the foremost cause of mortality worldwide. Cancer imposes substantial economic and mental challenges on patients and their families and strains healthcare systems. Depression, one of the most prevalent mental health conditions, affects approximately 3.8% of the global population and is a significant global health challenge. Research indicates increasing incidence rates of depression among patients with cancer. Depression also appears to influence cancer development and progression, worsening patient prognosis and quality of life, thereby creating additional challenges for clinical treatment. Correlation of depression and cancer is a complicated yet promising field with fast-paced progression and vital clinical values. Therefore, we discussed in this review the associations between depression and cancer and their potential mechanisms by analyzing the specific role of depression in the development and progression of tumors from the perspective of suppressing tumor immunity, inhibiting tumor cell apoptosis, inducing DNA damage, promoting tumor cell mesenchymal transition, enhancing tumor cell stemness, and promoting tumor angiogenesis. This review also discusses how tumors influence the development of depression via inflammatory factors and the significance of identifying and treating depression to enhance the quality of life and prognosis of patients with cancer. Promising biomarkers and effective treatments are also highlighted. Despite available data, limited research exists on how treating depression affects cancer prognosis, and whether timely treatment can reduce cancer risk remains unclear, which necessitates further investigation. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms involved in the relationship between cancer and depression to help identify new biomarkers and provide precise medical care for patients with depression. We hope this review will lay the foundation for future research, advancing new biomarkers and therapies for early diagnosis of cancer and depression comorbidity.

Comparative Analysis of Metabolites of Wild and Cultivated Notopterygium incisum from Different Origins and Evaluation of Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity

The dried rhizome of Notopterygium incisum (NI) from the Umbelliferae family, genuinely produced in Sichuan, China, is a classic traditional Chinese medicinal herb for treating wind-dampness arthralgia. Due to scarce natural resources, wild NI is gradually being replaced by cultivated types. However, knowledge is limited regarding the differences in chemical composition and pharmacological effects between wild and cultivated NI and between Sichuan-grown and other-region-grown NI. In this study, a plant metabolomics strategy, based on GC-MS and UHPLC-Orbitrap MS, was employed to compare metabolic profiles between wild and cultivated NI and between cultivated NI from Sichuan and cultivated NI from Gansu and Qinghai. In total, 195 metabolites were identified, and the biosynthetic pathways of coumarins and phenolic acids, which were the most abundant secondary metabolites in NI, were summarized. Additionally, seven key metabolic intermediates were uncovered, revealing the reasons for the differences in metabolic profiles between wild and cultivated NI. The anti-inflammatory effect of wild and cultivated NI was verified by inflammatory gene expression and neutrophil count using a zebrafish yolk sac inflammation model. Overall, this study presents information on the types and synthesis of pharmacodynamic substances in NI and provides a basis for its cultivation and applications.

Synergistic effect of osthole and notopterol combination against Alzheimer's disease and osteoporosis by applying zebrafish AD/OP comorbidity model

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and osteoporosis (OP) are both serious degenerative diseases, with the potential for concurrent occurrence in clinical settings, and they share certain pathological correlations. Osthole (OST) and notopterol (NOT) are the main active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, Angelica pubescens and Notopterygium incisum, respectively, and they exhibit neuroprotective and osteoprotective effects. However, whether the combination of OST and NOT produces a synergistic effect against AD and/or OP remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the combination of OST and NOT could produce synergistic anti-AD and/or OP effects using the previously constructed zebrafish AD/OP comorbidity model. Active compounds with anti-AD and OP effects were screened from Angelica pubescens and Notopterygium incisum through network pharmacology, identifying OST and NOT, respectively. Then, the AlCl3-induced (Aluminum chloride, AlCl3) AD combined with OP zebrafish model, in conjunction with the Chou-Talalay synergy evaluation model, was employed to assess whether the OST and NOT combination produced synergistic effects against AD and/or OP. Furthermore, a CuSO4-induced (Copper sulfate, CuSO4) inflammation zebrafish model was used to investigate whether the combination of OST and NOT produced synergistic anti-inflammatory effects, thereby resulting in synergistic anti-AD and/or OP effects. The results demonstrated that the OST-NOT combined treatment produced a synergistic anti-AD and OP effect. Moreover, the combined treatment of OST and NOT significantly inhibited nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) release more effectively than OST or NOT alone, indicating a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect of the OST and NOT combined treatment.

Phytochemistry and Biological Profile of the Chinese Endemic Herb Genus Notopterygium

Notopterygium, a plant genus belonging to the Apiaceae family, is utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for its medicinal properties. Specifically, the roots and rhizomes of these plants are employed in phytotherapy to alleviate inflammatory conditions and headaches. This review provides a concise overview of the existing information regarding the botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and molecular mechanisms of the two Notopterygium species: Notopterygium incisum and N. franchetii. More than 500 distinct compounds have been derived from these plants, with the root being the primary source. These components include volatile oils, coumarins, enynes, sesquiterpenes, organic acids and esters, flavonoids, and various other compounds. Research suggests that Notopterygium incisum and N. franchetii exhibit a diverse array of pharmacological effects, encompassing antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiarrhythmic, anticoagulant, antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer properties on various organs such as the brain, heart, digestive system, and respiratory system. Building activity screening models based on the pharmacological effects of Notopterygium species, as well as discovering and studying the pharmacological mechanisms of novel active ingredients, will constitute the primary development focus of Notopterygium medicinal research in the future.

Glioma induces atypical depression-like behaviors in mice through the 5-HT and glutamatergic synapse pathways

Glioma patients often undertake psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. There are several clinical epidemiological studies on glioma-associated depression, but basic research and corresponding animal experiments are still lacking. Here, we observed that glioma-bearing mice exhibited atypical depression-like behaviors in orthotopic glioma mouse models. The concentrations of monoamine neurotransmitters were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), revealing a decrease in 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) levels in para-glioma tissues. The related gene expression levels also altered, detected by quantitative RT-PCR. Then, we developed a glioma-depression comorbidity mouse model. Through sucrose preference test (SPT), forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST) and other tests, we found that the occurrence of glioma could lead to changes in depression-like behaviors in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model. The results of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) indicated that the altered expression of glutamatergic synapse related genes in the paratumor tissues might be one of the main molecular features of the comorbidity model. Our findings suggested that the presence of glioma caused and altered depression-like behaviors, which was potentially related to the 5-HT and glutamatergic synapse pathways.

Forced Swimming-Induced Depressive-like Behavior and Anxiety Are Reduced by Chlorpheniramine via Suppression of Oxidative and Inflammatory Mediators and Activating the Nrf2-BDNF Signaling Pathway

The first-generation antihistamine chlorpheniramine (CPA) is believed to have both anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. The current study sought to assess the mechanisms behind the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of CPA therapy concerning oxidative stress, inflammation, and nuclear factor p45 for erythroid 2-Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Nrf2-BDNF) signaling pathway in forced swimming-induced depressive-like behavior and anxiety. Eighteen male Wistar rats (180-200 gm) rats were separated into three groups (n = 6): a stressed group (acute stress) that underwent the forced swimming test (FST) and a stressed group that received pretreatment with CPA (10 mg/kg body weight) for 3 weeks (CPA + acute stress). Animals were subsequently put through the following behavioral tests after undergoing a forced swim test (FST) for 5 min: an immobility test, open field test, and elevated plus maze test. Serum cortisol levels were measured when the rats were euthanized at the end of the experiments. Brain neurotransmitters (cortisol, serotonin, and noradrenaline), oxidative stress (SOD and MDA), inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-1) biomarkers, and the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissues was determined. CPA prevented stress-induced increases in cortisol levels (p < 0.0001), decreased brain neurotransmitters, and increased oxidative stress and inflammation. CPA also upregulated the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway. Thus, CPA mitigates depressive-like behavior and anxiety by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation and upregulating the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway in the brain tissues.

Furanocoumarin Notopterol: Inhibition of Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis through Suppression of Cancer Stemness Signaling and Induction of Oxidative Stress-Associated Cell Death

BACKGROUND

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Cumulative evidence suggests critical roles for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) in chronic liver diseases. However, the role of ER stress in HCC pathogenesis, aggressiveness and therapy response remains unclear and understudied.

OBJECTIVES

Against this background, the present study evaluated the therapeutic efficacy and feasibility of notopterol (NOT), a furanocoumarin and principal component of Notopterygium incisum, in the modulation of ER stress and cancer stemness, and the subsequent effect on liver oncogenicity.

METHODS

An array of biomolecular methods including Western blot, drug cytotoxicity, cell motility, immunofluorescence, colony and tumorsphere formation, flow-cytometric mitochondrial function, GSH/GSSG ratio, and tumor xenograft ex vivo assays were used in the study.

RESULTS

Herein, we demonstrated that NOT significantly suppresses the viability, migration, and invasion capacity of the human HCC HepJ5 and Mahlavu cell lines by disrupting ATF4 expression, inhibiting JAK2 activation, and downregulating the GPX1 and SOD1 expression in vitro. NOT also markedly suppressed the expression of vimentin (VIM), snail, b-catenin, and N-cadherin in the HCC cells, dose-dependently. Treatment with NOT significantly attenuated cancer stem cells (CSCs)-like phenotypes, namely colony and tumorsphere formation, with the concomitant downregulation of stemness markers OCT4, SOX2, CD133, and upregulated PARP-1 cleavage, dose-dependently. We also demonstrated that NOT anticancer activity was strongly associated with increased cellular reactive oxidative stress (ROS) but, conversely, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and function in the HepJ5 and Mahlavu cells in vitro. Our tumor xenograft studies showed that compared with sorafenib, NOT elicited greater tumor growth suppression without adverse changes in mice body weights. Compared with the untreated control and sorafenib-treated mice, NOT-treated mice exhibited markedly greater apoptosis ex vivo, and this was associated with the co-suppression of stemness and drug-resistance markers OCT4, SOX2, ALDH1, and the upregulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress factors PERK and CHOP.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, we demonstrated for the first time that NOT exhibits strong anticancer activity via the suppression of cancer stemness, enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress and increased oxidative stress thus projecting NOT as a potentially effective therapeutic agent against HCC.