Beetroot supplemented diet exhibit anti-amnesic effect via modulation of cholinesterases, purinergic enzymes, monoamine oxidase and attenuation of redox imbalance in the brain of scopolamine treated male rats

Novel pyrrole based CB2 agonists: New insights on CB2 receptor role in regulating neurotransmitters' tone

The cannabinoid system is one of the most investigated neuromodulatory systems because of its involvement in multiple pathologies such as cancer, inflammation, and psychiatric diseases. Recently, the CB2 receptor has gained increased attention considering its crucial role in modulating neuroinflammation in several pathological conditions like neurodegenerative diseases. Here we describe the rational design of pyrrole-based analogues, which led to a potent and pharmacokinetically suitable CB2 full agonist particularly effective in improving cognitive functions in a scopolamine-induced amnesia murine model. Therefore, we extended our study by investigating the interconnection between CB2 activation and neurotransmission in this experimental paradigm. To this purpose, we performed a MALDI imaging analysis on mice brains, observing that the administration of our lead compound was able to revert the effect of scopolamine on different neurotransmitter tones, such as acetylcholine, serotonin, and GABA, shedding light on important networks not fully explored, so far.

Ondansetron attenuates cisplatin-induced behavioral and cognitive impairment through downregulation of NOD-like receptor inflammasome pathway

Cisplatin is an effective and commonly used chemotherapeutic drug; however, its use is accompanied by several adverse effects, including chemobrain. Ondansetron is a 5-HT3 antagonist, commonly used in prophylactic against chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Moreover, it has been identified as a novel neuroprotective agent in different animal models. However, its protective role against chemotherapy-induced chemobrain has not been investigated. The current study was the first study that explored the potential neuroprotective effect of ondansetron against cisplatin-induced chemobrain in rats. Cisplatin (5 mg/Kg) was injected intraperitoneally, once weekly, for 4 weeks with the daily administration of ondansetron (0.5 and 1 mg/Kg). Compared to the cisplatin-treated group, ondansetron administration showed a significant decrease in the latency time and a significant increase in ambulation, rearing, and grooming frequency in the open field test (OFT). Moreover, a significant improvement in the latency time in the rotarod and passive avoidance tests, following ondansetron administration. In addition, ondansetron treatment increased the percentage of alternation in the Y-maze test. Also, ondansetron showed a remarkable enhancement in the biochemical parameters in the hippocampus. It increased the acetylcholine (Ach) level and decreased the level of the acetylcholine esterase enzyme (AchE). Ondansetron significantly decreased interleukin-1β (Il-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), NOD-like receptor-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome as well as caspase-1 and caspase-3 levels. Furthermore, ondansetron significantly decreased the levels of copper transporter-1(CTR1) expression in the hippocampus. Collectively, these findings suggest that ondansetron may exhibit a neuroprotective and therapeutic activity against cisplatin-induced chemobrain.

Active components and molecular mechanisms of Sagacious Confucius' Pillow Elixir to treat cognitive impairment based on systems pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Sagacious Confucius' Pillow Elixir (SCPE) is a common clinical prescription to treat cognitive impairment (CI) in East Asia.

OBJECTIVE

To predict the active components of SCPE, identify the associated signaling pathway, and explore the molecular mechanism using systems pharmacology and an animal study.

METHODS

Systems pharmacology and Python programming language-based molecular docking were used to select and analyze the active components and targets. Senescence-accelerated prone 8 mice were used as a CI model. The molecular mechanism was evaluated using the water maze test, neuropathological observation, cerebrospinal fluid microdialysis, and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Thirty active components were revealed by screening relevant databases and performing topological analysis. Additionally, 376 differentially expressed genes for CI were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and molecular docking indicated that SCPE played a crucial role in modulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and 23 SCPE components interacted with it. In the CI model, SCPE improved cognitive function, increased the levels of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and metabolite 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA), ameliorated pathological damage and regulated the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. SCPE increased the LC3-II/LC3-I, p-PI3K p85/PI3K p85, p-AKT/AKT, and p-mTOR/mTOR protein expression ratios and inhibited P62 expression in the hippocampal tissue of the CI model.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that 23 active SCPE components improve CI by increasing the levels of the neurotransmitter 5-HT and metabolite 5-HIAA, suppressing pathological injury and regulating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway to improve cognitive function.

Can Bioactive Compounds in Beetroot/Carrot Juice Have a Neuroprotective Effect? Morphological Studies of Neurons Immunoreactive to Calretinin of the Rat Hippocampus after Exposure to Cadmium

Cadmium ions (Cd²⁺) penetrate the blood-brain barrier and can, among other effects, influence intracellular calcium metabolism, leading to neurodegeneration. In the presented work, we estimated the effect of Cd²⁺ on the expression of calretinin in the neurons of the rat hippocampus and analyzed the reverse effect of freshly pressed beetroot/carrot juice in this context. In the 12-week lasting experiment, 32 8-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n = 8): the control group (C) received pure tap water; the Cd group (Cd)-received Cd²⁺ dissolved in tap water (5 mg Cd²⁺/kg b.w.); and two groups received beetroot/carrot juice: the BCJ group was administered only juice, and the Cd + BCJ group received juice with the addition of Cd²⁺ (5 mg Cd²⁺/kg b.w.). The exposition to low doses of Cd²⁺ caused a significant decrease in calretinin-immunoreactive (Cr-IR) neurons compared to the non-exposed groups. Moreover, the addition of Cd²⁺ to tap water reduced the numbers and length of Cr-IR nerve fibers. The negative effect of Cd²⁺ was significantly attenuated by the simultaneous supplementation of beetroot/carrot juice (Cd + BCJ). The study showed that the bioactive compounds in the beetroot/carrot juice can modulate Ca²⁺ levels in neurons, and thus, potentially act as a neuroprotective factor against neuronal damage.

A comprehensive review of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) bioactive components in the food and pharmaceutical industries

Beetroot is rich in various bioactive phytochemicals, which are beneficial for human health and exert protective effects against several disease conditions like cancer, atherosclerosis, etc. Beetroot has various therapeutic applications, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, and analgesic functions. Besides the pharmacological effects, food industries are trying to preserve beetroots or their phytochemicals using various food preservation methods, including drying and freezing, to preserve their antioxidant capacity. Beetroot is a functional food due to valuable active components such as minerals, amino acids, phenolic acid, flavonoid, betaxanthin, and betacyanin. Due to its stability, nontoxic and non-carcinogenic and nonpoisonous capabilities, beetroot has been used as an additive or preservative in food processing. Beetroot and its bioactive compounds are well reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, antimicrobial, antiviral, etc. In this review, we provided updated details on (i) food processing, preservation and colorant methods using beetroot and its phytochemicals, (ii) synthesis and development of several nanoparticles using beetroot and its bioactive compounds against various diseases, (iii) the role of beetroot and its phytochemicals under disease conditions with molecular mechanisms. We have also discussed the role of other phytochemicals in beetroot and their health benefits. Recent technologies in food processing are also updated. We also addressed on molecular docking-assisted biological activity and screening for bioactive chemicals. Additionally, the role of betalain from different sources and its therapeutic effects have been listed. To the best of our knowledge, little or no work has been carried out on the impact of beetroot and its nanoformulation strategies for phytocompounds on antimicrobial, antiviral effects, etc. Moreover, epigenetic alterations caused by phytocompounds of beetroot under several diseases were not reported much. Thus, extensive research must be carried out to understand the molecular effects of beetroot in the near future.

Securidaca inappendiculata Polyphenol Rich Extract Counteracts Cognitive Deficits, Neuropathy, Neuroinflammation and Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Encephalopathic Rats via p38 MAPK/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathways

Diabetic encephalopathy is one of the serious emerging complication of diabetes. Securidaca inappendiculata is an important medicinal plant with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects of S. inappendiculata polyphenol rich extract (SiPE) against diabetic encephalopathy in rats and elucidated the potential mechanisms of action. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was induced using high fructose solution/intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and the diabetic rats were treated with SiPE (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Learning and memory functions were assessed using the Morris water and Y maze tests, depressive behaviour was evaluated using forced swimming and open field tests, while neuropathic pain assessment was assessed using hot plate, tail immersion and formalin tests. After the experiments, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), oxidative stress biomarkers and proinflammatory cytokines, caspase-3 and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NF-κB) were determined by ELISA kits. In addition, the expression levels of p38, phospho-p38 (p-p38), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by western blot analyses. The results indicated that SiPE administration significantly lowered blood glucose level, attenuated body weight loss, thermal/chemical hyperalgesia, improved behavioural deficit in the Morris water maze, Y maze test and reduced depressive-like behaviours. Furthermore, SiPE reduced AChE, caspase-3, NF-κB, malonaldehyde malondialdehyde levels and simultaneously increased antioxidant enzymes activity in the brain tissues of diabetic rats. SiPE administration also significantly suppressed p38 MAPK pathway and upregulated the Nrf2 pathway. The findings suggested that SiPE exerted antidiabetic encephalopathy effects via modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation.

Effects of berberine on cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase activities, and antioxidant status in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats

OBJECTIVES

Several studies had been conducted to examine the link between diabetes and diabetes encephalopathy. This study was conducted to examine the potency of berberine (BER) on the restoration of impaired neurochemicals in the brain of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Wistar rats.

METHODS

Fifty-six (56) adult rats weighing between 200 and 230 g were randomly divided into seven groups (n=8) as follows; Group I is normal control; Groups II and III were normal rats treated with 50 and 100 mg/kg respectively; Group IV-VII were STZ-induced rats, but Groups V-VII were treated with acarbose (25 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of BER, respectively.

RESULTS

The result of the study showed that untreated STZ-induced diabetic rats have increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities, and malonylaldehyde (MDA) level, with concomitant decrease of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, and glutathione (GSH) level. However, daily treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg BER and ACA significantly reversed these effects.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study clearly indicated that BER possesses neuro-protective and antioxidative potentials and normalize neurochemical impairment distort by diabetes.

Citrus spp. essential oils improve behavioral pattern, repressed cholinesterases and monoamine oxidase activities, and production of reactive species in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) model of Alzheimer's Disease

Much emphasis has been placed on the biological activities of citrus peel's essential oils (CPEOs) against human ailments. This study investigated the effect of Citrus limon and Citrus reticulata peel's essential oils (EOs) on behavioral and neurochemical imbalance in transgenic and Harwish (Wild) fruit flies. Flies were divided into seven groups comprising of the control and those that were fed with 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 µg/ml of the dietary inclusions of study CPEOs for 7 days. Thereafter, behavioral profile was examined using lethality response and negative geotaxis assays. Effect of the EOs on cholinesterase and monoamine oxidase (MAO) activities, and antioxidative parameters were determined. The result showed a significant improvement of behavioral pattern and biochemical parameters of the flies fed with studied CPEOs inclusive diets. Conclusively, both EOs exert neuroprotective capability by reducing cholinesterases and monoamine activities, and also prevent oxidative stress, which are implicated in neuronal dysfunction in humans. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: With the growing increase in the search for safer alternatives, having no side effects, for the management of neurodegenerative diseases, a large proportion of the populace is beginning to find solace in the use of natural products. Also, the wide array of similarities between the humans and the dipteran insects, fruit flies is a perfect organism for the study of neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, this study presents the neuroprotective potentials of lemon and tangerine peels-derived EOs, and the possibility of their exploration as neuroactive agents and alternative in the management of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Thymus vulgaris Essential Oil Protects Zebrafish against Cognitive Dysfunction by Regulating Cholinergic and Antioxidants Systems

Thymus vulgaris L. is an aromatic herb used for medicinal purposes such as antimicrobial, spasmolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antitumor, and may have beneficial effects in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The present study aimed to investigate whether Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil enhances cognitive function via the action on cholinergic neurons using scopolamine (Sco)-induced zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of memory impairments. Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil (TEO, 25, 150, and 300 µL/L) was administered by immersion to zebrafish once daily for 13 days, whereas memory impairment was induced by Sco (100 μM), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, delivered 30 min before behavioral tests. Spatial memory was assessed using the Y-maze test and novel object recognition test (NOR). Anxiety and depression were measured in the novel tank diving test (NTT). Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to study the phytochemical composition of TEO. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and oxidative stress response in the brain of zebrafish were determined. TEO ameliorated Sco-induced increasing of AChE activity, amnesia, anxiety, and reduced the brain antioxidant capacity. These results suggest that TEO may have preventive and/or therapeutic potentials in the management of memory deficits and brain oxidative stress in zebrafish with amnesia.