TeMac™ ameliorates memory impairment and cholinergic dysfunction in rats induced by scopolamine.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with cognitive impairments which are linked to a deficit in cholinergic function. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of TeMac™ to prevent memory impairment in scopolamine-rats model of Alzheimer's disease and by in silico approaches to identify molecules in TeMac™ inhibiting acetylcholinesterase. The cholinergic cognitive dysfunction was induced by intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine (1 mg/kg daily) in male Wistar rats for seven consecutive days.

Effects of diet and ovariectomy on brain infection: functional alterations and neuronal loss in rats.

Epidemiological evidence associates latent infection with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, and various immunological and environmental factors play key pathophysiological roles through host immune response alterations. We investigated the cognitive and motor alterations occurring in the terminal stage of infection in rats, and whether a low-protein diet, a high-fat diet or ovariectomy may accelerate their development, given the role of malnutrition and menopause on immunity and resistance to infection. In two sets of experiments, 2-month-old (157.

Antiamnesic and Neuroprotective Effects of an Aqueous Extract of Mill. (Rhamnaceae) on Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairments in Rats.

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a neurological condition that affects about 44 million people worldwide. The available treatments target symptoms rather than the underlying causes. (Rhamnaceae) is widely used in traditional Cameroonian medicine to treat diabetes, pain, infections, and dementia.

Ameliorative effects of the aqueous extract of Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC (Meliaceae) in vanadium induced anxiety, memory loss and pathologies in the brain and ovary of mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ethnobotanical enquiries have revealed that Khaya anthotheca (Welw.) C.DC (Meliaceae) has anxiolytic properties and is used to alleviate vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women in Cameroon.

A Pharmacological Overview of Alpinumisoflavone, a Natural Prenylated Isoflavonoid.

Over the last decade, several studies demonstrated that prenylation of flavonoids enhances various biological activities as compared to the respective nonprenylated compounds. In line with this, the natural prenylated isoflavonoid alpinumisoflavone (AIF) has been explored for a number of biological and pharmacological effects (therapeutic potential). In this review, we summarize the current information on health-promoting properties of AIF.

Effects of (Moraceae) Aqueous Extract and 7-Methoxycoumarin on Scopolamine-Induced Spatial Memory Impairment in Ovariectomized Wistar Rats.

The present work was undertaken to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract and its major component 7-methoxycoumarin (MC) to improve scopolamine-induced spatial memory impairment in ovariectomized Wistar rats. For this to be done, 10 sham-operated and 30 postmenopausal-like rats were randomly distributed in eight groups ( = 5) and treated with distilled water (2 mL/250 g), estradiol valerate (1 mg/kg BW), piracetam (1.5 mg/kg BW), aqueous extract (50 and 200 mg/kg BW), or MC (1 mg/kg BW) for 21 consecutive days.

Effects of hydroquinone-containing creams on capillary glycemia before and after serial hand washings in Africans.

Background: Hydroquinone-containing creams cause false increases in capillary glycemia. However, the magnitude of this false increase, and the means to reverse it have not been investigated.

Objective: To evaluate the technical and clinical impact of hydroquinone-containing creams on capillary glycemia and investigate the efficacy of hand washing and other common practices, in reversing cream effects.

Memory and exploratory behavior impairment in ovariectomized Wistar rats.

Background: Estrogen deficiency is linked to changes in several physiological processes, but the extent to which it associates with cognitive changes in menopause context is controversial.

Rationale: We evaluated the impact of ovariectomy on memory processes and normal exploratory behavior in Wistar rats.

Methods: Young adult rats (4-6 months) were either ovariectomized (OVX group) (N = 10), sham operated (N = 10), or untouched (naïve controls) (N = 8).

P. Beauv (Cecropiaceae) Extracts Accelerates Sexual Maturation, and Increases Fertility Index and Gestational Rate in Female Wistar Rats.

Despite the wide use of leaves of (Cecropiaceae) in several African countries including Cameroon as food and against amenorrhea and female infertility, it has never been tested for this purpose. Using immature female Wistar rats, the impact of on the sexual maturation parameters (vaginal opening, ovarian relative weight and follicle maturation, gonadotropins and ovarian hormones serum levels) and fertility index has been evaluated through a 30-day oral administration of aqueous and methanol extracts of leaves at the doses of 20, 110 and 200 g/kg/day. Aqueous extract increased the ovarian relative weight ( < 0.

Estrogenic effects of Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) extracts and their ability to alleviate some menopausal symptoms induced by ovariectomy in Wistar rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ficus umbellata Vahl. (Moraceae) is a medicinal plant used in Cameroon to treat amenorrhea as well as other physiological disorders related to menopause.

Aim Of Study: In order to justify scientifically its traditional use, the estrogen-like properties of the aqueous (AE) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of F.

Anxiolytic and sedative activities of aqueous leaf extract of Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dichrocephala integrifolia (Asteraceae) is commonly used in the folk medicine in Cameroon to treat various ailments including headaches, jaundice, filariasis, neuritis and children's night agitation. It is also known to have anxiolytic properties. Since there were no scientific data supporting the above claims, we therefore aimed to evaluate the anxiolytic and sedative effects of the aqueous leaf extract of D.

Newtonoate as an active principle of Newtonia griffoniana for anxiolytic activity in Swiss mice.

Background: Newtonia griffoniana (Mimosaceae) is a Central African rain forest tree, whose bark extracts are used in Cameroonian folk medicine for the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders.

Methods: We evaluated the anxiolytic effects of N. griffoniana stem bark methanol extract and its major isolated constituent 2,3,4-trihydroxybutylpentatriacontanoate (newtonoate) on the elevated plus maze.

Oleocanthal Modulates Estradiol-Induced Gene Expression Involving Estrogen Receptor α.

Oleocanthal is a bioactive compound from olive oil. It has attracted considerable attention as it is anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, and has been shown to possess neuroprotective properties in vitro and in vivo. Delineated from its polyphenolic structure, the aim of this study was to characterize oleocanthal towards estrogenic properties.

Erythroidine alkaloids: a novel class of phytoestrogens.

Erythrina poeppigiana is a medicinal plant which is widely used in Asia, Latin America, and Africa in traditional remedies for gynecological complications and maladies. In continuation of studies for the discovery of novel phytoestrogens, four erythroidine alkaloids, namely α-erythroidine, β-erythroidine, and their oxo-derivatives 8-oxo-α-erythroidine and 8-oxo-β-erythroidine, were isolated and structurally characterized from the methanolic extract of the stem bark of E. poeppigiana.

In vivo and in vitro estrogenic activity of extracts from Erythrina poeppigiana (Fabaceae).

In developing countries, around 80% of the population still resorts on traditional medicine for their primary health care. Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.

Phytotherapy and women's reproductive health: the Cameroonian perspective.

Approximately 80 % of the population in Africa use traditional medicinal plants to improve their state of health. The reason of such a wide use of medicinal plants has been mainly attributed to their accessibility and affordability. Expectation of little if any side effects, of a "natural" and therefore safe treatment regimen, as well as traditional beliefs additionally contribute to their popularity.

Insulin resistance and cancer: the role of insulin and IGFs.

Insulin, IGF1, and IGF2 are the most studied insulin-like peptides (ILPs). These are evolutionary conserved factors well known as key regulators of energy metabolism and growth, with crucial roles in insulin resistance-related metabolic disorders such as obesity, diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus, as well as associated immune deregulations. A growing body of evidence suggests that insulin and IGF1 receptors mediate their effects on regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, glucose transport, and energy metabolism by signaling downstream through insulin receptor substrate molecules and thus play a pivotal role in cell fate determination.

Estrogenic properties of naturally occurring prenylated isoflavones in U2OS human osteosarcoma cells: Structure-activity relationships.

Eight isoflavones derivatives, with isoprenyl and/or 7-methoxy substitution, isolated from Erythrina poeppigiana (Fabaceae) have been investigated for their estrogenic properties in receptor subtype-specific reporter gene assays. First we focused on their estrogen receptor alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta) selectivity, second we addressed structure-activity relationships, using bone-derived human osteosarcoma cell line (U2OS cells) stably expressing ERalpha or transiently expressing ERbeta. Our results show that a substitution at position 3' together with a 7-methoxy substitution on the genistein skeleton is associated with a statistically significant activation of the ERalpha- and ERbeta-dependent reporter gene expression in U2OS cells starting from 0.

Isoflavonoids from Erythrina poeppigiana: evaluation of their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor.

Five new isoflavones, named 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3'-(3-methylbuten-2-yl)isoflavone (1), 5,2',4'-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-5'-(3-methylbuten-2-yl)isoflavone (2), 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3'-(3-methyl-2-hydroxybuten-3-yl)isoflavone (3), 3'-formyl-5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyisoflavone (4), and 5-hydroxy-3''-hydroxy-2'',2''-dimethyldihydropyrano[5'',6'':3',4']isoflavone (5), as well as six known compounds, wighteone (6), 3'-isoprenylgenistein (7), isolupabigenin (8), alpinumisoflavone (9), erypoegin D (10), and crystacarpin (11), were isolated from Erythrina poeppigiana. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic analysis. The affinity of these compounds for the estrogen receptors ERalpha and ERbeta was evaluated using a receptor binding assay.