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Shi L, Luo J, Wei X, Xu X, Tu L. The protective role of ginsenoside Rg3 in heart diseases and mental disorders. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1327033. [PMID: 38469409 PMCID: PMC10926849 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1327033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Ginsenoside Rg3, a compound derived from Panax ginseng C. A. Mey., is increasingly recognized for its wide range of pharmacological effects. Under the worldwide healthcare challenges posed by heart diseases, Rg3 stands out as a key subject in modern research on Chinese herbal medicine, offering a novel approach to therapy. Mental illnesses are significant contributors to global disease mortality, and there is a well-established correlation between cardiac and psychiatric conditions. This connection is primarily due to dysfunctions in the sympathetic-adrenomedullary system (SAM), the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, inflammation, oxidative stress, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor impairment. This review provides an in-depth analysis of Rg3's therapeutic benefits and its pharmacological actions in treating cardiac and mental health disorders respectively. Highlighting its potential for the management of these conditions, Rg3 emerges as a promising, multifunctional therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Shi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinlan Luo
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiupan Wei
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xizhen Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
- Division of Cardiology and Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ling Tu
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China
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Jensen KHR, Urdanibia-Centelles O, Dam VH, Köhler-Forsberg K, Frokjaer VG, Knudsen GM, Jørgensen MB, Ip CT. EEG abnormalities are not associated with poor antidepressant treatment outcome - A NeuroPharm study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2024; 79:59-65. [PMID: 38128462 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
EEG brain abnormalities, such as slowing and isolated epileptiform discharges (IEDs), has previously been associated with non-response to antidepressant treatment with escitalopram and venlafaxine, suggesting a potential need for treatment with anticonvulsant property in some patients. The current study aims to replicate the reported association of EEG abnormality and treatment outcomes in an open-label trial of escitalopram for major depressive disorder (MDD) and explore its relationship to mood and cognition. Pretreatment, 6 min eyes-closed resting-state 256-channel EEG was recorded in 91 patients with MDD (age 18-57) who were treated with 10-20 mg escitalopram for 12 weeks; patients could switch to duloxetine after four weeks. A certified clinical neurophysiologist rated the EEGs. IED and EEG slowing was seen in 13.2%, and in 6.6% there were findings with unclear significance (i.e., Wicket spikes and theta activity). We saw no group-difference in remission or response rates after 8 and 12 weeks of treatment or switching to duloxetine. Patients with EEG abnormalities had higher pretreatment mood disturbances driven by greater anger (p=.039) and poorer verbal memory (p=.012). However, EEG abnormality was not associated with improved mood or verbal memory after treatment. Our findings should be interpreted in light of the rarity of EEG abnormalities and the sample size. While we cannot confirm that EEG abnormalities are associated with non-response to treatment, including escitalopram, abnormal EEG activity is associated with poor mood and verbal memory. The clinical utility of EEG abnormality in antidepressant treatment selection needs careful evaluation before deciding if useful for clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian H Reveles Jensen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Olalla Urdanibia-Centelles
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibeke H Dam
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristin Köhler-Forsberg
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vibe G Frokjaer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
| | - Martin B Jørgensen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric Centre Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Cheng T Ip
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Center for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
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Johansen A, Armand S, Plavén-Sigray P, Nasser A, Ozenne B, Petersen IN, Keller SH, Madsen J, Beliveau V, Møller K, Vassilieva A, Langley C, Svarer C, Stenbæk DS, Sahakian BJ, Knudsen GM. Effects of escitalopram on synaptic density in the healthy human brain: a randomized controlled trial. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:4272-4279. [PMID: 37814129 PMCID: PMC10827655 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02285-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are widely used for treating neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the exact mechanism of action and why effects can take several weeks to manifest is not clear. The hypothesis of neuroplasticity is supported by preclinical studies, but the evidence in humans is limited. Here, we investigate the effects of the SSRI escitalopram on presynaptic density as a proxy for synaptic plasticity. In a double-blind placebo-controlled study (NCT04239339), 32 healthy participants with no history of psychiatric or cognitive disorders were randomized to receive daily oral dosing of either 20 mg escitalopram (n = 17) or a placebo (n = 15). After an intervention period of 3-5 weeks, participants underwent a [11C]UCB-J PET scan (29 with full arterial input function) to quantify synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) density in the hippocampus and the neocortex. Whereas we find no statistically significant group difference in SV2A binding after an average of 29 (range: 24-38) days of intervention, our secondary analyses show a time-dependent effect of escitalopram on cerebral SV2A binding with positive associations between [11C]UCB-J binding and duration of escitalopram intervention. Our findings suggest that brain synaptic plasticity evolves over 3-5 weeks in healthy humans following daily intake of escitalopram. This is the first in vivo evidence to support the hypothesis of neuroplasticity as a mechanism of action for SSRIs in humans and it offers a plausible biological explanation for the delayed treatment response commonly observed in patients treated with SSRIs. While replication is warranted, these results have important implications for the design of future clinical studies investigating the neurobiological effects of SSRIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Johansen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sophia Armand
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Pontus Plavén-Sigray
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Arafat Nasser
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Brice Ozenne
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Public Health, Section of Biostatistics, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida N Petersen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sune H Keller
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jacob Madsen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Vincent Beliveau
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Kirsten Møller
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Vassilieva
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neuroanaesthesiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Claus Svarer
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dea S Stenbæk
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Gitte M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Witkin JM, Golani LK, Smith JL. Clinical pharmacological innovation in the treatment of depression. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023; 16:349-362. [PMID: 37000975 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2198703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Deficiencies in standard of care antidepressants are driving novel drug discovery. A new age of antidepressant medications has emerged with the introduction of rapid-acting antidepressants with efficacy in treatment-resistant patients. AREAS COVERED The newly approved medicines and those in clinical development for major depressive disorder (MDD) are documented in this scoping review of newly approved and emerging antidepressants. Compounds are evaluated for clinical efficacy, tolerability, and safety and compared to those of standard of care medicines. EXPERT OPINION A new age of antidepressant discovery relies heavily on glutamatergic mechanisms. New medicines based upon the model of ketamine have been delivered and are in clinical development. Rapid onset and the ability to impact treatment-resistant depression, raises the question of the best first-line medicines for patients. Drugs with improvements in tolerability are being investigated (e.g. mGlu2/3 receptor antagonists, AMPA receptor potentiators, and novel NMDA receptor modulators). Multiple companies are working toward the identification of novel psychedelic drugs where the requirement for psychedelic activity is not fully known. Gaps still exist - methods for matching patients with specific medicines are needed, and medicines for the prevention of MDD and its disease progression need research attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M Witkin
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Departments of Neuroscience and Trauma Research, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN USA
| | - Lalit K Golani
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi L Smith
- Laboratory of Antiepileptic Drug Discovery, Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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