Mechanism of the Effect of Scopolamine on Breast Cancer: Determination by Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics

BACKGROUND

To a certain extent, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based anesthesia has replaced opiate administration in recent years. Preliminary drug screening has revealed that scopolamine may affect breast cancer (BC) metastasis by an unknown mechanism.

METHODS

Network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) topological analysis were implemented to identify the core genes linking scopolamine and BC. The core genes were then subjected to gene expression profiling interactive analysis (GEPIA). The top ten pathways were detected by gene ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. The impact of immune infiltration on the core gene difference and survival analyses was then determined. Molecular docking was then performed on the core genes and the main active components.

RESULTS

Protein kinase 1 (AKT1), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), heat shock protein 90 alpha class A (HSP90AA1), caspase 3 (CASP3), and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1) were the key genes in the interaction between scopolamine and BC cells. The KEGG enrichment analysis disclosed that the top ten pathways significantly associated with the scopolamine response in BC included "protein glycosylation," "phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling," "mitogen- activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling" and others. The AKT1, EGFR, and especially the HSP90AA1 expression levels were correlated with survival in patients with BC. Immune infiltration also influenced the survival outcome. Molecular docking demonstrated that scopolamine bound and formed stable complexes with the protein products of all five aforementioned genes.

CONCLUSION

Scopolamine has multiple targets regulating BC cell function and may increase the risk of metastasis during treatment. Therefore, it should be preoperatively administered with caution to patients with BC.

Pharmacological Approach of Pistacia Vera Fruit to Assess Learning and Memory Potential in Chemically-Induced Memory Impairment in Mice

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to investigate the potential of Pistacia vera (P. vera) fruits in experimental memory impairments in mice.

MATERIAL & METHODS

Memory impairment was induced in Swiss Albino mice by scopolamine (0.4mg mg/kg. i.p). Animals were divided into five separate groups of six animals each, positive control group received carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) as vehicle, negative control group received scopolamine with vehicle, and standard group received donepezil (5mg/kg i.p) with Scopolamine. Ethanolic extract of P. vera (EEPV) at doses of 200mg/kg & 400mg/kg p.o were administered to group test1 & test 2 respectively along with scopolamine. Elevated plus maze (EPM), passive avoidance paradigms and morris water maze (MWM) were used as exteroceptive behavioral models to access learning and memory activity. Transfer latency, step down latency and escape latency parameters were evaluated plus maze, passive avoidance paradigm, morris water maze. Thereafter lipid peroxidation test, glutathione level and catalase activities were estimated in homogenized brain of mice.

RESULTS

Pretreatment of mice with EEPV (200mg/kg & 400mg/kg) significantly reduced scopolamine induced amnesia. The obtained data clearly revealed that there was increase in escape latency in MWM and also increase in step down latency in passive avoidance paradigm. Transfer latencey was found to be decrease in EPM and biochemical. Parameters were clearly satisfied the data as compared to negative control group which was indicative of cognitive improvement.

CONCLUSION

P. vera fruit extract demonstrated to improve cognitive process by enhancing memory in different experimental paradigm such as EPM, passive avoidance and MWM when administered orally. Hence it would be worthwhile to explore the potential of this plant in the management of memory disorders.

Substituted Aminobenzothiazole Derivatives of Tacrine: Synthesis and Study on Learning and Memory Impairment in Scopolamine-Induced Model of Amnesia in Rat

BACKGROUND

Currently, there is no conclusive cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and existing treatments mainly offer symptomatic relief. Dysfunction of the cholinergic system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. Tacrine (1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydroacridin-9-amine, III) was the first approved agent for the palliative therapy of AD but its use is associated with some complications. Development of novel multi target derivatives of Tacrine with lower complications is strongly warranted. In this study, new aminobenzothiazole (1-5, with many useful biological and pharmacological properties) analogues (IV-VIII) were synthesized by changing of amine moiety of III. Then, the effects of these new compounds on learning and memory impairment in scopolamine-induced model of amnesia were studied and the outcomes were compared with control and Tacrine groups in rat.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The rats received Tacrine or its derivatives (IV-VIII) i.p. for two weeks at a dose of 10 mg/kg. For induction of amnesia, scopolamine at a dose of 1 mg/kg was daily administered i.p. started on day-8 till the end of the study. Behavioral experiments including Y-maze, novel object recognition (discrimination) and passive avoidance paradigms were conducted at week 2.

RESULTS

Data analysis showed that some Tacrine derivatives, especially VII with 2-amino, 6-nitrobenzothiazole moiety, could markedly and significantly improve alternation score, discrimination ratio and step through latency compared to control and Tacrine groups.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that some of these derivatives (especially compounds VI and VII) are capable to mitigate learning and memory deficits in scopolamine-induced model of amnesia in rats and may have potential benefit in management of patients with AD.