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Natural medicines
Nihon Sh痮yaku Gakkai
Natural medicines

Nihon Sh痮yaku Gakkai

1340-3443

Natural medicines/Journal Natural medicines
正式出版
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    Psychopharmacological properties of an aqueous extract of Tetracarpidium conophorum Hutch. & Dalziel in mice

    Aderemi C. AladeokinSolomon Umukoro
    6页
    查看更多>>摘要：The extract of the nut of Tetracarpidium conophorum (TC), commonly known as African walnut, is widely used to relieve pain, increase sperm count, enhance sexual performance in males and as a nerve tonic in eth-nomedicine. This study describes the psychopharmacological properties of the aqueous extract of the nut of TC in mice. The spectrum of activities studied were the effects of TC on the duration of immobility in the forced swim test of the behavioural despair model of depression; prolongation of the duration of sleep produced by thiopentone; amphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour; and on pain episodes produced by acetic acid and by formalin. Orally administered TC (50-200 mg/kg) produced a significant and dose-related decrease in the duration of immobility in the forced swim test in mice. TC also exhibited analgesic property, as shown by its ability to reduce the frequency of abdominal constrictions induced by acetic acid and to inhibit the nociceptive responses produced by formalin. However, at the tested oral doses of 50-200 mg/kg, TC did not prolong the duration of sleep produced by thiopentone nor alter the pattern of the stereotyped behaviour induced by amphetamine. This investigation provides evidence that may support the ethnomedicinal applications of the extract of the nut of TC in the treatment of pain. The study also revealed that TC seems to demonstrate antidepressant-like activity, as evidenced by its ability to shorten the period of immobility in the forced swim test; however, further studies are necessary to clearly define the role of TC in depression.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Active components from Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) for protection of amyloid beta(25-35)-induced neuritic atrophy in cultured rat cortical neurons

    Yanjing BaiChihiro TohdaShu Zhu Masao HattoriKatsuko Komatsu...
    7页
    查看更多>>摘要：Not only neuronal death but also neuritic atrophy and synaptic loss underlie the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease as direct causes of the memory deficit. Extracts of Siberian ginseng (the rhizome of Eleutherococcus senticosus) were shown to have protective effects on the regeneration of neurites and the reconstruction of synapses in rat cultured cortical neurons damaged by amyloid beta (Abeta)(25-35), and eleutheroside B was one of the active constituents. In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of constituents was conducted to explore active components from Siberian ginseng which can protect against neuritic atrophy induced by Abeta(25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons. The ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water fractions from the methanol extract of Siberian ginseng showed protective effects against Abeta-induced neuritic atrophy. Twelve compounds were isolated from the active fractions and identified. Among them, eleutheroside B, eleutheroside E and isofraxidin showed obvious protective effects against Abeta(25-35)-induced atrophies of axons and dendrites at 1 and 10 muM.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Honokiol enhances adipocyte differentiation by potentiating insulin signaling in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

    Byung-Yoon ChaKagami DdaMasako SatoYoung-Sil Lee...
    7页
    查看更多>>摘要：Adipose tissue plays an essential role in energy homeostasis as a metabolic and endocrine organ. Accordingly, adipocytes are emerging as a major drug target for obesity and obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Dysfunction of enlarged adipocytes in obesity is involved in obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Adipocytokines, such as adiponectin released from small adipocytes, are able to prevent these disorders. In this study, we found that honokiol, an ingredient of Magnolia officinalis used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicines, enhanced adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Oil Red O staining showed that treatment with honokiol in the presence of insulin dose-dependently increased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipoyctes although its activity was weak compared with rosiglitazone. During adipocyte differentiation, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 (PPARgamma2) mRNA and PPARgamma target genes such as adipocyte protein 2 (aP2), adiponectin, and GLUT4 was induced by treatment with 10 muM honokiol. However, honokiol failed to show direct binding to the PPARgamma ligand-binding domain in vitro. In preadipocytes, treatment with honokiol in the presence of insulin increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 protein and Akt protein, early insulin signaling pathways related to adipocyte differentiation, compared with insulin-only treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that honokiol promotes adipocyte differentiation through increased expression of PPARgamma2 mRNA and potentiation of insulin signaling pathways such as the Ras/ERK1/2 and phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/ Akt signaling pathways.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Ferrearin C induces apoptosis via heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction in neuroblastoma

    Keiichi TabataTaketo UchiyamaYasuo Fujimoto Takashi SuzukiTatsuya Hayama...
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：We investigated the cytotoxicity of six neo-lignans (1-6), which are similar in structure to furano-cyclohexenone with an angular allyl group, in human neuroblastoma cell lines (IMR-32, LA-N-1, NB-39, SK-N-SH) and normal cells [human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDF)] using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Two neolignans, ferrearin C (1) and 2, showed significant cytotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells. Typical morphologic features of apoptosis were observed for the ferrearin-type neolignans using Hoechst 33342, and apoptotic cytoplasmic membrane inversion was also induced by ferrearin-type neolignans in IMR-32. Furthermore, a Proteome Profiler Array showed that the ferrearin-type neolignans induced the marked expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). In a western blot analysis, ferrearin C (1) increased the level of Bax and reduced the level ofsurvivin, indicating the activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL

    In vitro determination of the effect of Andrographis paniculata extracts and andrographolide on human hepatic cytochrome P450 activities

    Joon Wah MakPeter C. K. PookHui Meng ErChin Eng Ong...
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：We investigated the effects of Andrographis paniculata (AP) extracts and andrographolide on the catalytic activity of three human cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450 enzymes: CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. In vitro probe-based high performance liquid chromatography assays were developed to determine CYP2C9-dependent tolbutamide methylhydroxylation, CYP2D6-dependent dextromethorphan O-demethylation and CYP3A4-depen-dent testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activities in the presence and absence of AP extracts and andrographolide. Our results indicate that AP ethanol and methanol extracts inhibited CYP activities more potently than aqueous and hexane extracts across the three isoforms. Potent inhibitory effects were observed on CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 activities (K_i values below 20 mug/ml). Andrographolide was found to exclusively but weakly inhibit CYP3A4 activity. In conclusion, data presented in this study suggest that AP extractshave the potential to inhibit CYP isoforms in vitro. There was, however, variation in the potency of inhibition depending on the extracts and the isoforms investigated.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Antinociceptive effect of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. independent of anti-inflammatory activity of ellagic acid

    Marcus Vinicius Mariano NascimentoPablinny Moreira GaldinoIziara Ferreira FlorentinoBruno Leite Sampaio...
    98页
    查看更多>>摘要：This study was performed to determine the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of etha-nolic extract of Lafoensia pacari A. St.-Hil. (PEtExt) stem bark and its fractions using various animal models such as acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, formalin-induced pain and croton oil-induced ear edema tests. The PEtExt inhibited the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, reduced the pain reaction time on both phases of the formalin test and decreased the edema in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment with naloxone did not reverse the antinociceptive effect. Only the ethyl acetate fraction showed antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. Our results also showed that this extract contains compounds with analgesic action independent of anti-inflammatory activity.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Antioxidant and antiglycating activities of Salvia sahendica and its protective effect against oxidative stress in neuron-like PC 12 cells

    Fatemeh ShaerzadehAbolhassan AhmadianiMohammad Ali EsmaeiliNiloufar Ansari...
    11页
    查看更多>>摘要：Increased oxidative stress is widely accepted to be a factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we introduced Salvia sahendica as a protective agent in differentiated PC 12 cells, which are commonly considered to be a reliable model of neuronal cells. Our results demonstrated that S. sahendica has antioxidant and antiglycating properties in in vitro system and these properties are expanded into H_2O_2-induced model. S. sahendica inhibited H_2O_2-induced cell death in PC 12 cells. We further showed that this plant exerts its protective effect by increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase levels, reducing lipid peroxidation and upregulating hemoxygenase-1 and glutamylcysteine synthetase proteins. This study raises the possibility of developing S. sahendica as a potential neuroprotective agent.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Antinociceptive effects of methyl jasmonate in experimental animals

    Solomon UmukoroAbimbola S. Olugbemide
    5页
    查看更多>>摘要：Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a chemical compound that has been postulated to play a role in plant wound and pathogen responses. While the anti-inflammatory property of MJ has been reported in literature, no studies have been carried out to describe its role in the modulation of pain. Thus, this present investigation sought to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of MJ in animal models of pain. The antinociceptive activity of MJ (10-50 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) was screened using the acetic acid-induced writhing, tail immersion, formalin-induced paw licking and Randall-Selitto paw pressure tests in rodents. MJ demonstrated inhibitory activity against acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in mice. It further produced a significant suppression of the inflammatory pain associated with the second phase of the formalin test in mice. However, MJ did not inhibit the neurogenic pain associated with the first phase of the formalin test and also failed to alter the reaction time of mice to noxious heat in the tail immersion test. In the Randall-Selitto paw pressure test, MJ significantly prolonged the paw withdrawal latency in the inflamed hind paw but did not alter the pain response in the non-inflamed hind paw of rats. The acute toxicity test showed that MJ given i.p. was well tolerated by the animals, as no toxic symptoms or death were observed at a dose range of 100-300 mg/kg in mice. Behavioural changes (ataxia, sedation and hyperventilation) were only observed at higher doses of MJ (400 and 500 mg/kg). Taken together, these findings suggest that methyl jasmonate has antinociceptive activity and may serve as a therapeutic in the treatment of inflammatory pain.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Protective effect of Justicia gendarussa Burm.f. on carrageenan-induced inflammation

    V. VijiK. KripaA. HelenS. K. Kavitha...
    9页
    查看更多>>摘要：The present study focuses on the anti-inflammatory activity of Justicia gendarussa Burm.f. on an acute model of inflammation: the carrageenan-induced paw edema assay. Methanolic extract of J. gendarussa (JRM) roots at a dose of 100 mg/kg significantly inhibited edema formation 5 h after carrageenan induction. JRM inhibited carrageenan-elicited total cycloxygenase activity, 5-lipoxygenase and 15-lipoxygenase activities in blood mononuclear cells of rats, decreased neutrophil infiltration in paw tissue as shown by low myeloperoxidase activity, and also caused a 53% inhibition in cyclooxygenase-2 activity in paw tissue. Purification of JRM by liquid-liquid partitioning yielded an ethyl acetate fraction of JRM that showed interleukin-6 down-regulation potential and the ability to inhibit prostaglandin E2 production in vivo. The present investigation provides pharmacological evidence to support the folklore claim that J. gendarussa is an anti-inflammatory agent.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature

    Attenuating effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus in vincristine-induced painful neuropathy in rats

    Arunachalam MuthuramanNirmal Singh
    8页
    查看更多>>摘要：The present study was designed to investigate the attenuating potential of hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus in vincristine-induced neuropathic pain in rats. Vincristine (50 mug/kg, i.p. for 10 consecutive days) was administered to induce neuropathic pain in rats. Hot plate, plantar, Randall-Selitto and von Frey hair tests were performed to assess the degree of thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, respectively, at different time intervals, viz., 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 21 days. Tissue myeloperoxidase, superoxide anion and total calcium levels were determined after day 21to assess biochemical alterations. Histopathological evaluations were also performed. Hydroalcoholic extract of Acorus calamus (HAE-AC, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and pregabalin (10 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered for 14 consecutive days. Vincristine significantly induced peripheral neuropathic pain, manifested in thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia, along with rises in the levels of superoxide anion, total calcium and myeloperoxidase activity. Moreover, significant histological changes were also observed. HAE-AC attenuated vincristine-induced development of painful behavioural, biochemical and histological changes in a dose-dependent manner comparable to that of pregabalin, serving as positive control. Acorus calamus prevented vincristine-induced neuropathic pain, which may be attributed to its anti-oxidative,anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and calcium inhibitory actions, among others.
      原文链接:
    • NSTL
    • Springer Nature