scholarly journals Toxicokinetics and Toxicodynamics of Ayahuasca Alkaloids N,N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), Harmine, Harmaline and Tetrahydroharmine: Clinical and Forensic Impact

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 334 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreia Machado Brito-da-Costa ◽  
Diana Dias-da-Silva ◽  
Nelson G. M. Gomes ◽  
Ricardo Jorge Dinis-Oliveira ◽  
Áurea Madureira-Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Monoamine Oxidase A ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Serotonergic Receptors ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Substance Abuse Disorders ◽  
Harmala Alkaloids ◽  
Psychotropic Effects ◽  
Clinical Potential

Ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic botanical beverage originally used by indigenous Amazonian tribes in religious ceremonies and therapeutic practices. While ethnobotanical surveys still indicate its spiritual and medicinal uses, consumption of ayahuasca has been progressively related with a recreational purpose, particularly in Western societies. The ayahuasca aqueous concoction is typically prepared from the leaves of the N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT)-containing Psychotria viridis, and the stem and bark of Banisteriopsis caapi, the plant source of harmala alkaloids. Herein, the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of the psychoactive DMT and harmala alkaloids harmine, harmaline and tetrahydroharmine, are comprehensively covered, particularly emphasizing the psychological, physiological, and toxic effects deriving from their concomitant intake. Potential therapeutic utility, particularly in mental and psychiatric disorders, and forensic aspects of DMT and ayahuasca are also reviewed and discussed. Following administration of ayahuasca, DMT is rapidly absorbed and distributed. Harmala alkaloids act as potent inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A), preventing extensive first-pass degradation of DMT into 3-indole-acetic acid (3-IAA), and enabling sufficient amounts of DMT to reach the brain. DMT has affinity for a variety of serotonergic and non-serotonergic receptors, though its psychotropic effects are mainly related with the activation of serotonin receptors type 2A (5-HT2A). Mildly to rarely severe psychedelic adverse effects are reported for ayahuasca or its alkaloids individually, but abuse does not lead to dependence or tolerance. For a long time, the evidence has pointed to potential psychotherapeutic benefits in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders; and although misuse of ayahuasca has been diverting attention away from such clinical potential, research onto its therapeutic effects has now strongly resurged.

scholarly journals Integrated Network and Experimental Pharmacology for Deciphering the Medicinal Substances and Multiple Mechanisms of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in Osteoarthritis Therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Wenyu Xiao ◽  
Weibing Sun ◽  
Hui Lian ◽  
Juexin Shen
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathway ◽  
Mapk Signaling ◽  
Herbal Remedies ◽  
Chondrocyte Apoptosis ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Integrated Network ◽  
Experimental Pharmacology ◽  
Joint Disorder ◽  
Medicinal Substances ◽  
Long Time

Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently the most common joint disorder worldwide. In last decades, herbal remedies have achieved a significant advancement in the treatment of OA. Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJS), an herbal formula consisting of 15 medicinal herbs, has a long-time practice in OA therapy in China. However, its therapeutic mechanisms have not been comprehensively elucidated. In the present work, integrated network and experimental pharmacology were performed for investigating the therapeutic substances and mechanisms of DHJS. Based on network analysis, the contribution of each herb to OA therapy was evaluated. Furthermore, a series of potential targets and signaling pathways were enriched, which could be involved in the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of DHJS. Further experimental results indicated that DHJS attenuated TNFα, IL-6, MMP-1, MMP-9, MMP-13, and ADAMTs-5 expression, inhibited NF-κB and p38 MAPK signaling pathway, activated AMPK-SIRT1 signaling pathway, and suppressed chondrocyte apoptosis, which synergistically contributed to OA therapy. Our work demonstrated that DHJS could be very promising for OA therapy through synergistically acting on multitargets and multipathways.

Music Therapy in the Treatment of Depression: Implications for Individuals Recovering from Non-degenerative, Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Amy Clements-Cortes ◽  
Catherine Haire
Keyword(s):  
Brain Injury ◽  
Music Therapy ◽  
Acquired Brain Injury ◽  
Emotional Impact ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Prevalent Disease ◽  
Therapy Interventions ◽  
Multiple Domains

Stroke is a prevalent disease, and the leading cause of disability from neurological disorder worldwide. The emotional impact a stroke may have on a person and occurrence of depression can affect their readiness to engage in rehabilitation, their functional outcomes, and their ability to reintegrate socially. Depression often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Music and music therapy have the potential to access and effect change concurrently in multiple domains, making it a valued method for facilitating non-pharmacological, therapeutic change while supporting a person’s emotional needs. Music therapy interventions may provide motivation for participation in rehabilitation, as well as facilitate goal acquisition in physical, psychosocial, emotional, communicative and cognitive domains. This paper explores the role of motivation, evidence of music-induced affective responding, therapeutic effects of music interventions on mood, physiological and neural correlates, social interaction, music therapy implications for individuals recovering from acquired brain injury, and future directions.

Cross-Cultural Challenges in the Diagnosis of Depression

2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
M. Schouler-Ocak ◽  
M. Aichberger ◽  
M. Rapp ◽  
A. Heinz
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Behavioural Disorders ◽  
Cultural Challenges ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Psychic Disorders ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Treatment Facilities

For a long time it was assumed that depressive disorders were a classic western problem specific to industrial states. However, the World Bank discovered in a study as early as 1993 that depression in Third World countries was already fifth on the list of illnesses which comprise the largest contribution to the Global Burden of Disease. Affective and behavioural disorders as well as somatic complaints represent the three central categories of symptoms in depression. In western cultures an affective disorder is seen as the main characteristic of a depression, whereas in other cultures different symptoms can be in the foreground. The increase in supraregional communication and cooperation as well as the worldwide increase in immigrant populations demand that cultural aspects are considered in the diagnosis and treatment of depression. Physicians need to consider the cultural background of their patients in order to achieve an optimal therapy. If the sociocultural aspects, which cannot always be fully appreciated, of a culturally sensitive diagnosis are not taken into consideration, this can lead to an artificial prevalence of the disorder by making false diagnoses. In order to minimize these mistakes, the guideline for judging cultural influencing factors should be used to complete the diagnosis.Not only the development of culturally adequate therapy concepts and institutions, but also the expansion of knowledge about the psychopathology and epidemiolgy of psychic disorders, e. g. of depression in immigrant groups and the examination of their use of treatment facilities, are the goals of cross-cultural psychiatry and psychotherapy.

scholarly journals Phytochemistry and therapeutic effects of Alhagi spp. and tarangabin in the Traditional and modern medicine: a review

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-104
Author(s):  
Amir Parviz Tavassoli ◽  
Majid Anushiravani ◽  
Seyed Mousalreza Hoseini ◽  
Zahra Nikakhtar ◽  
Hamideh Naghedi Baghdar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Traditional Medicine ◽  
Geographical Distribution ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Pharmacological Properties ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Materia Medica ◽  
Medicinal Properties ◽  
Different Parts

Alhagi maurorum is one of the species of Alhagi genus producing manna of Tarangabin. Tarangabin is mainly prepared in Iran and Afghanistan. The medicinal properties of Tarangabin and A. maurorum have been mentioned in some major Materia Medica manuscripts in the Islamic era. Tarangabin has various pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, analgesic and gastrointestinal effects. The purpose of this review is to introduce Alhagi plant and its different species, to present its geographical distribution, and to review its phytochemical and pharmacological properties as well as traditional and folklore applications. Phytochemistry of different parts of Alhagi, such as root, leaf and manna is also explained in details. In addition, temperament and medicinal uses of Tarangabin mentioned in the Islamic traditional medicine (ITM) books are presented. Indeed, sparse clinical research has been done on the medicinal properties of Tarangabin, which calls for future well-designed trials.

scholarly journals Shugan Hewei Decoction Alleviates Cecum Mucosal Injury and Improves Depressive- and Anxiety-Like Behaviors in Chronic Stress Model Rats by Regulating Cecal Microbiota and Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yingying Yue ◽  
Yu Chen ◽  
Hao Liu ◽  
Lesi Xu ◽  
Xian Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Nlrp3 Inflammasome ◽  
Mucosal Injury ◽  
Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽  
Nuclear Factor Κb ◽  
Receptor Protein ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Weight Growth ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Cecal Microbiota

Chronic stress is a significant cause of depression, anxiety, and intestinal mucosal injury. Gut microbiota disturbances are also associated with these disorders. Shugan Hewei Decoction (SHD), which is a traditional Chinese medicine formula developed by our team, has shown superior therapeutic effects in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and functional gastrointestinal diseases caused by chronic stress. In this study, we investigated the modulatory effect of SHD on the cecal microbiota and cecum mucosal NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in a chronic unpredictable stress (CUS)/social isolation rat model. After the SHD intervention, the CUS model rats showed improvements in their depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, as well as sustained body weight growth and improved fecal characteristics. SHD improved the cecal microbiota diversity and changed the abundance of six microbial genera. A Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a strong correlation between the NLRP3 inflammasome and CUS-perturbed cecal biomarker microbiota. SHD regulated the excessive expression of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in the serum and cecum mucosa induced by CUS, as well as the activation of the Toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor-κB signaling cascades. Our results reveal the pharmacological mechanisms of SHD and provide a validated therapeutic method for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and cecum mucosal injury.

scholarly journals Biogenesis, Biologic Function and Clinical Potential of Exosomes in Different Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 4428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amany Magdy Beshbishy ◽  
Saad Alghamdi ◽  
ThankGod E. Onyiche ◽  
Muhammad Zahoor ◽  
Nallely Rivero-Perez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissues ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Exosome Biogenesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Potential Therapeutic Application ◽  
Intercellular Movement ◽  
Clinical Potential

Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) belonging to the nanovesicles family that function as signaling molecules between cells. After their first description in the late 1960s, interest in their potential as a research target has steadily increased. They are small secreted organelles with a single membrane that are well enriched in lipids, proteins, nucleic acids, and glycoconjugates. Exosomes take part in a larger communication network in which cells communicate between one another by DNA shuttling, proteins, RNA, and membrane-bound factors. The machinery of protein quality control occurs through the process termed “exosome biogenesis”. Furthermore, the pathway involved in intercellular movement of vesicles is vital in various aspects of human health and diseases. Due to their inherent properties, exosomes are currently being developed as potential therapeutic agents in a wide range of diseases including infectious and non-infectious diseases. Exosomes and other EVs sourced from Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been shown in different studies to possess therapeutic effects in diverse disease models either in vivo or in vitro. Some mechanisms and/or pathways that MSC-derived exosomes use to illustrate their therapeutic effect against some diseases have also been summarized. This review aims to highlight the recent findings and potential therapeutic application of exosomes in different diseases such as autoimmune, cardiovascular, obesity, neural, soft tissues, bone, and cartilage.

scholarly journals Paroxetine—Overview of the Molecular Mechanisms of Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1662
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kowalska ◽  
Jacek Nowaczyk ◽  
Łukasz Fijałkowski ◽  
Alicja Nowaczyk
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Antidepressant Drug ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Family Doctors ◽  
Social Phobias ◽  
Treatment Of Depression ◽  
Pharmaceutical Properties

In the 21st century and especially during a pandemic, the diagnosis and treatment of depression is an essential part of the daily practice of many family doctors. It mainly affects patients in the age category 15–44 years, regardless of gender. Anxiety disorders are often diagnosed in children and adolescents. Social phobias can account for up to 13% of these diagnoses. Social anxiety manifests itself in fear of negative social assessment and humiliation, which disrupts the quality of social functioning. Treatment of the above-mentioned disorders is based on psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy. Serious side effects or mortality from antidepressant drug overdose are currently rare. Recent studies indicate that paroxetine (ATC code: N06AB), belonging to the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, has promising therapeutic effects and is used off-label in children and adolescents. The purpose of this review is to describe the interaction of paroxetine with several molecular targets in various points of view including the basic chemical and pharmaceutical properties. The central point of the review is focused on the pharmacodynamic analysis based on the molecular mechanism of binding paroxetine to various therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Advances in the Preclinical Study of Some Flavonoids as Potential Antidepressant Agents

Scientifica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
León Jesús German-Ponciano ◽  
Gilberto Uriel Rosas-Sánchez ◽  
Eduardo Rivadeneyra-Domínguez ◽  
Juan Francisco Rodríguez-Landa
Keyword(s):  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Depressive Disorders ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Preclinical Study ◽  
Monoamine Oxidase A ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
Antidepressant Agents ◽  
Antioxidant Agents

Flavonoids are phenolic compounds found commonly in plants that protect them against the negative effects of environmental insults. These secondary metabolites have been widely studied in preclinical research because of their biological effects, particularly as antioxidant agents. Diverse flavonoids have been studied to explore their potential therapeutic effects in the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system, including anxiety and depression. The present review discusses advances in the study of some flavonoids as potential antidepressant agents. We describe their behavioral, physiological, and neurochemical effects and the apparent mechanism of action of their preclinical antidepressant-like effects. Natural flavonoids produce antidepressant-like effects in validated behavioral models of depression. The mechanism of action of these effects includes the activation of serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, andγ-aminobutyric acid-ergic neurotransmitter systems and an increase in the production of neural factors, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor. Additionally, alterations in the function of tropomyosin receptor kinase B and activity of the enzyme monoamine oxidase A have been reported. In conclusion, preclinical research supports the potential antidepressant effects of some natural flavonoids, which opens new possibilities of evaluating these substances to develop complementary therapeutic alternatives that could ameliorate symptoms of depressive disorders in humans.

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