Flaxseed Oil (Linum usitatissimum) Prevents Cognitive and Motor Damage in Rats with Hyperammonemia.

Hyperammonemia is characterized by the excessive accumulation of ammonia in the body as a result of the loss of liver detoxification, leading to the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). These metabolic alterations carry cognitive and motor deficits and cause neuronal damage, with no effective treatment at present. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of two subacute oral administrations of flaxseed oil (0.26 and 0.52 mL/kg) on short- and long-term memory, visuospatial memory, locomotor activity, motor coordination, and the neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) via tests on Wistar rats with hyperammonemia. The goal was to identify its role in the regulation of cerebral edema, without liver damage causing cerebral failure. In contrast with an ammonium-rich diet, flaxseed oil and normal foods did not cause cognitive impairment or motor alterations, as evidenced in the short-term and visuospatial memory tests. Furthermore, the flaxseed oil treatment maintained a regular neuronal morphology of the prefrontal cortex, which represents a neuroprotective effect. We conclude that the oral administration of flaxseed oil prevents cognitive and motor impairments as well as neuronal alterations in rats with hyperammonemia, which supports the potential use of this oil to ameliorate the changes that occur in hepatic encephalopathy.

Participation of the Serotonergic System and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in the Antidepressant-like Effect of Flavonoids.

Depressive disorders are among the most disabling diseases experienced around the world, and their incidence has significantly increased over the last few decades due to multiple environmental, social, and biological factors. The search for new pharmacological alternatives to treat depression is a global priority. In preclinical research, molecules obtained from plants, such as flavonoids, have shown promising antidepressant-like properties through several mechanisms of action that have not been fully elucidated, including crossing of the blood brain barrier (BBB). This review will focus on discussing the main findings related to the participation of the serotonergic system and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on the antidepressant-like effect of some flavonoids reported by behavioral, neurochemical, and molecular studies. In this sense, evidence shows that depressive individuals have low levels of serotonin and BDNF, while flavonoids can reverse it. Finally, the elucidation of the mechanism used by flavonoids to modulate serotonin and BDNF will contribute to our understanding of the neurobiological bases underlying the antidepressant-like effects produced by these natural compounds.

Efecto hepatoprotector de una mezcla de siete plantas en cirrosis inducida con tetracloruro de carbono / Hepatoprotective effect of a mixture of seven plants in carbon tetrachloride induced cirrhosis

Introducción: las plantas medicinales han sido utilizadas con fines terapéuticos desde tiempos antiguos sobre diversas enfermedades, en este sentido, se han reportado por la medicina tradicional una gran variedad de plantas con actividad gastrointestinal y efecto hepatoprotector. Las plantas utilizadas en este estudio fueron Bidens odorata Cav. L., Tecoma stans L., Equisetum hyemale L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Cynaya scolymus L., Peumus boldus L. y Linum usitatissimum L. Objetivo: demostrar el efecto hepatoprotector de una mezcla de siete plantas (EHAM7) en ratas cirróticas inducidas con tetracloruro de carbono (CCl4). Métodos: se utilizaron las semillas de L. usitatissimum y las hojas y flores secas del resto de las plantas. Se formaron grupos de ratas control y ratas cirróticas con y sin tratamiento con la mezcla. A los animales cirróticos se les indujo el daño hepático intraperitonealmente con 0,2 mL de una mezcla de CCl4 y aceite mineral. Por otra parte, se les administraron oralmente 200 mg/kg del EHAM 7 re-suspendido en solución salina durante una semana y posteriormente cada tercer día durante ocho semanas. Los animales fueron sacrificados y se determinó el perfil hepático (transaminasas, bilirrubina y proteínas) y lipídico (triglicéridos, colesterol y lipoproteínas) en muestras de suero sanguíneo; el hígado se utilizó para los estudios histológicos. Resultados: el EHAM7 mostró efecto hepatoprotector en los animales cirróticos sobre los parámetros séricos correspondientes al perfil hepático y al perfil lipídico, lo cual se correlaciona con las características histológicas del hígado. Conclusión: el EHAM7 presenta efecto hepatoprotector en ratas cirróticas inducidas con CCl4, debido a que dicha mezcla presenta compuestos polifenólicos con actividad antioxidante(AU

Introduction: Medicinal plants have been used for therapeutic purposes against a great variety of diseases since ancient times. A large number of plants with gastrointestinal activity and hepatoprotective effect have been used in traditional medicine. The plants examined in the present study were Bidens odorata Cav. L., Tecoma stans L., Equisetum hyemale L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., Cynaya scolymus L., Peumus boldus L. and Linum usitatissimum L. Objective: Demonstrate the hepatoprotective effect of a mixture of seven plants (EHAM7) in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced cirrhotic rats. Methods: The study used seeds of L. usitatissimum and dry flowers and leaves of the remaining plants. Groups were formed of control and cirrhotic rats with and without treatment with the mixture. Hepatic damage was induced intraperitoneally into the cirrhotic animals with 0.2 ml of a mixture of CCl4 and mineral oil. The rats were also administered 200 mg/kg EHAM7 resuspended in saline solution orally during a week and then every third day during eight weeks. The animals were sacrificed and determination was made of the hepatic profile (transaminases, bilirubin and proteins) and lipid profile (triglycerides, cholesterol and lipoproteins) in blood serum samples. The liver was preserved for histological examination. Results: EHAM7 was found to have an hepatoprotective effect on the serum parameters corresponding to the hepatic and lipid profiles of cirrhotic animals, which correlates with the histological characteristics of the liver. Conclusion: EHAM7 has a hepatoprotective effect in CCl4 induced cirrhotic rats, since the mixture contains polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant activity(AU)

Hormone replacement with 17ß-estradiol plus dihydrotestosterone restores male sexual behavior in rats treated neonatally with clomipramine.

Male sexual behavior (MSB) in rodents, in both its consummatory and motivational components, is regulated by hormones such as testosterone, 17ß-estradiol and 5-α-dihydrotestosterone. In experiments, neonatal treatment with clomipramine (CMI; a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) reproduces some of the signs of depression in adult age, including reduced sexual behavior manifested in a lower percentage of subjects that mount, intromit and ejaculate, although their testosterone levels were not altered. However, the effect of this treatment on estrogen levels and the consequences of hormone substitution using 17ß-estradiol and 5-α-dihydrotestosterone on the expression of male sexual behavior are still unknown. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of neonatal treatment with CMI on plasma testosterone and 17ß-estradiol levels, and the role of testosterone, 17ß-estradiol and 5-α-dihydrotestosterone in altering the consummatory and motivational components of sexual behavior in male rats. To this end, it analyzed the copulatory parameters and sexual incentive motivation (SIM) of rats treated with CMI under two conditions: basal and post-hormone replacements. Neonatal treatment with CMI did not affect plasma testosterone or 17ß-estradiol concentrations, but did decrease both the consummatory component and sexual motivation according to the results of the SIM test. These aspects were recovered after administering 17ß-estradiol +5-α-dihydrotestosterone, but not testosterone.