Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Psychiatric and Neurological Disorders

2007 ◽  
pp. 119-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahin Akhondzadeh
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Herbal Medicines

The Relevance of Herbal Treatments for Psychiatric Practice

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry Walter ◽  
Joseph M. Rey
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Valeriana Officinalis ◽  
Gingko Biloba ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Efficacy Criteria ◽  
Western Herbal Medicine

Objective: The aim of this paper is to inform psychiatrists about the basic priniciples, terminology, schools of thought, efficacy, safety and regulatory issues regarding herbal treatments for mental illness. Method: Information was obtained by computerised and manual searching of medical and botanical data bases, and by discussions with experts in herbal medicine and regulatory aspects of the pharmaceutical industry. Results: Herbal medicines are commonly used in developed and developing countries for psychiatric illness. The main schools of herbal medicine in Australia are Western herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and ‘Ayurveda’ (Indian herbal medicine). Herbs used for psychiatric or neurological disorders are termed ‘nervines’. Three nervines which have attracted considerable attention recently are St John's Wort, Gingko biloba and Valeriana officinalis. In Australia, most herbal drugs are classed as ‘listed drugs’ which are required to satisfy less rigorous safety and efficacy criteria than ‘registered drugs’. The popularity of herbal remedies has a number of clinical and research implications for psychiatry. Conclusions: Psychiatrists should not endorse treatments that are unsupported by sound research, nor remain ignorant about alternative approaches to mental illness. The extent of use of herbal treatments for mental illness suggests that psychiatrists should become more knowledgeable about developments in this area.

scholarly journals Astragaloside IV Supplementation Promotes A Neuroprotective Effect in Experimental Models of Neurological Disorders: A Systematic Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 648-665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ianara M. Costa ◽  
Francisca O.V. Lima ◽  
Luciana C.B. Fernandes ◽  
Bianca Norrara ◽  
Francisca I. Neta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Neuroprotective Effect ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Motor Deficits ◽  
Antioxidant Systems ◽  
Astragaloside Iv ◽  
Chinese Medicinal Herb

Background: Neurological disorders constitute a growing worldwide concern due to the progressive aging of the population and the risky behavior they represent. Herbal medicines have scientific relevance in the treatment of these pathologies. One of these substances, Astragaloside IV (AS-IV), is the main active compound present in the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bge, a Chinese medicinal herb with neuroprotective properties. Objective: In the present study we performed a systematic review that sought to comprehend the neuroprotective effect presented by AS-IV in experimental models of neurological disorders. Methods: This study is a systematic review, where an electronic search in United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), Scopus, Web of Science, Medline via Proquest and Periodicos Capes databases covering the years between 2007 and 2017, using “Astragaloside IV” and “Neurodegenerative diseases”; “Astragaloside IV” and “ Neurological disorders” as reference terms was made. Results: A total of 16 articles were identified, in which the efficacy of AS-IV was described in experimental models of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral ischemia and autoimmune encephalomyelitis, by improving motor deficits and/or neurochemical activity, especially antioxidant systems, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusion: The findings of the present study indicate that the administration of AS-IV can improve behavioral and neurochemical deficits largely due to its antioxidant, antiapoptotic and antiinflammatory properties, emerging as an alternative therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurological disorders.

scholarly journals Chinese Herbal Medicine Interventions in Neurological Disorder Therapeutics by Regulating Glutamate Signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 260-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Liu ◽  
Shan Wang ◽  
Jun Kan ◽  
Jingzhi Zhang ◽  
Lisa Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Herbal Medicine ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Glutamate Release ◽  
Herbal Medicines ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Chinese Herbal ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and its signaling is critical for excitatory synaptic transmission. The well-established glutamate system involves glutamate synthesis, presynaptic glutamate release, glutamate actions on the ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptors) and metabotropic glutamate receptors, and glutamate uptake by glutamate transporters. When the glutamate system becomes dysfunctional, it contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, epilepsy, and ischemic stroke. In this review, based on regulating glutamate signaling, we summarize the effects and underlying mechanisms of natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicines on neurological disorders. Natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicine can prevent the glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity via suppressing presynaptic glutamate release, decreasing ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors expression in the excitatory synapse, and promoting astroglial glutamate transporter expression to increase glutamate clearance from the synaptic cleft. However, some natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicine have the ability to restore the collapse of excitatory synapses by promoting presynaptic glutamate release and increasing ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors expression. These regulatory processes involve various signaling pathways, which lead to different mechanistic routes of protection against neurological disorders. Hence, our review addresses the underlying mechanisms of natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicines that regulate glutamate systems and serve as promising agents for the treatment of the above-mentioned neurological disorders.

Ultrastructural Effects of Acute Kepone Treatment in Rats

1976 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
pp. 286-287
Author(s):  
Richard L. Klein ◽  
Åsa K. Thureson-Klein ◽  
Harihara M. Mehendale
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Corn Oil ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Reproductive Capacity ◽  
Ultrastructural Changes ◽  
Lipid Deposition ◽  
Severe Toxicity ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Ether Anesthesia ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

KeponeR (decachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta[cd]pentalen-2-one) is an insecticide effective against ants and roaches. It can cause severe toxicity in fishes, birds, rodents and man. Prominent effects include hepatic lipid deposition and hypertrophy, impairment of reproductive capacity and neurological disorders. Mitochondrial oligomycin-sensitive Mg2+-ATPase is also inhibited. The present study is a preliminary investigation of tissue ultrastructural changes accompanying physiological signs of acute toxicity, which after two days treatment include: pronounced hypersensitivity and tremor, various degrees of anorexia and adipsia, and decreased weight gain.Three different series of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (Charles River or CD-I) were treated by intubation with Kepone in corn oil at a dose of 50 mg per kg for 3 successive days or at 200 ppm in food for 8 days. After ether anesthesia, rats were immediately perfused via a cannula in the left ventricle with 4% p-formaldehyde and 0.5% glutaraldehyde in Millonig's phosphate buffer at pH 7.2 for 20-30 min at 22°C.

Musical Anhedonia

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Sara E. Holm ◽  
Alexander Schmidt ◽  
Christoph J. Ploner
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nucleus Accumbens ◽  
Brain Damage ◽  
Parietal Cortex ◽  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Precise Information ◽  
Exact Localization ◽  
High Prevalence

Abstract. Some people, although they are perfectly healthy and happy, cannot enjoy music. These individuals have musical anhedonia, a condition which can be congenital or may occur after focal brain damage. To date, only a few cases of acquired musical anhedonia have been reported in the literature with lesions of the temporo-parietal cortex being particularly important. Even less literature exists on congenital musical anhedonia, in which impaired connectivity of temporal brain regions with the Nucleus accumbens is implicated. Nonetheless, there is no precise information on the prevalence, causes or exact localization of both congenital and acquired musical anhedonia. However, the frequent involvement of temporo-parietal brain regions in neurological disorders such as stroke suggest the possibility of a high prevalence of this disorder, which leads to a considerable reduction in the quality of life.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document