Anticonvulsant Effects of Aerial Parts of Verbena officinalis Extract in Mice: Involvement of Benzodiazepine and Opioid Receptors

Ethnopharmacological Perspective for Treatment of Epilepsy: An Updated Review

Plants have been used as healing agents since humanity began. This review presents the plant profiles inhabiting the world regarding their traditional usage by various tribes/ethnic groups for the treatment of epilepsy. The bibliographic investigation was carried out by analyzing standard reference textbooks, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scopus, Medline, Web of Science, and PubMed databases. Search terms and keywords used for the search were epilepsy, medicinal plants for epilepsy, herbal remedies used in the treatment of epilepsy, and traditional antiepilepsy medication. This review article was prepared by including the biological names of plants/their parts/extracts/compounds/doses/models/results. Further, experimentally explored 15 potential medicinal plants have also been explored in detail. The present review was prepared by including 114 plants from 3 books, 83 research, and 59 review articles. This review indicates that the list of medicinal plants presented in this review might be useful to researchers for preliminary screening of potential antiepileptic agents.

Exercise Training and Verbena officinalis L. Affect Pre-Clinical and Histological Parameters

Verbena officinalis L. or vervain is an herbal medicine and dietary supplement used worldwide. It is used for antidepressant and anticonvulsant purposes, as well as to treat inflammatory disorders, skin burns, abrasions, and gastric diseases, among others. Here, we investigated the biochemical, antioxidant, and histopathological effects of vervain against chronic physical stress. Male Wistar rats were submitted to chronic physical training and oral administration of 200 mg/kg of extract for 7 weeks. Control animals were not treated with either stress or vervain. Body weight was monitored during the study. Liver, kidney, spleen, testis, epididymis, heart, skeletal muscle, and brain samples were collected. Blood cholesterol, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), bilirubin, and creatinine kinase (CREA), among others, were studied. Glutathione peroxidase (GPox) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) antioxidant activity was analyzed in the blood, liver, and kidney. Testosterone measurements were also performed on whole testis extracts. We found significant weight ratios differences in the epididymis, brain, and heart. Animals submitted to training showed hemorrhagic livers. Kidney histology was affected by both stress and vervain. Cell disruption and vacuolization were observed in the testes and epididymis of animals submitted to stress. Hematological and biochemical markers as CREA, LDH, TP, CKI, URCA, γGT, and glucose revealed statistically significantly differences. Additionally, the activity of glutathione peroxide (GPox) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the blood was also impacted. Both stress and vervain have significant in vivo effects. Infusions of vervain include phenylpropanoids, iridoids, verbenalin, hastatoside, and flavonoids, amongst others, which interact synergistically to produce the preclinical effects reported here.

Medicinal plants used in traditional Mayan medicine for the treatment of central nervous system disorders: An overview

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

For thousands of years, different cultural groups have used and transformed natural resources for medicinal purposes focused on psychological or neurological conditions. Some of these are recognized as central nervous system (CNS) disorders and diseases, whereas other ethnopsychiatric interpretations are explained in culture-specific terms. In traditional Mayan medicine, several herbs have been part of treatments and rituals focused on cultural and ethnomedical concepts.

AIM OF REVIEW

This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the medicinal plants used in Mesoamerica by traditional healers and Mayan groups to CNS disorders and associate the traditional use with demonstrated pharmacological evidence to establish a solid foundation for directing future research.

METHODS

A systematic search for primary sources of plant use reports for traditional CNS-related remedies of Mesoamerica were obtained from library catalogs, thesis and scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar; and Science Direct), and entered in a database with data analyzed in terms of the usage frequency, use by ethnic groups, plant endemism, and pharmacological investigation.

RESULTS

A total of 155 plants used for ethnopsychiatric conditions in Mesoamerica by Mayan groups were found, encompassing 127 native species. Of these, only 49 native species have reported in vitro or in vivo pharmacological analyses. The most commonly reported ethnopsychiatric conditions are related to anxiety, depression, memory loss, epilepsy, and insomnia. The extent of the scientific evidence available to understand the pharmacological application for their use against CNS disorders varied between different plant species, with the most prominent evidence shown by Annona cherimola, Justicia pectoralis, J. spicigera, Mimosa pudica, Persea americana, Petiveria alliacea, Piper amalago, Psidium guajava, Tagetes erecta and T. lucida.

CONCLUSION

Available pharmacological data suggest that different plant species used in traditional Mayan medicine may target the CNS, mainly related to GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine, or neuroprotective pathways. However, more research is required, given the limited data regarding mechanism of action at the preclinical in vivo level, identification of active compounds, scarce number of clinical studies, and the dearth of peer-reviewed studies.

Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Stachys lavandulifolia on Pentylenetetrazole-induced Seizures in Male Mice: The Role of GABAergic and Opioidergic Systems

Introduction

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Though there are several effective drugs for treating epilepsy, most drugs are associated with side effects and drug interactions. Stachys lavandulifolia used in Iranian traditional medicine has proven anti-anxiety and sedative properties. The current study aimed to evaluate the anticonvulsant effect of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifoliaon the Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced seizure in male mice and the role of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors.

Methods

This study was conducted on 100 male mice, randomly categorized into 10 groups: Normal Saline (NS), two diazepam groups (0.025 and 0.1 mg/kg), three S. lavandulifolia extract groups (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg), diazepam 0.025 mg/kg+S. lavandulifolia extract 50 mg/kg, and three groups that pretreated with NS, flumazenil, or naloxone, 5 min before injection of 200 mg/kg S. lavandulifolia extract. After 30 min, PTZ (80 mg/kg) was injected into animals, and seizure indices were evaluated.

Results

The S. lavandulifoliaextract attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose-dependent manner, and pretreatment with flumazenil reversed this effect. However, pretreatment with naloxone could not reverse this effect because seizure indices in the naloxone pretreated group were lower than that in the normal saline group. The combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifoliaextract decreased PTZ-induced seizures.

Conclusion

The results of our study showed the anticonvulsant properties of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia. These effects might be due to the impact of the components of this extract on the central benzodiazepine system.

Highlights

Hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose dependent manner.Pretreatment with flumazenil (blocker of benzodiazepines receptor) reversed anti-seizure effect of S. lavandulifolia extract.Combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifolia extract decreased PTZ-induced seizures.

Plain Language Summary

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders after stroke and is characterized by recurrent seizures due to abnormal excessive neural activity in the brain. Although there are many anticonvulsant drugs on the market, not all patients with epilepsy can be treated and one-third of patients suffer from recurring epilepsy despite using different antiepileptic drugs and more than 50% of them show side effects drugs during treatment. So, it is necessary to conduct further studies to develop more effective anti-epilepsy drugs with the minimum side effects. In recent years, plenty of studies have been conducted on medical plants, and S. lavandulifolia reported among the Iranian traditional medicine with antianxiety and sedative features. Some studies have mentioned the sedative and anti-inflammatory function of S. lavandulifolia, and its significant effects on anxiety have been approved comparable to diazepam. Overall, considering the anti-anxiety, analgesic, and sedative effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia, it might possess anti-convulsive effects, too. The purpose of the current study was designed to investigate whether the effect of intra peritoneal injection of hydroalcoholic extract of S. lavandulifolia on the PTZ-induced convulsion in male mice and assessed the role of benzodiazepine and opioid receptors. Results of this study demonstrated that S. lavandulifolia extract attenuated the PTZ-induced seizures in a dose dependent manner, and pretreatment with flumazenil (blocker of benzodiazepines receptor) reversed this effect. However, pretreatment with naloxone (Non-selective blocker of opioids receptor) could not reverse this effect but the combination of an ineffective dose of diazepam and S. lavandulifolia extract decreased PTZ-induced seizures, thus anti-epileptic effect of S. lavandulifolia mediated by benzodiazepine receptors.

Investigation of 1, 3, 4 Oxadiazole Derivative in PTZ-Induced Neurodegeneration: A Simulation and Molecular Approach

OBJECTIVE

The study investigated the effect 5-[(naphthalen-2-yloxy) methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiaszole2-thiol (B3) in animal model of acute epileptic shock.

METHODS

The pharmacokinetics profile of B3 was checked through SwissADME software. The binding affinities of B3, diazepam, and flumazenil (FLZ) were obtained through Auto Dock and PyRx. Post docking analysis and interpretation of hydrogen bonds were performed through Discovery Studio Visualizer 2016. Molecular dynamics simulations of three complexes were carried out through Desmond software package. B3 was then proceeded in PTZ-induced acute seizures models. Flumazenil was used in animal studies for elucidation of possible mechanism of B3. After behavioral studies, the animals were sacrificed, and the brain samples were isolated and stored in 4% formalin for molecular investigations including H and E staining, IHC staining and Elisa etc.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that B3 at 20 and 40 mg/kg prolonged the onset time of generalized seizures. B3 considerably increased the expression of protective glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase and reduced lipid peroxidation and inducible nitric oxide synthase (P < 0.001) in the cortex. B3 significantly suppressed (P < 0.01) the over expression of the inflammatory mediator tumor necrosis factor-α, whose up-regulation is reported in acute epileptic shocks.

CONCLUSION

Hence, it is concluded from the aforementioned results that B3 provides neuroprotective effects PTZ-induced acute epileptic model. FLZ pretreatment resulted in inhibition of the anticonvulsant effect of B3. B3 possesses anticonvulsant effect which may be mediated through GABAA mediated antiepileptic pathway.

Verbena officinalis (Common Vervain) - A Review on the Investigations of This Medicinally Important Plant Species

Verbena officinalis (common vervain) is a medicinal plant species widely distributed in the world and commonly used in folk medicine of different countries, including traditional Chinese medicine. Monographs on "Verbenae herba" have been included in the European Pharmacopoeia since 2008, and in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia since 1995. This work presents botanical characteristics of this species. It reviews the current knowledge of its chemical composition, which is a rich source mostly of iridoids, phenylpropanoid glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oil. A large part of this article summarizes traditional medicinal uses and professional pharmacological in vitro and in vivo studies that prove new important applications, e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective anticancer, analgesic, or anticonvulsant of verbena herb extracts and individual metabolites. Moreover, emphasis is put on the use of V. officinalis in the food and cosmetics industries, especially due to its antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and the presence of essential oil with an attractive fragrance composition. This paper also presents the state of biotechnological studies of this species.

Peucedanum ostruthium Inhibits E-Selectin and VCAM-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells through Interference with NF-κB Signaling

Twenty natural remedies traditionally used against different inflammatory diseases were probed for their potential to suppress the expression of the inflammatory markers E-selectin and VCAM-1 in a model system of IL-1 stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). One third of the tested extracts showed in vitro inhibitory effects comparable to the positive control oxozeaenol, an inhibitor of TAK1. Among them, the extract derived from the roots and rhizomes of Peucedanum ostruthium (i.e., Radix Imperatoriae), also known as masterwort, showed a pronounced and dose-dependent inhibitory effect. Reporter gene analysis demonstrated that inhibition takes place on the transcriptional level and involves the transcription factor NF-κB. A more detailed analysis revealed that the P. ostruthium extract (PO) affected the phosphorylation, degradation, and resynthesis of IκBα, the activation of IKKs, and the nuclear translocation of the NF-κB subunit RelA. Strikingly, early effects on this pathway were less affected as compared to later ones, suggesting that PO may act on mechanism(s) that are downstream of nuclear translocation. As the majority of cognate NF-κB inhibitors affect upstream events such as IKK2, these findings could indicate the existence of targetable signaling events at later stages of NF-κB activation.

Endogenous opiates and behavior: 2017

This paper is the fortieth consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2017 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).

Evaluating the Antidepressant Effect of Verbena officinalis L. (Vervain) Aqueous Extract in Adult Rats

Introduction:

The present study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effect of Verbena (V.) officinalis L. aqueous extract in adult female rats.

Methods:

The present study evaluated the antidepressant effect of V. officinalis L. aqueous (V AE) extract in female rats using the Forced-Swimming Test (FST), Light-Dark Box (LDB) test, and Open Field Test (OFT). The level of glycemia and histological analysis were also studied. The VAE [200 mg/kg Parenterally (PO)] was administered orally for 7 successive days in the separate groups of rats.

Results:

The oral administration of V. officinalis L. aqueous extract significantly decreased (P< 0.01) the immobility time in the FST, increased the time spent in the light area (LDB), and the number of entry into the central squares (OFT). Thus, the extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg significantly decreased the glycemia level (P<0.05) and suggested no harmful effect on brain histology.

Conclusion:

Verbena officinalis L. aqueous extract at a dose of 200 mg/kg could have an anti-depressant effect in adult rats.