Effects of the putative antipsychotic alstonine on glutamate uptake in acute hippocampal slices

Mechanisms underpinning Carpolobia lutea G. Don ethanol extract's neurorestorative and antipsychotic-like activities in an NMDA receptor antagonist model of schizophrenia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Persistent ketamine insults to the central nervous system block NMDA receptors and disrupt putative neurotransmission, oxido-nitrosative, and inflammatory pathways, resulting in schizophrenia-like symptoms in animals. Previously, the ethnomedicinal benefits of Carpolobia lutea against insomnia, migraine headache, and insanity has been documented, but the mechanisms of action remain incomplete.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Presently, we explored the neuro-therapeutic role of Carpolobia lutea ethanol extract (C. lutea) in ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like symptoms in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty-four male Swiss (22 ± 2 g) mice were randomly assigned into eight groups (n = 8/group) and exposed to a reversal ketamine model of schizophrenia. For 14 days, either distilled water (10 mL/kg; p.o.) or ketamine (20 mg/kg; i.p.) was administered, following possible reversal treatments with C. lutea (100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg; p.o.), haloperidol (1 mg/kg, p.o.), or clozapine (5 mg/kg; p.o.) beginning on days 8-14. During the experiment, a battery of behavioral characterizations defining schizophrenia-like symptoms were obtained using ANY-maze software, followed by neurochemical, oxido-inflammatory and histological assessments in the mice brains.

RESULTS

A 7-day reversal treatment with C. lutea reversed predictors of positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. C. lutea also mitigated ketamine-induced neurochemical derangements as evidenced by modulations of dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and serotonin neurotransmission. Also, the increased acetylcholinesterase activity, malondialdehyde nitrite, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis-factor-α concentrations were reversed by C. lutea accompanied with elevated levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase and reduced glutathione. Furthermore, C. lutea reversed ketamine-induced neuronal alterations in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum sections of the brain.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that C. lutea reverses the cardinal symptoms of ketamine-induced schizophrenia in a dose-dependent fashion by modulating the oxido-inflammatory and neurotransmitter-related mechanisms.

Comparative metabolomics analysis reveals alkaloid repertoires in young and mature Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil. Leaves

The fresh leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (Korth.) Havil. have been traditionally consumed for centuries in Southeast Asia for its healing properties. Although the alkaloids of M. speciosa have been studied since the 1920s, comparative and systematic studies of metabolite composition based on different leaf maturity levels are still lacking. This study assessed the secondary metabolite composition in two different leaf stages (young and mature) of M. speciosa, using an untargeted liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-TOF-MS) metabolite profiling. The results revealed 86 putatively annotated metabolite features (RT:m/z value) comprising 63 alkaloids, 10 flavonoids, 6 terpenoids, 3 phenylpropanoids, and 1 of each carboxylic acid, glucoside, phenol, and phenolic aldehyde. The alkaloid features were further categorised into 14 subclasses, i.e., the most abundant class of secondary metabolites identified. As per previous reports, indole alkaloids are the most abundant alkaloid subclass in M. speciosa. The result of multivariate analysis (MVA) using principal component analysis (PCA) showed a clear separation of 92.8% between the young and mature leaf samples, indicating a high variance in metabolite levels between them. Akuammidine, alstonine, tryptamine, and yohimbine were tentatively identified among the many new alkaloids reported in this study, depicting the diverse biological activities of M. speciosa. Besides delving into the knowledge of metabolite distribution in different leaf stages, these findings have extended the current alkaloid repository of M. speciosa for a better understanding of its pharmaceutical potential.

Taurine, an essential β-amino acid insulates against ketamine-induced experimental psychosis by enhancement of cholinergic neurotransmission, inhibition of oxidative/nitrergic imbalances, and suppression of COX-2/iNOS immunoreactions in mice

Cholinergic, oxidative, nitrergic alterations, and neuroinflammation are some key neuropathological features common in schizophrenia disease. They involve complex biological processes that alter normal behavior. The present treatments used in the management of the disorder remain ineffective together with some serious side effects as one of their setbacks. Taurine is a naturally occurring essential β-amino acid reported to elicit antipsychotic property in first episode psychosis in clinical setting, thus require preclinical investigation. Hence, we set out to investigate the effects of taurine in the prevention and reversal of ketamine-induced psychotic-like behaviors and the associated putative neurobiological mechanisms underlying its effects. Adult male Swiss mice were sheared into three separate cohorts of experiments (n = 7): drug alone, preventive and reversal studies. Treatments consisted of saline (10 mL/kg/p.o./day), taurine (50 and 100 mg/kg/p.o./day) and risperidone (0.5 mg/kg/p.o./day) with concomitant ketamine (20 mg/kg/i.p./day) injections between days 8-14, or 14 days entirely. Behavioral hyperactivity, despair, cognitive impairment, and catalepsy were measured. Brain oxidative/nitrergic imbalance, immunoreactivity (COX-2 and iNOS), and cholinergic markers were determined in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex, and hippocampus. Taurine abates ketamine-mediated psychotic-like episodes without cataleptogenic potential. Taurine attenuated ketamine-induced decrease in glutathione, superoxide-dismutase and catalase levels in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex and hippocampus. Also, taurine prevented and reversed ketamine-mediated elevation of malondialdehyde, nitrite contents, acetylcholinesterase activity, and suppressed COX-2 and iNOS expressions in a brain-region dependent manner. Conclusively, taurine insulates against ketamine-mediated psychotic phenotype by normalizing brain central cholinergic neurotransmissions, oxidative, nitrergic and suppression of immunoreactive proteins in mice brains.

Diosmin attenuates schizophrenia-like behavior, oxidative stress, and acetylcholinesterase activity in mice

Objectives Diosmin (DSM), commonly isolated from various plants, is a citrus nutrient that has been shown to increase intracellular antioxidant capacity and assuage symptoms associated with neurological disorders. Deficiency in the antioxidant system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The use of antioxidants as neuroprotectants to suppress schizophrenia pathology is increasingly being sought. Hence, this study investigated the effects of DSM on schizophrenia-like behavior and the underlying changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in mice. Methods The acute antipsychotic effect of DSM (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]), haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and risperidone (RIS) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated on stereotyped behaviors induced by apomorphine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). The effect of DSM on ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion, immobility enhancement, and its woodblock cataleptogenic potential was evaluated. Also, the subacute antipsychotic potential of DSM was assessed following intraperitoneal injection of DSM (25-100 mg/kg, i.p.) alone and in combination with ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days. The behaviors of the animals were assessed in the open-field, Y-maze, and forced swim tests. Brains of the animals were afterward processed for spectrophotometric assay of oxidative stress and AChE contents. Results DSM (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) attenuated apormorphine-induced stereotypy and devoid of cataleptogenic effect. DSM and RIS reversed acute and subacute ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors. Disomin alone increased cognitive function and reduced despair-like phenotype. Furthermore, DSM increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde and AChE levels in naïve and ketamine schizophrenic mice. Conclusions DSM prevents schizophrenia-like behavior, attenuates oxidative stress, and AChE activity in naïve and ketamine schizophrenic mice.

Diosmin attenuates schizophrenia-like behavior, oxidative stress, and acetylcholinesterase activity in mice

OBJECTIVES

Diosmin (DSM), commonly isolated from various plants, is a citrus nutrient that has been shown to increase intracellular antioxidant capacity and assuage symptoms associated with neurological disorders. Deficiency in the antioxidant system has been implicated in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The use of antioxidants as neuroprotectants to suppress schizophrenia pathology is increasingly being sought. Hence, this study investigated the effects of DSM on schizophrenia-like behavior and the underlying changes in biomarkers of oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in mice.

METHODS

The acute antipsychotic effect of DSM (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally [i.p.]), haloperidol (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and risperidone (RIS) (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) was investigated on stereotyped behaviors induced by apomorphine (2 mg/kg, i.p.) and ketamine (10 mg/kg, i.p.). The effect of DSM on ketamine-induced hyperlocomotion, immobility enhancement, and its woodblock cataleptogenic potential was evaluated. Also, the subacute antipsychotic potential of DSM was assessed following intraperitoneal injection of DSM (25-100 mg/kg, i.p.) alone and in combination with ketamine (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days. The behaviors of the animals were assessed in the open-field, Y-maze, and forced swim tests. Brains of the animals were afterward processed for spectrophotometric assay of oxidative stress and AChE contents.

RESULTS

DSM (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) attenuated apormorphine-induced stereotypy and devoid of cataleptogenic effect. DSM and RIS reversed acute and subacute ketamine-induced schizophrenia-like behaviors. Disomin alone increased cognitive function and reduced despair-like phenotype. Furthermore, DSM increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione and decreased malondialdehyde and AChE levels in naïve and ketamine schizophrenic mice.

CONCLUSIONS

DSM prevents schizophrenia-like behavior, attenuates oxidative stress, and AChE activity in naïve and ketamine schizophrenic mice.

Morin Attenuates Neurochemical Changes and Increased Oxidative/Nitrergic Stress in Brains of Mice Exposed to Ketamine: Prevention and Reversal of Schizophrenia-Like Symptoms

Previous studies have revealed that morin (MOR), a neuroactive bioflavonoid, with proven psychotropic and neuroprotective properties reduced schizophrenic-like behaviors in mice. This study further evaluated the ability of MOR to prevent and reverse ketamine-induced schizophrenic-like behaviors and the underlying neurochemical changes and increased oxidative/nitrergic stress in mice. In the preventive protocol, mice received intraperitoneal injection of MOR (100 mg/kg), reference antipsychotic drugs [haloperidol (1 mg/kg), risperidone (0.5 mg/kg)], or saline daily for 14 consecutive days prior to i.p. injection of ketamine (KET) (20 mg/kg/day) from the 8th to the 14th day. In the reversal protocol, the animals received KET or saline for 14 days prior to MOR, haloperidol, risperidone, or saline treatments. Schizophrenic-like behaviors: positive (open-field test), negative (social-interaction test) and cognitive (Y-maze test) symptoms were evaluated. Thereafter, the brain levels of dopamine, glutamate, 5-hydroxytryptamine and acetyl-cholinesterase, as well as biomarkers of oxidative/nitrergic stress were measured in the striatum, prefrontal-cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HC). Morin prevented and reversed KET-induced hyperlocomotion, social and cognitive deficits. Also, MOR or risperidone attenuated altered dopaminergic, glutamatergic, 5-hydroxytryptaminergic and cholinergic neurotransmissions in brain region-dependent manner. The increased malondialdehyde and nitrite levels accompanied by decreased glutathione concentrations in the striatum, PFC and HC in KET-treated mice were significantly attenuated by MOR or risperidone. Taken together, these findings suggest that the anti-schizophrenic-like activity of MOR may be mediated via mechanisms related to attenuation of neurochemical changes and oxidative/nitrergic alterations in mice.

Structural investigation of heteroyohimbine alkaloid synthesis reveals active site elements that control stereoselectivity

Plants produce an enormous array of biologically active metabolites, often with stereochemical variations on the same molecular scaffold. These changes in stereochemistry dramatically impact biological activity. Notably, the stereoisomers of the heteroyohimbine alkaloids show diverse pharmacological activities. We reported a medium chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) from Catharanthus roseus that catalyses formation of a heteroyohimbine isomer. Here we report the discovery of additional heteroyohimbine synthases (HYSs), one of which produces a mixture of diastereomers. The crystal structures for three HYSs have been solved, providing insight into the mechanism of reactivity and stereoselectivity, with mutation of one loop transforming product specificity. Localization and gene silencing experiments provide a basis for understanding the function of these enzymes in vivo. This work sets the stage to explore how MDRs evolved to generate structural and biological diversity in specialized plant metabolism and opens the possibility for metabolic engineering of new compounds based on this scaffold.

The stereochemistry of the plant heteroyohimbine alkaloids is a key factor determining their diverse biological activities. Here, the authors carry out structural, localization and genetic experiments to understand the mechanism of stereoselectivity for three heteroyohimbine synthases and to identify their function in vivo.

Original mechanisms of antipsychotic action by the indole alkaloid alstonine (Picralima nitida)

Alstonine is the major component of plant based remedies that traditional psychiatrists use in Nigeria. Alstonine is an indole alkaloid that has an antipsychotic experimental profile comparable with that of clozapine and is compatible with the alleged effects in mental patients. Representing a desirable innovation in the pharmacodynamics of antipsychotic medications, the evidence indicates that alstonine does not bind to D2 dopamine receptors (D2R) and differentially regulates dopamine in the cortical and limbic areas. The purpose of this study was to further investigate the effects of alstonine on D2R binding in specific brain regions using quantitative autoradiography (QAR) and its effects on dopamine (DA) uptake in mouse striatal synaptosomes. The effects of alstonine on D2R binding were determined in the nucleus accumbens and caudate-putamen using QAR in mice treated with alstonine doses that have antipsychotic effects. The effects of alstonine [3H]DA uptake were assessed in synaptosomes prepared from striatal tissue obtained from mice treated acutely or for 7 days with alstonine. Alstonine did not change the D2R binding densities in the studied regions. DA uptake was increased after acute (but not after 7 days) treatment with alstonine. Consistent with the alstonine behavioral profile, these results indicate that alstonine indirectly modulates DA receptors, specifically by modulating DA uptake. This unique mechanism for DA transmission modulation contributes to the antipsychotic-like effects of alstonine and is compatible with its behavioral profile in mice and alleged effects in patients. These results may represent an innovation in the antipsychotic development field.

The role of serotonin in memory: interactions with neurotransmitters and downstream signaling

Serotonin, or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is found to be involved in many physiological or pathophysiological processes including cognitive function. Seven distinct receptors (5-HT1-7), each with several subpopulations, have been identified for serotonin, which are different in terms of localization and downstream signaling. Because of the development of selective agonists and antagonists for these receptors as well as transgenic animal models of cognitive disorders, our understanding of the role of serotonergic transmission in learning and memory has improved in recent years. A large body of evidence indicates the interplay between serotonergic transmission and other neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, dopamine, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate, in the neurobiological control of learning and memory. In addition, there has been an alteration in the density of serotonergic receptors in aging and Alzheimer's disease, and serotonin modulators are found to alter the process of amyloidogenesis and exert cognitive-enhancing properties. Here, we discuss the serotonin-induced modulation of various systems involved in mnesic function including cholinergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic, glutamatergic transmissions as well as amyloidogenesis and intracellular pathways.

Levels of S100B are raised in female patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

The neurotrophic factor, S100B, is released primarily from astrocytes, with serum and CSF levels of S100B reported as altered in schizophrenia. However, many of these reports are contradictory. Here, serum levels of S100B in schizophrenia and influence of age, gender, medication and illness severity were examined.

METHODS

Serum S100B levels were measured in patients with schizophrenia treated with clozapine. Lifestyle, metabolic and illness severity parameters were correlated with S100B concentrations.

RESULTS

Data showed raised serum levels of S100B in schizophrenia female patients, but not male patients, compared to controls. Correlation analysis demonstrated a positive association between S100B serum concentrations and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports previous findings that adipocytes may contribute to S100B serum concentrations in females, in addition to astrocytes. This study also supports the hypothesis that metabolic effects of medication, lifestyle choices and the illness itself, may be contributing factors to altered levels of S100B.