Effects of a dragonfly (Anax i.) homeopathic remedy on learning, memory and cell morphology in mice.

BACKGROUND: Homeopathy is a form of alternative medicine in which uses highly diluted preparations that are believed to cause healthy people to exhibit symptoms similar to those exhibited by patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dragonfly (Anax imperator, Anax i.) on learning and memory in naive mice using the Morris water maze (MWM) test; moreover, the effects of dragonfly on MK-801-induced cognitive dysfunction were evaluated. METHODS: Male balb-c mice were treated with dragonfly (30C and 200C) or MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg) alone or concurrently (n = 10). Dragonfly (D) and MK-801 were administered subchronically for 6 days intraperitoneally 60 min and 30 min, respectively, before the daily performance of the MWM test. RESULTS: This study revealed that in the familiarization session and first session of the MWM test, Anax i. D30 significantly decreased escape latency compared to the control group, although MK-801, D30 and D200 significantly increased escape latency at the end of five acquisition sessions. Anax i. combined with dizocilpine maleate (MK-801) also significantly decreased escape latency in the familiarization session and first session of the MWM test, although this combination increased escape latency compared to the MK-801 alone group at the end of the test. Time spent in escape platform's quadrant in the probe trial significantly decreased while mean distance to platform significantly increased in MK-801, D30 and D200 groups. In the MWM test, Anax i. combined with MK-801 significantly decreased speed of the animals compared to the MK-801 alone group. General cell morphology was disturbed in the MK-801 group while D30 and D200 seemed to improve cell damage in the MK-801 group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the homeopathic Anax i. can impair learning acquisition and reference memory, and it has beneficial effects on disturbed cell morphology.

Effect of homeopathic Lycopodium clavatum on memory functions and cerebral blood flow in memory-impaired rats.

BACKGROUND: Lycopodium clavatum (Lyc) is a widely used homeopathic medicine for the liver, urinary and digestive disorders. Recently, acetyl cholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory activity has been found in Lyc alkaloid extract, which could be beneficial in dementia disorder. However, the effect of Lyc has not yet been explored in animal model of memory impairment and on cerebral blood flow. AIM: The present study was planned to explore the effect of Lyc on learning and memory function and cerebral blood flow (CBF) in intracerebroventricularly (ICV) administered streptozotocin (STZ) induced memory impairment in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Memory deficit was induced by ICV administration of STZ (3 mg/kg) in rats on 1st and 3rd day. Male SD rats were treated with Lyc Mother Tincture (MT) 30, 200 and 1000 for 17 days. Learning and memory was evaluated by Morris water maze test on 14th, 15th and 16th day. CBF was measured by Laser Doppler flow meter on 17th day. RESULTS: STZ (ICV) treated rats showed impairment in learning and memory along with reduced CBF. Lyc MT and 200 showed improvement in learning and memory. There was increased CBF in STZ (ICV) treated rats at all the potencies of Lyc studied. CONCLUSION: The above study suggests that Lyc may be used as a drug of choice in condition of memory impairment due to its beneficial effect on CBF.

Cognition and memory impairment attenuation via reduction of oxidative stress in acute and chronic mice models of epilepsy using antiepileptogenic Nux vomica.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Processed Nux vomica seed extracts and homeopathic medicinal preparations (HMPs) are widely used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicine for respiratory, digestive, neurological and behavioral disorders. Antioxidant property of Nux vomica is well known and recent investigation has highlighted the anticonvulsant potential of its homeopathic formulation. AIM OF THE STUDY: To explore the anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic potential of Nux vomica HMPs (6CH, 12CH and 30CH potency) in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced acute and chronic experimental seizure models in mice and investigate their effects on cognition, memory, motor activity and oxidative stress markers in kindled animals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acute seizures were induced in the animals through 70 mg/kg (i.p.) administration of PTZ followed by the evaluation of latency and duration of Generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS). Subconvulsive PTZ doses (35 mg/kg, i.p.) induced kindling in 29 days, which was followed by assessment of cognition, memory and motor impairment through validated behavioral techniques. The status of oxidative stress was estimated through measurement of MDA, GSH and SOD. RESULTS: HMPs delayed the latency and reduced the duration of GTCS in acute model signifying possible regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission. Kindling was significantly hindered by the HMPs that justified the ameliorated cognition, memory and motor activity impairment. The HMPs attenuated lipid peroxidation by reducing MDA level and strengthened the antioxidant mechanism by enhancing the GSH and SOD levels in the kindled animals. CONCLUSIONS: Nux vomica HMPs showed anticonvulsant and antiepileptogenic potency in acute and chronic models of epilepsy. The test drugs attenuated behavioral impairment and reduced the oxidative stress against PTZ induced kindling owing to which they can be further explored for their cellular and molecular mechanism(s).

An update on Shankhpushpi, a cognition-boosting Ayurvedic medicine.

Shankhpushpi is an Ayurvedic drug used for its action on the central nervous system, especially for boosting memory and improving intellect. Quantum of information gained from Ayurvedic and other Sanskrit literature revealed the existence of four different plant species under the name of Shankhpushpi, which is used in various Ayurvedic prescriptions described in ancient texts, singly or in combination with other herbs. The sources comprise of entire herbs with following botanicals viz., Convulvulus pluricaulis Choisy. (Convulvulaceae), Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. (Convulvulaceae), Clitoria ternatea Linn. (Papilionaceae) and Canscora decussata Schult. (Gentianaceae). A review on the available scientific information in terms of pharmacognostical characteristics, chemical constituents, pharmacological activities, preclinical and clinical applications of controversial sources of Shankhpushpi is prepared with a view to review scientific work undertaken on Shankhpushpi. It may provide parameters of differentiation and permit appreciation of variability of drug action by use of different botanical sources.

Failure of methadone and levomethadyl acetate (levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, LAAM) maintenance to affect memory.

Memory tests were administered to 30 patients taking methadone hydrochloride and 31 taking levomethadyl acetate (levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, LAAM) both prior to treatment and after one and three months of continuous treatment. A group of nonopiate using matched control subjects was administered the tests at similar intervals. No statistically significant difference in test performance was found among these groups at any of the three sessions. The methadone and control groups also did not differ significantly in the frequency of subjective reports of decreased memory function. Previous reports of memory deflicits during long-term methadone administration may be a result of comparing methadone and control groups at a single point in time and assuming that prior to methadone maintenance the groups were equivalent.

Utility of nutraceutical products marketed for cognitive and memory enhancement.

This article identifies a convenience sample of 14 memory-enhancing herbal products that were found to be available commercially, examines their active ingredients, states their claims, and evaluates the available evidence to determine their efficacy. The analyses identified four problematic areas. First, a majority of the products use cognitive terminology, which leads consumers to anticipate an intended cognitive benefit. Second, some ingredients are completely homeopathic and contain components not known outside of the homeopathic field. Third, the evidence of treatment efficacy is often contradictory, because products are recommended for purposes other than cognitive or memory loss. Finally, the manufacturers of the product have usually conducted the research on individual products. Until more research is available, it is suggested that holistic nursing professionals exercise caution in recommending nutraceuticals to their patients/clients for the use of cognitive improvement or memory enhancement.

Reconstituted mother tinctures of Gelsemium sempervirens L. improve memory and cognitive impairment in mice scopolamine-induced dementia model.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gelsemium sempervirens (L.) J.St.-Hil is a herb used for the treatment of various neuroses in both homeopathic and Ayurvedic systems. The present study examines whether Gelsemium reconstituted tincture can protect against scopolamine induced cognitive discrepancies in amnesic mouse model. In order to investigate the protective mechanism of Gelsemium against dementia, in vitro acetyl cholinesterase and ß-secretase enzyme inhibition and estimation of glutathione level in mouse brain were carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The inhibition study on acetyl cholinesterase and ß-secretase enzyme was conducted on brain homogenate supernatant spectrophotometrically using specific substrate. Cognitive enhancement activity was assessed by elevated plus maze and passive avoidance study in scopolamine induced dementia mouse model. Glutathione, an anti-oxidant, was measured spectrophotometrically from scopolamine induced amnesic mice brain supernatant using 5,5'-dithiobis 2-nitrobenzoic acid in the presence and absence of Gelsemium tincture. RESULTS: Significant inhibition was found with Gelsemium on AChE and ß-secretase enzyme with an IC50 of 9.25 and 16.25 µg/ml, respectively, followed by increasing glutathione levels in comparison to the untreated dementia group. The effect of Gelsemium of scopolamine-induced cognitive deficits was determined by measuring the behavioral parameters and the antioxidant status of the brain after scopolamine (1mg/kg i.p.) injected amnesic mice. Gelsemium significantly demonstrated in vivo anti-dementia activity (60% protection) and increased exploratory behavior. CONCLUSION: Our investigations indicated that alkaloid, iridoids and coumarin enriched reconstituted Gelsemium tincture extract displays promising cognitive enhancement in adult mice after short-term oral treatment. Hence, Gelsemium can be a promising anti-dementia agent, mediating the protection against amnesia, attention disorders and learning dysfunctions through dual inhibition of both acetyl cholinesterases (no false positive effect was shown), ß-secretase and antioxidant activity.

Pre- and postnatally administered ACTH, Organon 2766 and CRF facilitate or inhibit active avoidance task performance in young adult mice.

This study investigated the effect of learning/memory-related neuropeptides on behavioral task performance in later life. A 1 mg/kg dosage of adrenocorticotropic hormone 4-9, Organon 2766, ACTH/MSH 4-10, ACTH 1-24, CRF, or diluent was subcutaneously injected into either pregnant females or into newborn pups during specific neural developmental windows. Each of the progeny was trained in an active-avoidance task and tested for acquisition on postpartum days 35-37. The mice were then tested for memory task performance and reacquisition on days 42-44 postpartum using the identical experimental paradigm as that used in the training sessions. Prenatal treatment with these memory-related neuropeptides resulted in significant facilitation of learning/memory task performance in male and female mice treated with Organon 2766 (p less than 0.001), and a significant inhibition of learning/memory task performance in males and females treated with ACTH 1-24 (p less than 0.01). Additional sex-specific performance facilitations and inhibitions resulted from the pre- or postnatal administration of the various neuropeptides used in this study. These results suggest that neuropeptides, when available in increased amounts during specific neural developmental windows, can significantly improve or suppress related behavioral performance capability in later life.

Failure of intravenous low dose midazolam to influence memory recall in drug paralysed post-operative patients sedated with papaveretum.

Sedation of ventilated patients in the Intensive Care Unit generates a tension between adequate sedation to maintain comfort and ease of ventilation and over sedation with undesirable prolongation of ventilation and delays in discharge. Studies in animals suggest very low dose midazolam, but not higher doses, potentiate the sedative effects of opiates. We undertook a trial of opiate sedation versus opiate sedation plus low dose midazolam (1 mg/hour) to determine whether a similar effect could be demonstrated in man. Although ventilator time and the duration of admission to Intensive Care was not prolonged by the addition of midazolam, we were unable to demonstrate any statistically significant benefit with regard to memory recall.

Lorazepam as a premedication.

A double-blind random study compared the effects of lorazepam and pantopon an intra-muscular premedication in healthy women for uterine curettage (D & C). Anxiety, as assessed by a self-rating test by the patient and by a trained observer, showed a significant reduction at one and one-half hours after lorazepam and a smaller reduction after pantopon, which was not significant. Sedation was satisfactory with no significant difference between the two drugs in the change before and after the premedication. Lorazepam showed much more amnesia than pantopon (p less than 0.001). The patients who had lorazepam required higher doses of thiopentone for the operation, and this, in part, led to longer intervals in recovery times after lorazepam. However, it is suggested that lorazepam itself was partly responsible for the longer recovery. Pantopon was followed by more nausea, vomiting and headaches, than lorazepam. The intra-muscular injection of lorazepam hurt more patients than did pantopon, but other local complications were negligible and comparable in both groups. The results of this study show that lorazepam produces better reduction of anxiety and much more amnesia than pantopon, with comparable sedation and much less nausea and vomiting. The only disadvantage of lorazepam is the lack of analgesia and, therefore, the need for more anaesthesia during the operation. The conclusion is that lorazepam is a very satisfactory premedication and warrants more use as such.

Intubating conditions and haemodynamic changes following thiopentone or propofol for early tracheal intubation.

Intubating conditions and haemodynamic changes were studied 30 sec after a fixed induction dose of thiopentone or propofol in patients scheduled for elective surgery. The hypnotic agent was preceded by the administration of papaveretum 10 mg three minutes before induction and alcuronium 0.2 mg.kg-1 at induction. Ease of intubation was graded and the study conducted in a randomised double-blind fashion. In the thiopentone group (n = 30) intubation was very easy in 73% compared with 79% in the propofol group (n = 29). In two patients in the propofol group the tracheas were moderately difficult to intubate but there were no failed intubations in either group. No patients recalled the intubation period on subsequent postoperative questioning. The immediate post-induction average systolic pressure in the thiopentone group decreased by 0.7% (range 15.9% increase to 25.3% decrease) whilst the post-intubation systolic pressure increased by 6.3% (range - 31.5% increase to 24.2% decrease). In the propofol group there was a decrease in systolic pressure after induction (average 14.4%; range 15.5% increase to 41.4% decrease, P < 0.05) but the subsequent pressor response to intubation was markedly attenuated compared with baseline (average systolic pressure decreased 15.5% (range 22.4% increase to 42.7% decrease)). Following intubation and maintenance, ventilation with nitrous oxide 70% and halothane 1% the systolic pressure decreased markedly in both groups with a greater reduction in the propofol group (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline there were increases (P < 0.0001) in heart rate in both groups from induction of anaesthesia to the end of study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Studies on the possible central effects in man of a neuropeptide (ACTH 4-9 analogue).

The central effects of a neuropeptide, ACTH 4-9 analogue (Organon 2766), were studied in man using digit symbol substitution (DSS), symbol copying, digit span, electroencephalography and auditory evoked potentials, critical flicker fusion (CFF) and pupillary response to light. Performance was measured overnight, and each of 6 subjects ingested 300 mg caffeine, 40 mg ACTH 4-9 analogue and matching placebo. With placebo there was a marked deterioration in performance overnight. The number of substitutions on DSS and the numbers of symbols copied fell, and the threshold for CFF and number of errors on the vigilance task increased. These effects were not seen after ingestion of caffeine (300 mg), though caffeine may have led to some deterioration in the ability to remember digits. The neuropeptide did not attenuate the decrements in performance overnight.