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Background: Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax & K. Hoffm. (A. laxiflora) has been indicated in traditional medicine to treat depression. However, scientific rationalization is still lacking. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the antidepressant potential of A. laxiflora using network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Materials and methods: The active compounds and potential targets of A. laxiflora and depression-related targets were retrieved from public databases, such as PubMed, PubChem, DisGeNET, GeneCards, OMIM, SwissTargetprediction, BindingDB, STRING, and DAVID. Essential bioactive compounds, potential targets, and signaling pathways were predicted using in silico analysis, including BA-TAR, PPI, BA-TAR-PATH network construction, and GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Later on, with molecular docking analysis, the interaction of essential bioactive compounds of A. laxiflora and predicted core targets of depression were verified. Results: The network pharmacology approach identified 15 active compounds, a total of 219 compound-related targets, and 14,574 depression-related targets with 200 intersecting targets between them. SRC, EGFR, PIK3R1, AKT1, and MAPK1 were the core targets, whereas 3-acetyloleanolic acid and 3-acetylursolic acid were the most active compounds of A. laxiflora with anti-depressant potential. GO functional enrichment analysis revealed 129 GO terms, including 82 biological processes, 14 cellular components, and 34 molecular function terms. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis yielded significantly enriched 108 signaling pathways. Out of them, PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways might have a key role in treating depression. Molecular docking analysis results exhibited that core targets of depression, such as SRC, EGFR, PIK3R1, AKT1, and MAPK1, bind stably with the analyzed bioactive compounds of A. laxiflora. Conclusion: The present study elucidates the bioactive compounds, potential targets, and pertinent mechanism of action of A. laxiflora in treating depression. A. laxiflora might exert an antidepressant effect by regulating PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. However, further investigations are required to validate.
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Introduction: Given the severity of the condition and the increasing number of patients, developing effective therapies for Alzheimer's disease has become a significant necessity. Aggregation of Amyloid-Beta (Aß) plaques and Tau Protein Tangles in the brain's nerve tissue are two of the most histopathological/pathophysiological symptoms. Another important element involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease is the reduction in acetylcholine (ACh) levels in the brain. Currently available medications for Alzheimer's disease treatment, such as cholinesterase inhibitors and an antagonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor, can temporarily reduce dementia symptoms but not stop or reverse disease development. In addition, several medicinal plants have been shown to diminish the degenerative characteristics associated with Alzheimer's disease, either in its crude form or as isolated chemicals. Aim: This review summarises the results from previous studies that reflect an array of novel therapies underway in various phases of clinical trials. Many are discontinued due to non-adherence to the designed endpoints or the surfacing of unavoidable side effects. The present piece of article focuses on the approved drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and their related mode of action as well as the promising therapies for the treatment of the said disease. Special attention has been placed on the researched herbal drugs, with the pipeline of novel therapies underway in various phases of clinical trials. Result: The current article includes a list of approved pharmaceuticals for treating Alzheimer's disease, prospective therapies for the illness's treatment, and a pipeline of novel therapies in various stages of clinical trials. Conclusion: The results suggest that the drugs under clinical trials may open new pathways for the effective treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease while improving their quality of life.