Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) on Stress and the Stress-Related Neuropsychiatric Disorders Anxiety, Depression, and Insomnia

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex B. Speers ◽  
Kadine A. Cabey ◽  
Amala Soumyanath ◽  
Kirsten M. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Withania Somnifera ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Background: Withania somnifera (WS), also known as Ashwagandha, is commonly used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems. WS has seen an increase in public use worldwide due to its reputation as an adaptogen. This popularity has elicited increased scientific study of its biological effects, including a potential application for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of preclinical and clinical studies examining the neuropsychiatric effects of WS, specifically its application in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Methods: Reports of human trials and animal studies of WS were collected primarily from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results: WS root and leaf extracts exhibited noteworthy anti-stress and anti-anxiety activity in animal and human studies. WS also improved symptoms of depression and insomnia, though fewer studies investigated these applications. WS may alleviate these conditions predominantly through modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal medullary axes, as well as through GABAergic and serotonergic pathways. While some studies link specific withanolide components to its neuropsychiatric benefits, there is evidence for the presence of additional yet unidentified active compounds in WS. Conclusion: While benefits were seen in the reviewed studies, significant variability in the WS extracts examined prevents a consensus on the optimum WS preparation or dosage from treating neuropsychiatric conditions. WS generally appears safe for human use; however, it will be important to investigate potential herb-drug interactions involving WS if used alongside pharmaceutical interventions. Further elucidation of active compounds of WS is also needed.

Phytochemicals targeting oxidative stress, interconnected neuroinflammatory and neuroapoptotic pathways following radiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sajad Fakhri ◽  
Sana Piri ◽  
Seyed Zachariah Moradi ◽  
Haroon Khan
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
The Public ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Background: Withania somnifera (WS), also known as Ashwagandha, is commonly used in Ayurveda and other traditional medicine systems. WS has seen growing, worldwide use by the public due to its reputation as an adaptogen. This popularity has elicited increased scientific study of its biological effects, including a potential application for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Objective: This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of preclinical and clinical studies examining the neuropsychiatric effects of WS, specifically its application in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. Methods: Reports of human trials and animal studies of WS were collected primarily from the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Results : WS root and leaf extracts exhibited noteworthy anti-stress and anti-anxiety activity in animal and human studies. WS also improved symptoms of depression and insomnia, though fewer studies investigated these applications. WS may alleviate these conditions predominantly through modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenal medullary axes, as well as through GABAergic and serotonergic pathways. While some studies link specific withanolide components to its neuropsychiatric benefits, there is evidence for the presence of additional, yet unidentified, active compounds in WS. Conclusion: While benefits were seen in the reviewed studies, significant variability in the WS extracts examined prevents a consensus on the optimum WS preparation or dosage to treat neuropsychiatric conditions. WS appears generally safe for human use; however, it will be important to investigate potential herb-drug interactions involving WS if used alongside pharmaceutical interventions. Further elucidation of active compounds of WS is also needed.

scholarly journals Pharmacognostic and Nootropic Aspects of Withania Somnifera: A Potential Herbal Drug as Memory Enhancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1075-1081
Author(s):  
Minakshee G. Nimbalwar
Keyword(s):  
Withania Somnifera ◽  
Indian Subcontinent ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Herbal Drug ◽  
Therapeutic Applications ◽  
International Agencies ◽  
Memory Enhancer ◽  
Anxiety Depression ◽  
The Brain

Abstract: Withania somnifera is a well-known herbal drug commonly used in India and Indian subcontinent. It contains a spectrum of diverse phytoconstituents that are responsible for number of significant biological effects. Various parts of plants especially roots are rich in source of active phytoconstituents. In the current COVID-19 situation, various national and international agencies are suggesting the use of plant for increasing immunity as well as memory booster. The drug is mainly used in the management of brain related disorders such as anxiety, depression, stress, etc. The mainly used as memory enhancer as it increases the neurogenesis process in the brain. In present paper, we have covered the pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, and therapeutic applications of the plant related to the brain. Keywords: Withania somnifera; Memory enhancer; Roots; Stress.

SPECIAL PROBLEMS IN TOXICITY TESTING OF LONG ACTING DEPOT CONTRACEPTIVES

1974 ◽  
Vol 77 (1_Suppla) ◽  
pp. S315-S354 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Neumann ◽  
R. von Berswordt-Wallrabe ◽  
W. Elger ◽  
K.-J. Gräf ◽  
S. H. Hasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Effects ◽  
Histological Finding ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Prolactin Secretion ◽  
List Type ◽  
Human Species ◽  
Prolactin Plasma Level ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Long Acting ◽  
Reproductive Processes

ABSTRACT Two types of so-called "depot contraceptives", long-acting steroids which are of interest for human use, were studied in animals. Norethisterone oenanthate, mainly gestagenic in the human and other species, turned out to be predominantly oestrogenic in rats. This oestrogenicity caused indirectly, via an enhanced hypophysial prolactin secretion, the well-known hypophysial and mammary tumours in rats. Another synthetic gestagen, 4,6-dichloro- 17- acetoxy- 16α-methyl-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione, which might be considered in its biological actions similar to preparations containing chlormadinone acetate or medroxy-progesterone acetate, induced no signs of oestrogenicity in dogs. It is surmised that its gestagenic influence indirectly, and probaby, via an enhanced hypophysial prolactin secretion caused "mammary nodules" in this "non-rodent" species. These studies have born out mainly two facts: A synthetic steroid, norethisterone oenanthate, exerted different biological effects in different species: it was a gestagen in the rabbit, whereas in rats, its predominant influence was oestrogenic. The hypophysial prolactin secretion was enhanced in various species by different mechanisms: in rats, the oestrogenicity caused an increased prolactin plasma level, whereas in dogs, a gestagen with obviously no inherent oestrogenicity, 4,6-dichloro-17-acetoxy-16α-methyl-4,6-pregnadiene-3,20-dione, converted the histological appearance of the anterior pituitary into a condition with a greatly increased number of eosinophils. This histological finding was interpreted as an indicator for a hypersecretion of prolactin. Hence, animal work with "gestagens" has only limited predictive value with respect to their possible effects in the human species. Therefore, inflexible recommendations are not helpful in solving the safety problem of long-acting steroids which affect primarily reproductive processes.

scholarly journals Magnets and self-retractable wire for endoscopic septotomies: From concept to first-in-human use.

Endoscopy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Huberland ◽  
Ricardo Rio Tinto ◽  
Sonia Dugardeyn ◽  
Nicolas Cauche ◽  
Cécilia Delattre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Unmet Needs ◽  
Previous Knowledge ◽  
Esophageal Diverticulum ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Single Procedure ◽  
Compression Anastomosis ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Epiphrenic Esophageal Diverticulum ◽  
Safe Performance

Background and study aims: A medical device that allows simple and safe performance of an endoscopic septotomy could have several applications in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. We developed such a device by combining two magnets and a self-retractable wire to perform a progressive septotomy by compression of the tissues. We describe here the concept, preclinical studies, and first clinical use of the device in symptomatic epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum (EED). Materials and methods: The MAGUS was designed based on previous knowledge of compression anastomosis and current unmet needs. After initial design, the feasibility of the technique was tested on artificial septa in pigs. A clinical trial was then initiated to assess the feasibility and safety of the technique. Results: Animal studies showed that the MAGUS can perform a complete septotomy at various levels of the GI tract. In two patients with symptomatic EED, uneventful complete septotomy was observed within 28 and 39 days after the endoscopic procedure. Conclusions: This new system provides a way to perform endoluminal septotomy in a single procedure. It appears to be effective and safe for managing symptomatic EED. Further clinical applications where this type of remodeling of the GI tract could be beneficial are under investigation.

scholarly journals Determination of Chemical Constituents and Antioxidant Activities of Leaves and Stems from Jatropha cinerea (Ortega) Müll. Arg and Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 212
Author(s):  
Yeimi Cecilia Vega-Ruiz ◽  
Corina Hayano-Kanashiro ◽  
Nohemí Gámez-Meza ◽  
Luis Angel Medina-Juárez
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Antioxidant Compounds ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Methanolic Extracts ◽  
Northwestern Region ◽  
High Concentrations

Jatropha species have been shown to be an important source of secondary metabolites with different biological effects. Jatropha cinerea (Ortega) Müll. Arg and Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg are distributed in the Northwestern region of Mexico, are adapted to extreme weather conditions and are widely used (stems, leaves, and sap) in traditional medicine. The aim of the present study was to carry out the phytochemical characterization and the evaluation of the antioxidant activity in methanolic extracts of stems and leaves from J. cinerea and J. cordata. The compounds present in the extracts of both species were characterized by ESI-IT-MS/MS and quantified by HPLC-DAD. The results showed that the stem extracts of both species are rich in phenolic acids, while the leaf extracts are rich in flavonoids. Some of the main compounds found were gallic acid, gentisic acid, 3,4-Dihydroxybenzoic acid, vitexin, isovitexin, and catechol. Both species showed high concentrations of phenols and total flavonoids and antioxidant activity. J. cordata showed the highest antioxidant capacity and the highest concentration of phenolic compounds. Overall, both Jatropha species are a natural source of antioxidant compounds with potential biotechnological uses.

scholarly journals LARVICIDAL ACTIVITY OF LANTANA INDICA AND VITEX NEGUNDO ON CULEX QUINQUEFASCIATUS

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 414
Author(s):  
Rathnasagar K ◽  
Thiyagaraj Anand
Keyword(s):  
Larvicidal Activity ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Vitex Negundo ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Sterol Binding

Objectives: The activity of two different leaf extracts of Lantana indica and Vitex negundo is tested against the 3rd and 4th instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae to evaluate the potency of the extracts as a larvicide and to find an ecologically sustainable alternative to chemical insecticides. A bioinformatics screening approach was performed to evaluate the in vivo results.Methods: The obtained larvae’s from nearby water sources were tested with N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) as the positive control which is the commercial chemical mosquito repellent and the solvents used for the respective plant extracts act as the negative control. Petroleum ether (PE), ethyl acetate (EA) and an aqueous (AQ) extract were prepared for both L. indica and V. negundo extracts, and its larvicidal activity was tested. A docking based approach was used to study the inhibitory effect of known active compounds from L. indica and V. negundo against acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and sterol binding protein as targets.Results: On comparing the results between three plants extract for its larvicidal activity, the EA extract of V. negundo and L. indica is found to be potent with a low LC50 value. Further, the docking studies between active compounds of L. indica and V. negundo with AChE and Sterol binding protein as targets showed that the compound tangeritin-1 had a good docking score compared to DEET and could be a natural alternative for larvicidal activity in the mosquito.Conclusion: Individual activity of tangeritin-1 could be further studied with mosquito mortality studies and molecular simulations and develop tangeritin-1 as a potential larvicidal compound for commercial use.

scholarly journals Assessment of Phytotoxic Potential of Potato Genotypes

2017 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-22
Author(s):  
Dorota Sołtys-Kalina
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Test Plant ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Potato Leaf ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Step Procedure ◽  
Total Glycoalkaloids

Abstract In the laboratory studies on allelopathy, phytotoxicity is defined as a negative impact of plant’s extracts or natural compounds derived from plants, on germination and/or growth of the tested (acceptor) plant. Glycoalkaloids are the main biologically active compounds of the potato and are involved in potato phytotoxicity (the correlation coefficient of the length of the test plant with the concentration of total glycoalkaloids present in the leaf extracts of forty potato genotypes was r = -0.41). The assessment of phytotoxic abilities of the potato is a two-step procedure which consists of determining glycoalkaloids in potato leaf extracts and analyzing the root and hypocotyl lengths of the test plant growing in potato leaf extracts.

Linguistic Markers in Individuals With Symptoms of Depression in Bi-Multilingual Context

2019 ◽  
pp. 216-240
Author(s):  
Anbu Savekar ◽  
Shashikanta Tarai ◽  
Moksha Singh
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Emotional Health ◽  
Psychological Process ◽  
Function Words ◽  
Linguistic Markers ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Stigma Of Mental Illness ◽  
Verbal Content ◽  
Linguistic Behavior ◽  
Anxiety Depression

Depression has been identified as the most prevalent mental disorder worldwide. Due to the stigma of mental illness, the population remains unidentified, undiagnosed, and untreated. Various studies have been carried out to detect and track depression following symptoms of dichotomous thinking, absolutist thinking, linguistic markers, and linguistic behavior. However, there is little study focused on the linguistic behavior of bilingual and multilingual with anxiety and depression. This chapter aims to identify the bi-multilingual linguistic markers by analyzing the recorded verbal content of depressive discourse resulting from life situations and stressors causing anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Different contextual domains of word usage, content words, function words (pronouns), and negative valance words have been identified as indicators of psychological process affecting cognitive behavior, emotional health, and mental illness. These findings are discussed within the framework of Beck's model of depression to support the linguistic connection to mental illness-depression.

scholarly journals Screening for natural and derived bio-active compounds in preclinical and clinical studies: One of the frontlines of fighting the coronaviruses pandemic

Phytomedicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 153311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaden A.M. Khalifa ◽  
Nermeen Yosri ◽  
Mohamed F. El-Mallah ◽  
Reem Ghonaim ◽  
Zhiming Guo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Studies ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies

scholarly journals Targeting of the Pilosebaceous Follicle by Liquid Crystal Nanocarriers: In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of the Entrapped Minoxidil

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1127
Author(s):  
Massimo Fresta ◽  
Antonia Mancuso ◽  
Maria Chiara Cristiano ◽  
Konrad Urbanek ◽  
Felisa Cilurzo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Crystal ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Response Duration ◽  
Topical Administration ◽  
Active Compounds ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Negative Surface

The topical administration of active compounds represents an advantageous strategy to reach the various skin components as well as its appendages. Pilosebaceous follicles are skin appendages originating in the deeper skin layers. They are very difficult to target, and hence higher active dosages are generally required to achieve effective biological responses, thus favoring the rise of side effects. The aim of this work was to design a supramolecular colloidal carrier, i.e., a liquid crystal nanocarrier, for the selective delivery of active compounds into the pilosebaceous follicle. This nanocarrier showed mean sizes of ~80 nm, a good stability, a negative surface charge, and great safety properties. In vitro studies highlighted its ability to contain and release different substances and to successfully permeate the skin. Minoxidil was encapsulated in the nanocarriers and the in vivo biological effect was compared with a conventional dosage form. Minoxidil-loaded liquid crystal nanocarrier was able to selectively reach the pilosebaceous follicle, thus allowing an increased biological effectiveness of the delivered active in terms of biological response, duration of the biological effects, and reduction of collaterals. Our investigation showed that liquid crystal nanocarriers represent a promising device for the treatment of different pilosebaceous follicular impairments/diseases.

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