scholarly journals Therapeutic Effects of Phytochemicals and Medicinal Herbs on Depression

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gihyun Lee ◽  
Hyunsu Bae
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Medicinal Herbs ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Psychiatric Disease ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Complementary Method ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Life Threatening

Background. Depression is a recurrent, common, and potentially life-threatening psychiatric disease related to multiple assignable causes. Although conventional antidepressant therapy can help relieve symptoms of depression and prevent relapse of the illness, complementary therapies are required due to disadvantage of the current therapy such as adverse effects. Moreover, a number of studies have researched adjunctive therapeutic approaches to improve outcomes for depression patients. Purpose. One potential complementary method with conventional antidepressants involves the use of medicinal herbs and phytochemicals that provide therapeutic benefits. Studies have revealed beneficial effects of medical herbs and phytochemicals on depression and their central nervous system mechanism. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of phytochemicals and medicinal herbs against depression and describe their detailed mechanisms. Sections. There are two sections, phytochemicals against depression and medical herbs against depression, in this review. Conclusion. Use of phytomedicine may be an alternative option for the treatment of depression in case conventional drugs are not applicable due to their side effects, low effectiveness, or inaccessibility. However, the efficacy and safety of these phytomedicine treatments for depression have to be supported by clinical studies.

scholarly journals The Diverse Calpain Family in Trypanosomatidae: Functional Proteins Devoid of Proteolytic Activity?

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 299
Author(s):  
Vítor Ennes-Vidal ◽  
Marta Helena Branquinha ◽  
André Luis Souza dos Santos ◽  
Claudia Masini d’Avila-Levy
Keyword(s):  
Proteolytic Activity ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Calcium Dependent ◽  
Administration Routes ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Living Organisms ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Open Question ◽  
Calpain Inhibitors

Calpains are calcium-dependent cysteine peptidases that were originally described in mammals and, thereafter, their homologues were identified in almost all known living organisms. The deregulated activity of these peptidases is associated with several pathologies and, consequently, huge efforts have been made to identify selective inhibitors. Trypanosomatids, responsible for life-threatening human diseases, possess a large and diverse family of calpain sequences in their genomes. Considering that the current therapy to treat trypanosomatid diseases is limited to a handful of drugs that suffer from unacceptable toxicity, tough administration routes, like parenteral, and increasing treatment failures, a repurposed approach with calpain inhibitors could be a shortcut to successful chemotherapy. However, there is a general lack of knowledge about calpain functions in these parasites and, currently, the proteolytic activity of these proteins is still an open question. Here, we highlight the current research and perspectives on trypanosomatid calpains, overview calpain description in these organisms, and explore the potential of targeting the calpain system as a therapeutic strategy. This review gathers the current knowledge about this fascinating family of peptidases as well as insights into the puzzle: are we unable to measure calpain activity in trypanosomatids, or are the functions of these proteins devoid of proteolytic activity in these parasites?

scholarly journals Inhibitory and complementary therapeutic effect of sweet lime (Citrus limetta) against RNA-viruses

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Sulagna Ray Pal ◽  
Swapan Banerjee
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Effect ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Western World ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Nutrient Contents ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Sweet Lime ◽  
Antiviral Activities

Sweet lime (), known as 'Mousambi' or 'Mosambi' in India, is one of the best citrus fruits regarding its nutrient contents. Its bioactive compounds (BAC) are exclusively used for multiple clinical applications considering many therapeutic benefits not only in Asian countries but also in the western world. The fruit pulp and juice are the best sources of ascorbic acid, B-vitamins, amino acids, and other secondary metabolites. Specifically, polyphenols such as flavanones, hesperetin, naringenin, and chlorogenic acid are highly rich in the fruit. The nutrients in sweet lime altogether provide significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this study is to review and analyze the inhibitory and complementary therapeutic effects of sweet lime's pulp and juices to inhibit the virulence caused by RNA viruses, mainly SARS-CoV-2. This review study was designed based on extensive online searches of relevant open-access literature available in the best quality and reliable databases by using specific keywords and boolean operators. After a rigorous review, we found that flavanones in the fruit can alter or inhibit the polyproteins (pp1a and pp1b) responsible for viral replication. Therefore, sweet lime has potentialities to provide an inhibitory and a complementary therapeutic effect against RNA viruses, mainly SARS-CoV-2. About the antiviral activities, more clinical trials are needed to prove its efficacy; however, reviewing current knowledge, is one of the potent antioxidant, inflammatory fruits available and affordable almost worldwide.

scholarly journals Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Beneficial Effects of Exercise on Brain Function and Neurological Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 4052
Author(s):  
Kévin Nay ◽  
William J. Smiles ◽  
Jacqueline Kaiser ◽  
Luke M. McAloon ◽  
Kim Loh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Function ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

As life expectancy has increased, particularly in developed countries, due to medical advances and increased prosperity, age-related neurological diseases and mental health disorders have become more prevalent health issues, reducing the well-being and quality of life of sufferers and their families. In recent decades, due to reduced work-related levels of physical activity, and key research insights, prescribing adequate exercise has become an innovative strategy to prevent or delay the onset of these pathologies and has been demonstrated to have therapeutic benefits when used as a sole or combination treatment. Recent evidence suggests that the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain are related to several underlying mechanisms related to muscle–brain, liver–brain and gut–brain crosstalk. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the most relevant current knowledge of the impact of exercise on mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, and to highlight the established and potential underlying mechanisms involved in exercise–brain communication and their benefits for physiology and brain function.

scholarly journals Potential Role of Exosomes in Ischemic Stroke Treatment

Biomolecules ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 115
Author(s):  
Lingling Jiang ◽  
Weiqi Chen ◽  
Jinyi Ye ◽  
Yilong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Stroke Treatment ◽  
Neuroprotective Drugs ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
Neurovascular Remodeling

Ischemic stroke is a life-threatening cerebral vascular disease and accounts for high disability and mortality worldwide. Currently, no efficient therapeutic strategies are available for promoting neurological recovery in clinical practice, except rehabilitation. The majority of neuroprotective drugs showed positive impact in pre-clinical studies but failed in clinical trials. Therefore, there is an urgent demand for new promising therapeutic approaches for ischemic stroke treatment. Emerging evidence suggests that exosomes mediate communication between cells in both physiological and pathological conditions. Exosomes have received extensive attention for therapy following a stroke, because of their unique characteristics, such as the ability to cross the blood brain–barrier, low immunogenicity, and low toxicity. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated positively neurorestorative effects of exosome-based therapy, which are largely mediated by the microRNA cargo. Herein, we review the current knowledge of exosomes, the relationships between exosomes and stroke, and the therapeutic effects of exosome-based treatments in neurovascular remodeling processes after stroke. Exosomes provide a viable and prospective treatment strategy for ischemic stroke patients.

scholarly journals Hypocholesterolemia and Statins in Multiple Myeloma

2021 ◽  
pp. 8-10
Author(s):  
Irfan Yavaşoğlu ◽  
Atakan Turgutkaya
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Myeloma ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Current Therapy ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Plasma Cell Disorder ◽  
Lipid Lowering Agents ◽  
Low Cholesterol ◽  
Beneficial Approach ◽  
Cell Disorder

Statins are lipid-lowering agents. They also have immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anti-proliferative functions. In this context, they are demonstrated to have beneficial effects on mortality in several malignancies including esophageal, breast, lung, liver, pancreatic, endometrial, and colorectal cancers. Multiple myeloma is considered as an incurable plasma cell disorder with current therapy; however due to the current knowledge about the correlation between cholesterol-lowering agents and myeloma; it’s suggested to have lower mortality rates for patients using statins.  Patients with multiple myeloma usually have a low cholesterol level which is often underestimated by clinicians. Hereby we aimed to summarize the myeloma-hypocholesterolemia relationship and emphasize the importance of statins as an inexpensive and beneficial approach for these patients.

scholarly journals Nutraceuticals in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (14) ◽  
pp. 4827
Author(s):  
José L. Sánchez-Gloria ◽  
Horacio Osorio-Alonso ◽  
Abraham S. Arellano-Buendía ◽  
Roxana Carbó ◽  
Adrián Hernández-Díazcouder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Arterial Hypertension ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Functional Decline ◽  
Right Heart Failure ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Long Term Treatment ◽  
Pulmonary Arterial

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease characterized by the loss and obstructive remodeling of the pulmonary arterial wall, causing a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, which is responsible for right heart failure, functional decline, and death. Although many drugs are available for the treatment of this condition, it continues to be life-threatening, and its long-term treatment is expensive. On the other hand, many natural compounds present in food have beneficial effects on several cardiovascular conditions. Several studies have explored many of the potential beneficial effects of natural plant products on PAH. However, the mechanisms by which natural products, such as nutraceuticals, exert protective and therapeutic effects on PAH are not fully understood. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge on nutraceuticals and their potential use in the protection and treatment of PAH, as well as whether nutraceuticals could enhance the effects of drugs used in PAH through similar mechanisms.

scholarly journals Therapeutic Use of Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Exosomes: From Basic Science to Clinics

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Randall Harrell ◽  
Nemanja Jovicic ◽  
Valentin Djonov ◽  
Vladislav Volarevic
Keyword(s):  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Degenerative Diseases ◽  
Cellular Mechanisms ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
Parenchymal Cells

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are, due to their immunosuppressive and regenerative properties, used as new therapeutic agents in cell-based therapy of inflammatory and degenerative diseases. A large number of experimental and clinical studies revealed that most of MSC-mediated beneficial effects were attributed to the effects of MSC-sourced exosomes (MSC-Exos). MSC-Exos are nano-sized extracellular vesicles that contain MSC-derived bioactive molecules (messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNAs (miRNAs)), enzymes, cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors) that modulate phenotype, function and homing of immune cells, and regulate survival and proliferation of parenchymal cells. In this review article, we emphasized current knowledge about molecular and cellular mechanisms that were responsible for MSC-Exos-based beneficial effects in experimental models and clinical trials. Additionally, we elaborated on the challenges of conventional MSC-Exos administration and proposed the use of new bioengineering and cellular modification techniques which could enhance therapeutic effects of MSC-Exos in alleviation of inflammatory and degenerative diseases.

scholarly journals Psilocybin as a New Approach to Treat Depression and Anxiety in the Context of Life-Threatening Diseases—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials

Biomedicines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Sofia Vargas ◽  
Ângelo Luís ◽  
Mário Barroso ◽  
Eugenia Gallardo ◽  
Luísa Pereira
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Effect Sizes ◽  
P Value ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Life Threatening

Psilocybin is a naturally occurring tryptamine known for its psychedelic properties. Recent research indicates that psilocybin may constitute a valid approach to treat depression and anxiety associated to life-threatening diseases. The aim of this work was to perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of clinical trials to assess the therapeutic effects and safety of psilocybin on those medical conditions. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to measure the effects in depression and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure the effects in anxiety. For BDI, 11 effect sizes were considered (92 patients) and the intervention group was significantly favored (WMD = −4.589; 95% CI = −4.207 to −0.971; p-value = 0.002). For STAI-Trait, 11 effect sizes were considered (92 patients), being the intervention group significantly favored when compared to the control group (WMD = −5.906; 95% CI = −7.852 to −3.960; p-value ˂ 0.001). For STAI-State, 9 effect sizes were considered (41 patients) and the intervention group was significantly favored (WMD = −6.032; 95% CI = −8.900 to −3.164; p-value ˂ 0.001). The obtained results are promising and emphasize the importance of psilocybin translational research in the management of symptoms of depression and anxiety, since the compound may be effective in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in conditions that are either resistant to conventional pharmacotherapy or for which pharmacologic treatment is not yet approved. Moreover, it may be also relevant for first-line treatment, given its safety.

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes for treatment of ischemic stroke

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rucheng Liu ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Yundi Zhang ◽  
Maryam Farzaneh ◽  
Seyed Esmaeil Khoshnam
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Therapeutic Strategy ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Cell Based Therapy ◽  
Cell Sources ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
A Cell

: Stroke is a life-threatening disease and one of the leading causes of death and physical disability worldwide. Currently, no drugs on the market promote neural recovery after stroke insult, and spontaneous remodeling processes are limited to induce recovery in the ischemic regions. Therefore, promoting a cell-based therapy has been needed to elevate the endogenous recovery process. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been regarded as candidate cell sources for therapeutic purposes of ischemic stroke, which their therapeutic effects are mediated by exosomes. The microRNA cargo in these extracellular vesicles is mostly responsible for the positive effects. When it comes to the therapeutic viewpoint, MSCs-derived exosomes could be a promising therapeutic strategy against ischemic stroke. The aim of this review is to discuss the current knowledge around the potential of MSCs-derived exosomes in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Ion Channel Remodelling in Atrial Fibrillation

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Voigt ◽  
Dobromir Dobrev ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Ion Channel ◽  
Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Bleeding Complications ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with stroke being the most critical complication. Present drugs used for the therapy of AF (antiarrhythmics and anticoagulants) have major limitations, including incomplete efficacy, risks of life-threatening proarrhythmic events and bleeding complications. Non-pharmacological ablation procedures are efficient and apparently safe, but the very large size of the patient population allows ablation treatment of only a small number of patients. These limitations largely result from limited knowledge about the underlying mechanisms of AF and there is a hope that a better understanding of the molecular basis of AF may lead to the discovery of safer and more effective therapeutic targets. This article reviews the current knowledge about AF-related ion-channel remodelling and discusses how these alterations might affect the efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document