Natural Products in Modulating Methamphetamine-Induced Neuronal Apoptosis.

Methamphetamine (METH), an amphetamine-type psychostimulant, is highly abused worldwide. Chronic abuse of METH causes neurodegenerative changes in central dopaminergic neurons with numerous neuropsychiatric consequences. Neuronal apoptosis plays a critical role in METH-induced neurotoxicity and may provide promising pharmacological targets for preventing and treating METH addiction. In recent years, accumulating evidence has revealed that natural products may possess significant potentials to inhibit METH-evoked neuronal apoptosis. In this review, we summarized and analyzed the improvement effect of natural products on METH-induced neuronal apoptosis and their potential molecular mechanisms on modulating dopamine release, oxidative stress, mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptotic pathway, and neuroinflammation. Hopefully, this review may highlight the potential value of natural products in modulating METH-caused neuronal apoptosis and provide useful information for future research and developments of novel and efficacious pharmacotherapies in this field.

[Comparative experimental study on treatment of rat's injured sciatic nerve with electroacupuncture and Buyang Huanwu Decoction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of the electroacupuncture and Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) on the regeneration of the rat's injured sciatic nerve. METHODS: Rat's sciatic nerve injury model was made by operation. The rats were treated with electroacupuncture or BYHWD and their nerve electro-physiological indices and histological changes tested by HRP were observed. RESULTS: It was demonstrated that the recovery ratios of nerve conduction velocity and muscle evoked action potential of the group treated with electroacupuncture and the group treated with BYHWD were higher than those of the group treated with western medicine or the group without treatment. The differences were significant. The labeling cells in anterior horn of spinal marrow and spinal ganglion of the group treated with electroacupuncture and the group treated with BYHWD were more abundant than those of the group treated with western medicine or the group without treatment. The differences were significant. The effect of electroacupuncture was better than that of the BYHWD. CONCLUSION: It suggests that both electroacupuncture therapy and BYHWD can promote the recovery of the function in early stage of injured nerve, and they are effective methods for promoting the regeneration of injured peripheral nerve.