The triterpenoid ursolic acid ameliorates stress in Caenorhabditis elegans by affecting the depression-associated genes skn-1 and prdx2.

Introduction: Depression is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Lower antioxidant concentrations and increased oxidative stress levels contribute to the development of depression. Effective and tolerable medications are urgently needed.

Withanone Ameliorates Stress Symptoms in Caenorhabditis Elegans by Acting through Serotonin Receptors.

Introduction: Depression is responsible for 800 000 deaths worldwide, a number that will rise significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Affordable novel drugs with less severe side effects are urgently required. We investigated the effect of withanone (WN) from Withania somnifera on the serotonin system of wild-type and knockout Caenorhabditis elegans strains using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids cause cell cycle and DNA damage repair defects as analyzed by transcriptomics in cytochrome P450 3A4-overexpressing HepG2 clone 9 cells.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a large group of highly toxic chemical compounds, which are found as cross-contaminants in numerous food products (e.g., honey), dietary supplements, herbal teas, and pharmaceutical herbal medicines.

Increased Stress Resistance and Lifespan in Wildtype and Knockout Mutants-Implications for Depression Treatment by Medicinal Herbs.

Depression and anxiety disorders are widespread diseases, and they belong to the leading causes of disability and greatest burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. It is expected that the numbers will dramatically rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Established medications are not sufficient to adequately treat depression and are not available for everyone.

Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A.

Introduction: Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants.

Ursolic acid enhances stress resistance, reduces ROS accumulation and prolongs life span in C. elegans serotonin-deficient mutants.

Introduction: Depression and anxiety disorders contribute to the global disease burden. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural compound present in many vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants, was tested in vivo for its effect on (1) enhancing resistance to stress and (2) its effect on life span.

Methods: The compound was tested for its antioxidant activity in C.

Ursolic acid ameliorates stress and reactive oxygen species in C. elegans knockout mutants by the dopamine Dop1 and Dop3 receptors.

Background: Depression and stress-related disorders are leading causes of death worldwide. Standard treatments elevating serotonin or noradrenaline levels are not sufficiently effective and cause adverse side effects. A connection between dopamine pathways and stress-related disorders has been suggested.

Development of artemisinin resistance in malaria therapy.

Malaria affects 200 million people worldwide. Today, the most successful treatments are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT). Resistance has already been described for the elder anti-malarials chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine.

Biopiracy versus One-World Medicine-From colonial relicts to global collaborative concepts.

Background: Practices of biopiracy to use genetic resources and indigenous knowledge by Western companies without benefit-sharing of those, who generated the traditional knowledge, can be understood as form of neocolonialism.

Hypothesis: The One-World Medicine concept attempts to merge the best of traditional medicine from developing countries and conventional Western medicine for the sake of patients around the globe.

Study Design: Based on literature searches in several databases, a concept paper has been written.

The activity of Artemisia spp. and their constituents against Trypanosomiasis.

Background: Trypanosomiasis belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. Although standard therapies are available, the safety and efficacy of current synthetic drugs are limited due to the development of drug resistance and adverse side effects.

Purpose: Artemisia annua and artemisinin are not only active against Plasmodia, but also other protozoa.

Insights into apoptotic proteins in chemotherapy: quantification techniques and informing therapy choice.

Introduction: Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of cancer is evasion of apoptosis leading to tumor progression and drug resistance. Biomarker research has become a sign of the times, and proteins involved in apoptosis may be used for clinical diagnostic or prognostic purposes in cancer treatment.

Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacotherapy of Military Personnel Suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem among soldiers with combating experience difficult to treat. The pathogenesis is still not fully understood at the psychological level. Therefore, genetic research became a focus of interest.

Pharmaceutical care as narrative practice? Rethinking patient-centered care through a pharmacist's perspective.

Illness is a disruptive experience that requires high-quality care. The best evidence-based medical treatment risks losing some of its efficacy, however, when patients feel misunderstood when faced with the complexity of their experiences. They might stop treatment, refuse to disclose relevant information or seek unsound alternatives.

Evaluating ancient Egyptian prescriptions today: Anti-inflammatory activity of Ziziphus spina-christi.

Background: Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (Christ's Thorn Jujube) is a wild tree today found in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and some parts of Africa, which was already in use as a medicinal plant in Ancient Egypt.

Biopiracy of natural products and good bioprospecting practice.

Background: Biopiracy mainly focuses on the use of biological resources and/or knowledge of indigenous tribes or communities without allowing them to share the revenues generated out of economic exploitation or other non-monetary incentives associated with the resource/knowledge.

Methods: Based on collaborations of scientists from five continents, we have created a communication platform to discuss not only scientific topics, but also more general issues with social relevance. This platform was termed 'PhytCancer -Phytotherapy to Fight Cancer' (www.

Kaempferol Is an Anti-Inflammatory Compound with Activity towards NF-κB Pathway Proteins.

Background: The nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway is critical in inflammation, proliferation and carcinogenesis. There exist three main players in this pathway. The inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), IκB kinase (IκK)- NF-κB essential modulator (NEMO) complex and NF-κB.