Exploring the pathophysiological influence of heme oxygenase-1 on neuroinflammation and depression: A study of phytotherapeutic-based modulation.

BACKGROUND: The heme oxygenase (HO) system plays a significant role in neuroprotection and reduction of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The system, via isoforms HO-1 and HO-2, regulates cellular redox balance. HO-1, an antioxidant defense enzyme, is highlighted due to its association with depression, characterized by heightened neuroinflammation and impaired oxidative stress responses. METHODOLOGY: We observed the pathophysiology of HO-1 and phytochemicals as its modulator. We explored Science Direct, Scopus, and PubMed for a comprehensive literature review. Bibliometric and temporal trend analysis were done using VOSviewer. RESULTS: Several phytochemicals can potentially alleviate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress-induced depressive symptoms. These effects result from inhibiting the MAPK and NK-κB pathways - both implicated in the overproduction of pro-inflammatory factors - and from the upregulation of HO-1 expression mediated by Nrf2. Bibliometric and temporal trend analysis further validates these associations. CONCLUSION: In summary, our findings suggest that antidepressant agents can mitigate neuroinflammation and depressive disorder pathogenesis via the upregulation of HO-1 expression. These agents suppress pro-inflammatory mediators and depressive-like symptoms, demonstrating that HO-1 plays a significant role in the neuroinflammatory process and the development of depression.

Phyto-pharmacological Potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for Neurological Disorders: Progress and Prospects.

BACKGROUND: Aegle marmelos, an Indian plant, has been extensively utilized by the people of the Indian subcontinent over about 5000 years. The leaves, bark, roots, and fruits, including seeds, are widely used to cure a variety of diseases in the Indian traditional system of medicine, Ayurveda, along with numerous folk medicines. By revealing the existence of significant bioactive chemicals, modern research has effectively substantiated the therapeutic effects of bael. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review the literature regarding A. marmelos geographical distribution, morphology, therapeutic benefits, and phytochemicals found in the bael leaves, fruits, and other parts of the plant that offer a wide range of pharmacological applications in neurological disorders. METHODOLOGY: A thorough literature search was conducted using five computerized databases, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Elsevier, and Wiley Online Library (WOL), by using standard keywords "A. marmelos," "Geographical distribution," "Morphological description," "Ethnobotanical Uses," "Phytoconstituents" and "Neuroprotective activities" for review papers published between 1975 and 2023. A small number of earlier review articles focused on phyto-pharmacological potential of Aegle marmelos (L.) for neurological disorders. RESULTS: According to some research, Aegle marmelos extracts potentially have neuroprotective benefits. This is due to its capacity to alter cellular mechanisms that cause neuronal damage. CONCLUSION: Neurodegenerative illnesses usually induce permanent neuronal network loss overall the brain along with the spinal cord (CNS), resulting in chronic functional impairments. The review summarizes the multiple aspects and processes of A. marmelos extract and its components in several models of neurodegenerative diseases such as anxiety, epilepsy, depression, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and others. MDA, nitrite, TNF-, and IL-6 levels were dramatically elevated, whereas glutathione levels were significantly lowered in the hippocampus of STZ-treated rats. Furthermore, STZ-treated rats showed a substantial drop in catalase activity and an increase in AChE activity, indicating cholinergic hypofunction and neuronal injury. The neuroprotective ability of A. marmelos against STZ-induced oxidative stress and cognitive loss in rats suggests that it has therapeutic relevance in Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Recent Progress in the Understanding and Management of Acute Mountain Sickness: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Individuals at higher altitudes may experience a decrease in blood oxygen levels, which can result in a variety of clinical illnesses, such as high-altitude pulmonary edema, high-altitude cerebral edema, and milder but more common acute mountain sickness (AMS). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to review the current state of knowledge related to motion sickness, the risk of AMS, and pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for AMS. METHODS: Several databases, including PubMed, Bentham Science, Elsevier, Springer, and Research Gate, were used to compile the data for the article following a thorough analysis of the various research findings connected to acute mountain sickness and motion sickness, along with treatments and prevention. RESULTS: This article covers the research on mountain sickness as well as every imaginable form of conventional and alternative medicine. It contains ten medicinal plants that are useful in treating mountain sickness and various other remedies. Additionally, case studies are provided. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the information in the paper will help travel medicine specialists better personalize their appropriate care for patients who travel to high-altitude locations. Additionally, all available antiemetic medications, serotonin agonists, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal treatments for motion sickness were discussed. The prevention and consequences of acute mountain sickness are also covered in this study.

Therapeutic effects of eugenol in a rat model of traumatic brain injury: A behavioral, biochemical, and histological study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in death or long term functional disabilities. Eugenol is demonstrated to be beneficial in a range of experimental models of neurological disorders via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of eugenol in a weight-drop induced rat model of TBI. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Rats were assigned into five groups; control and TBI groups pretreated with vehicle, and three TBI groups pretreated with different doses of eugenol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg/day, p.o., seven consecutive days). Except for the control, all other groups were subjected to TBI using Marmarou's weight-drop method. 24 h after TBI, locomotor functions and short term memory were evaluated. Lastly animals were scarified and the estimation of lipid peroxidation in brain tissue, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, brain water content (brain edema) and histopathology of the brain tissue were performed. RESULTS: Weight-drop induced TBI caused functional disabilities in the rats as indicated by impairment in locomotor activities and short term memory. The TBI also resulted in augmented neuronal cell death designated by chromatolysis. The results also showed disruption in the BBB integrity, increased edema, and lipid peroxidation in the brain of the rats exposed to trauma. Pretreatment with eugenol (100 mg/kg) ameliorated histopathological, neurochemical, and behavioral consequences of trauma. CONCLUSION: For the first time this study revealed that eugenol can be considered as a potential candidate for managing the functional disabilities associated with TBI because of its antioxidant activities.

Study of anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities of seeds of Hyoscyamus niger and isolation of a new coumarinolignan.

A chemical and biological validation of the traditional use of Hyoscyamus niger seeds as anti-inflammatory drug has been established. The methanolic extract of seeds of H. niger (MHN) was evaluated for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activities in experimental animal models at different doses. MHN produced significant increase in hot plate reaction time, while decreasing writhing response in a dose-dependent manner indicating its analgesic activity. It was also effective in both acute and chronic inflammation evaluated through carrageenin-induced paw oedema and cotton pellet granuloma methods. In addition to its analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, it also exhibited antipyretic activity in yeast-induced pyrexia model. Furthermore, the bioactive MHN under chemical investigation showed the presence of coumarinolignans as major chemical constituent and yielded a new coumarinolignan, cleomiscosin A methyl ether (1) along with four known coumarinolignans, cleomiscosin A (2), cleomiscosin B (3), cleomiscosin A-9'-acetate (4) and cleomiscosin B-9'-acetate (5). The structure elucidation of 1 was done by spectroscopic data interpretation and comparative HPLC analysis. Cleomiscosin A, but not its isomer cleomiscosin B, reduced dry and wet weight of cotton pellet granuloma in mice. This suggests that cleomiscosin A is an important constituent of MHN responsible for anti-inflammatory activity.

Anti-hyperlipidemic activity of Withania coagulans in streptozotocin-induced diabetes: A potent anti-atherosclerotic agent.

Dyslipidemia is one of the most common complications in diabetes mellitus, which increases risk of premature atherosclerosis. Drugs having antihyperlipidemic activity in addition to their hypoglycemic effect in diabetes may be suitable anti-atherosclerotic agents in diabetic patients. The present study was aimed to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic activity of an aqueous extract of Withania coagulans (AWC) in terms of atherogenic index (AI) in normal and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. AWC (1,000 mg/kg body weight, BW) was orally administrated in normal and STZ (70 mg/kg)-induced diabetic rats and levels of glucose, total cholesterol (CHL), high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and triglyceride (TG) levels in the plasma were analyzed spectrophotometrically. BW was measured and AI was calculated in each group. Results show that after sub-chronic dosing, AWC reduced plasma glucose levels both in normal and diabetic rats, while significantly decreasing plasma levels of CHL, HDL and TG only in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Repeated administration of AWC also significantly decreased AI and prevented weight loss in STZ-induced diabetic animals. Hence, AWC showed anti-hyperlipidemic activity in diabetic rats and was suggested to be a suitable candidate for the treatment of atherosclerosis associated with diabetes.