scholarly journals The Antidepressant and Cognitive Improvement Activities of the Traditional Chinese HerbCistanche

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongfang Wang ◽  
Haizhen Wang ◽  
Li Gu

More than ten percent of people suffer from at least one episode of depression and related mental disorders in a lifetime, and depression and related mental disorders are one of the world’s greatest public health problems. A multiple system theory holds that dysregulation of the multiple systems underlies the pathogenesis of depression and related mental disorders, and new therapies based on the multiple system dysregulation theory are urgently needed. In this study, the antidepressant effect of decoction from herbCistanche deserticolaY.C.Ma andCistanche tubulosawas examined. HerbCistanchedecoction reduced the immobility period significantly in the mouse tail suspension test. Mice treated with herb decoction showed an improved ability of spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze test. Groups treated herb decoction displayed a downregulated monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity; the dopamine (DA) concentration in the brain was upregulated, indicating herbCistanchedecoction improved the nerve excitability; the serum concentration of corticosterone (CORT) was downregulated, showing that mice benefited from a reduced stress level. Hence, the antidepressant efficacy and mechanism of traditional Chinese herbCistanchewere explored in this study. HerbCistancheshowed a potential to be developed as a complementary and alternative therapy for depression.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng-Yong Jiang ◽  
Xiao-Yan Qin ◽  
Mi-Mi Yuan ◽  
Gui-Jiang Lu ◽  
Yong Cheng

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic mental disease that adversely affects human mood and cognition. Many first-line antidepressant drugs have high rates of partial responsiveness or nonresponsiveness with side effects, and finding more effective drugs for the treatment of depression is therefore urgently needed. THSG, a main active compound of the traditional Chinese herb Polygonum multiflorum, reportedly acts as a neuroprotective agent. This study aimed to illustrate whether THSG prevents depressive-like behaviors induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS) in an MDD mouse model. Our results demonstrated that the peripheral administration of different THSG doses (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, and 40 mg/kg) reversed the depressive-like behaviors in CRS mice as measured by the tail suspension test, forced swimming test, and open-field test. Further analyses suggested that THSG treatment reduced oxidative stress in both the central and peripheral nervous systems of CRS mice. In addition, heightened inflammatory responses, demonstrated by the increased expression of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), in hippocampal and prefrontal cortex tissues of CRS mice were inhibited by THSG administration. THSG also restored the diminished Akt signaling pathway in the brains of CRS mice. Moreover, our data suggest increased astrocyte proliferation and neurogenesis in the hippocampus of CRS mice after THSG treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrated an antidepressant effect of THSG in a mouse model of MDD for the first time, and oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways were determined to play roles in this effect.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingxuan Hu ◽  
Jinhuan Zhang ◽  
Liyu Hu ◽  
Haibo Yu ◽  
Jinping Xu

Art therapy, as a non-pharmacological medical complementary and alternative therapy, has been used as one of medical interventions with good clinical effects on mental disorders. However, systematically reviewed in detail in clinical situations is lacking. Here, we searched on PubMed for art therapy in an attempt to explore its theoretical basis, clinical applications, and future perspectives to summary its global pictures. Since drawings and paintings have been historically recognized as a useful part of therapeutic processes in art therapy, we focused on studies of art therapy which mainly includes painting and drawing as media. As a result, a total of 413 literature were identified. After carefully reading full articles, we found that art therapy has been gradually and successfully used for patients with mental disorders with positive outcomes, mainly reducing suffering from mental symptoms. These disorders mainly include depression disorders and anxiety, cognitive impairment and dementias, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, and autism. These findings suggest that art therapy can not only be served as an useful therapeutic method to assist patients to open up and share their feelings, views, and experiences, but also as an auxiliary treatment for diagnosing diseases to help medical specialists obtain complementary information different from conventional tests. We humbly believe that art therapy has great potential in clinical applications on mental disorders to be further explored.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Song ◽  
Yaohua Chen ◽  
Cheng Chen ◽  
Lili Chen ◽  
Oumei Cheng

Abstract Purpose and background Previous studies have suggested that promoting endogenous neurogenesis has great significance for the recovery of cognitive dysfunction caused by cerebral ischemia (CI). Pharmacological inhibition of GABAB receptor can enhance neurogenesis in adult healthy and depressed mice. In the study, we intended to investigate the effects of GABAB receptor antagonists on cognitive function and hippocampal neurogenesis in mice following CI. Methods Adult mice were subjected to bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) for 20 min to induce CI and treated with CGP52432 (antagonist of GABAB receptor, CGP, 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection) starting 24 h after CI. The Morris water maze test was performed to test spatial learning and memory at day 28. Immunofluorescence was applied to detect neurogenesis in the DG region at day 14 and 28. In in vitro experiments, cell proliferation was detected by CCK8 and immunofluorescence, and the expression of cAMP/CREB signaling pathway-related proteins was detected by ELISA assay and Western blot. Results CGP significantly improved spatial learning and memory disorders caused by CI, and it enhanced the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs), the number of immature neurons, and the differentiation from newborn cells to neurons. In vitro experiments further confirmed that CGP dose-dependently enhanced the cell viability of NSCs, and immunofluorescence staining showed that CGP promoted the proliferation of NSCs. In addition, treatment with CGP increased the expression of cAMP, PKA, and pCREB in cultured NSCs. Conclusion Inhibition of GABAB receptor can effectively promote hippocampal neurogenesis and improve spatial learning and memory in adult mice following CI.


Author(s):  
Hossein Omidi-Ardali ◽  
Abolfazl Ghasemi Badi ◽  
Elham Saghaei ◽  
Hossein Amini-Khoei

AbstractObjectivesPrevious studies have suggested antidepressant properties for modafinil; however, the underlying mechanisms mediating the antidepressant effect of modafinil have not been well recognized in clinical and animal studies. Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in the pathophysiology of depression. We attempted to investigate the possible role of NO in the antidepressant-like effect of modafinil in mouse forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST).MethodsThe antidepressant-like effect of modafinil (25, 50 and 75 mg/kg), alone and in combination with l-arginine, l-arg, (100 mg/kg) and NG-l-arginine methyl ester, l-NAME (5 mg/kg), was evaluated using FST and TST. Following behavioral tests, the hippocampi were dissected out to measure nitrite levels.ResultsFindings suggested that administration of modafinil at doses of 50 and 75 mg/kg significantly reduced immobility time in the FST and TST. Furthermore, administration of l-arg and l-NAME increased and decreased, respectively, the immobility time in the FST and TST. We showed that co-administration of a sub-effective dose of modafinil (25 mg/kg) plus l-NAME potentiated the antidepressant-like effect of the sub-effective dose of modafinil. In addition, co-treatment of an effective dose of modafinil (75 mg/kg) with l-arg attenuated the antidepressant-like effect of the effective dose of modafinil. We showed that the antidepressant-like effect of modafinil is associated with decreased nitrite levels in the hippocampus.ConclusionsOur findings for the first time support that the modulation of NO, partially at least, is involved in the antidepressant-like effect of modafinil in mouse FST and TST.


Author(s):  
Ajoy Borah ◽  
Binita Singha ◽  
Swopna Phukan

Objective: Depression is a major psychiatric disorder affecting nearly 350 million people worldwide and imposes a substantial health burden on the society. Ceftriaxone has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in animals. It has also undergone trials as a treatment option for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This study was therefore undertaken to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of ceftriaxone in mice.Methods: Ceftriaxone was administered at three different doses (0.130, 0.195 and 0.260g/kg) to Swiss albino mice of either sex by intra peritoneal (i. p.) route. The period of immobility in control and drug-treated mice were recorded in forced swimming test (FST) and tail suspension test (TST). The antidepressant effect of ceftriaxone indicated by the decrease in duration of immobility was compared to that of fluoxetine (0.020 g/kg, i. p.).Results: Ceftriaxone decreased the duration of immobility in mice. It showed a significant dose-dependent antidepressant effect. The antidepressant effect of 0.260g/kg of ceftriaxone was comparable to that of fluoxetine in the TST but not in the FST.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate antidepressant activity of Ceftriaxone. The study shows that ceftriaxone has additional action on the central nervous system other than neuroprotection. Ceftriaxone therapy in cases of encephalomeningitis and in various cases of hemorrhages in the brain can, therefore, prevent the development of depression in future


2020 ◽  
pp. 58-60
Author(s):  
R. Mangala Devi ◽  
R. Sarojini ◽  
S. Vasanth

Background: Depression is a common psychiatric disorder. Drug therapy is the cornerstone in the management of depression. Anti-depressants are associated with many unwanted side-effects. Thus, various herbal products have been tried. The advantages of herbal treatments include safety, cheap and acceptability due to their traditional values. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anti-depressant activity of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) in albino mice and to compare with Imipramine. Methods: 30 Swiss albino male mice weighing around 25-30 g were divided into 5 groups (n=6). Group I (Control) mice were given normal feed and water, Group II (Standard) received 20 mg/kg T. Imipramine orally, Group III (Test-1) received 5 mg/kg aqueous extract of C. citratus (lemon grass) orally and Group IV (Test-2) received 10 mg/kg C. citratus (lemon grass) orally, and Group V (Test-3) received both T. Imipramine (10 mg/kg) and C. citratus (10 mg/kg) orally. Duration of immobility was observed for last 4 mins of total 6 mins period in groups 1-5 by tail suspension test on 1st, 8th and 15th day.Results: Duration of immobility recorded in seconds was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test Conclusion: Lemon grass has a significant antidepressant effect. Combined effect of lemon grass at 10 mg/kg and imipramine 10 mg/kg is not synergistic.


Author(s):  
Chiranjeevi Bonda ◽  
Sudhir Pawar ◽  
Jaisen Lokhande

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the antidepressant effect of opioid analgesic tramadol using forced swim test and tail suspension test models.Methods: The antidepressant effect was assessed by recording the immobility time in Forced swim test (FST) and Tail suspension test (TST). The mice were randomly divided into five groups. Mice belonging to group I was given normal saline (0.1ml/kg) which acted as control. Group II received imipramine (15mg/kg) considered as the standard drug tramadol was given in graded dose (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) to mice of groups III, IV, V respectively. All drugs were administered intraperitoneally for seven successive days; test was done on 7th day.Results: Tramadol and Imipramine showed antidepressant activity when compared to control. There is dose dependent increase in antidepressant activity of tramadol. The antidepressant activity of imipramine was significantly (P<0.05) more than tramadol at dose 10 and 20 mg/kg but antidepressant activity with tramadol 40mg/kg was comparable to imipramine treated mice.Conclusions: The results of this study indicated the presence of antidepressant activity of tramadol at 40mg/kg.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 135-139
Author(s):  
Zeba Waheed ◽  
Ram Krishna Ghosh ◽  
Aniruddha Banerjee

Dermatophytes, the most common causative agents, are assuming high significance in developing countries like India. These organisms metabolise keratin and cause a range of pathologic clinical presentations, including tinea pedis, tinea corporis, tinea cruris, etc. Although usually painless and superficial, these fungi can behave in an invasive manner, causing deeper and disseminated infection and should not be neglected. The lesions may become widespread and may have significant negative social, psychological, and occupational health effects, and can compromise the quality of life significantly. The recent prevalence of dermatophytosis in India ranges from 36.6-78.4%. Currently, dermatologists across India are inundated with cases of dermatophytosis presenting with unusual large lesions, ring within ring lesions, multiple site lesions (tinea cruris et corporis), and corticosteroid modified lesions, making diagnosis a difficult bet. 1 First line of therapy has always been a topical agent; while in resistance of the topical agents next preferred treatment are the oral therapies of antifungal agents (Ketoconazole, Terbinafine, Fluconazole and Itraconazole). However complementary and alternative therapy has also shown the significant results in control of growth of these dermatophytes. Homoeopathy has always been a safe and cost effective treatment in cases of dermatophyte infections.2 The present case report of a 31 years old Muslim female, Sepia officinalis 1M and Sulphur (30C and 200C) have shown marked improvement in the reduction of the lesion. Key words: Tinea corporis, homoeopathy, totality of symptoms, repertorisation.


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