Antidepressant-like and Beneficial Effects of a Neoponcirin-Beta-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex in Mice Exposed to Prolonged Stress.

Neoponcirin causes anxiolytic-like effects in mice when administered intraperitoneally but not orally. Neoponcirin is non-water-soluble and insoluble in solvents, and in medium acid, it isomerizes, reducing its bioavailability. To improve the pharmacological properties of neoponcirin, we formed a neoponcirin complex with beta-cyclodextrin (NEO/βCD), which was characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, and NMR, and their solubility profile.

Participation of Ca-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II in the Antidepressant-Like Effects of Melatonin.

Melatonin (-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an indoleamine secreted by the pineal gland during the dark phase of the photoperiod. Its main function is the synchronization of different body rhythms with the dark-light cycle. Research on melatonin has significantly advanced since its discovery and we now know that it has considerable significance in various physiological processes, including immunity, aging, and reproduction.

Interaction of the Melatonin/Ca-CaM Complex with Calmodulin Kinase II: Physiological Importance.

Melatonin -acetyl-5-methoxytriptamine is an ancient molecule which synchronizes the internal biologic activity with the environmental photoperiod. It is synthesized by the pineal gland during the night and released to the general circulation, where it reaches nanomolar concentrations. The indolamine acts through melatonin receptors and binds to different proteins such as calmodulin: a phylogenetically conserved protein which is the main transductor of the calcium signaling.

Recovery of Naringin-Rich Flavonoid Extracts from Agroresidues with Anxiolytic- and Antidepressant-like Effects in Mice.

species belong to the Rutaceae family, and it is commonly known as grapefruit. Grapefruit consumption involves a large amount of waste that goes to landfills and produces significant pollution affecting the human health. To examine this phenomenon, we designed an efficient chemical method that recovers naringin-rich flavonoid extracts from the fresh waste of grapefruits, by using the solvent impregnation resin method (SIR) with XAD-4 amberlite and either methanol or water as elution systems.

Melatonin: A Neurotrophic Factor?

Melatonin, -acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, is a hormone that synchronizes the internal environment with the photoperiod. It is synthesized in the pineal gland and greatly depends on the endogenous circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and the retina's exposure to different light intensities. Among its most studied functions are the regulation of the waking-sleep rhythm and body temperature.

Behavioral and Fluorescent-Based Immunohistochemistry Protocols for Examining Antidepressant-Like Effects of Melatonin in Mice.

Antidepressants are characterized by their ability to decrease despair behavior assessed in mice as a decrease in immobility time in the forced swimming test (FST) (antidepressant-like behavior). This behavioral parameter is associated with increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus of the rodents summitted to this test. Herein, we describe an optimized protocol used to characterize the melatonin antidepressant-like effect associated with its pro-neurogenic activity after an acute and a triple administration to mice measured by the FST and fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry in brain tissue, respectively.

Antidepressant Low Doses of Ketamine and Melatonin in Combination Produce Additive Neurogenesis in Human Olfactory Neuronal Precursors.

Melatonin (MEL), an indolamine with diverse functions in the brain, has been shown to produce antidepressant-like effects, presumably through stimulating neurogenesis. We recently showed that the combination of MEL with ketamine (KET), an NMDA receptor antagonist, has robust antidepressant-like effects in mice, at doses that, by themselves, are non-effective and have no adverse effects. Here, we show that the KET/MEL combination increases neurogenesis in a clone derived from human olfactory neuronal precursors, a translational pre-clinical model for effects in the human CNS.

Antidepressant-like effects of a methanol extract of in mice.

This study evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of a methanol extract of in behavioural tests in mice. Our results showed that a single administration of the extract significantly reduced immobility behaviour in the tail suspension test, while three administrations were necessary to diminish immobility behaviour in the forced swimming test. A daily dose of the extract for 28 days improved body weight gain and significantly reduced corticosterone levels of mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress.

Further Evidence of the Melatonin Calmodulin Interaction: Effect on CaMKII Activity.

Melatonin (MEL) is a pleiotropic indolamine that reaches multiple intracellular targets. Among these, MEL binds to calmodulin (CaM) with high affinity. In presence of Ca, CaM binds to CaM-dependent kinase II (CaMKII).

Low Doses of Ketamine and Melatonin in Combination Produce Additive Antidepressant-like Effects in Mice.

Major depressive disorder is a disabling disease with the number of affected individuals increasing each year. Current antidepressant treatments take between three to six weeks to be effective with forty percent of patients being resistant to treatment, making it necessary to search for new antidepressant treatments. Ketamine, a phencyclidine hydrochloride derivative, given intravenously, induces a rapid antidepressant effect in humans.

Cutin from Dunal and Jacq. as a Potential Raw Material for Biopolymers.

Plant cuticles have attracted attention because they can be used to produce hydrophobic films as models for novel biopolymers. Usually, cuticles are obtained from agroresidual waste. To find new renewable natural sources to design green and commercially available bioplastics, fruits of and were analyzed.

Calea zacatechichi Schltdl. (Compositae) produces anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects, and increases the hippocampal activity during REM sleep in rodents.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Calea zacatechichi is a plant with an extensive popular and ritual use in Mexico. In healthy volunteers, it induces well-being and tranquility senses, and facilitates superficial stages of sleep. However, anxiolytic, and antidepressant-like effects and changes on the sleep-waking stages have not been explored.

Neurobehavioral and toxicological effects of an aqueous extract of Turnera diffusa Willd (Turneraceae) in mice.

Aims: To explore the antidepressant- and anxiolytic-like effects of an aqueous extract of Turnera diffusa Willd (Turneraceae) and to explore its possible toxic side effects on behavior, target organ function, and spermatic quality.

Materials And Methods: Acute effects of a T. diffusa aqueous extract were evaluated in adult male mice with the plus-maze, forced swimming and open field tests to identify the possible anxiolytic, antidepressant and stimulant effects of this extract.

Piper auritum Kunth (Piperaceae) improves the sexual performance of sluggish male rats through enhancing ejaculation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Piper auritum Kunth is employed as an aphrodisiac in the traditional medicine, but corroborative evidence for such effect is scarce.

Aim Of The Study: The pro-sexual effect of an aqueous extract of P. auritum and its possible mechanisms were analyzed in two paradigms of male sexual function.

The Timing of Melatonin Administration Is Crucial for Its Antidepressant-Like Effect in Mice.

Melatonin is synthesized by the pineal gland with a circadian rhythm in synchrony with the environmental light/dark cycle. A gradual increase in circulating levels of melatonin occur after lights off, reaching its maximum around the middle of the dark phase. Agonists of melatonin receptors have proved effectiveness as antidepressants in clinical trials.

Antidepressant-like effect of root extracts.

In this study, we investigated the antidepressant-like effects of the hexane (HCP), ethyl acetate (ECP) and methanol (MCP) extracts of the roots of Ramírez (Rutaceae) using the forced swim test (FST). In an initial experiment, each extract was orally administered to mice only once 60 min before to the FST. In a second experiment, doses were administered 24, 7 and 1 h before testing.

Circadian modulation of neuroplasticity by melatonin: a target in the treatment of depression.

Mood disorders are a spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by changes in the emotional state. In particular, major depressive disorder is expected to have a worldwide prevalence of 20% in 2020, representing a huge socio-economic burden. Currently used antidepressant drugs have poor efficacy with only 30% of the patients in remission after the first line of treatment.

Anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) in mice.

Aim: Tanacetum parthenium L. Schultz-Bip (Asteraceae) is widely used worldwide in traditional medicine for the treatment of convulsions and culture-bound syndromes such as susto (fear). The aim of this work was to evaluate the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of T.

Involvement of the GABAergic system in the neuroprotective and sedative effects of acacetin 7-O-glucoside in rodents.

Purpose: Characterization of sedative, possible anticonvulsant, and protective effects of Acacetin-7-O-glucoside (7-ACAG).

Methods: 7-ACAG was separated and its purity was analyzed. Its sedative and anti-seizure effects (1, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) were evaluated in male mice.

Antidepressant-like and toxicological effects of a standardized aqueous extract of Chrysactinia mexicana A. Gray (Asteraceae) in mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: C. mexicana A. Gray (Asteraceae) is a native of North America plant.

Anti-depressant-like effect of kaempferitrin isolated from Justicia spicigera Schltdl (Acanthaceae) in two behavior models in mice: evidence for the involvement of the serotonergic system.

We evaluated the antidepressant-like effect of kaempferitrin (Km) isolated from the plant Justicia spicigera (Asteraceae), which is used in traditional medicine for relieving emotional disorders, such as "la tristeza" (sadness or dysthymia) and "el humor" (mood changes). The actions of Km were evaluated in a forced swimming test (FST) and a suspension tail test (TST) in mice. We explored the involvement of the serotonergic system and the hypothalamic-hypophysis-adrenal axis (HPA) in the antidepressant-like effect of Km.

Central nervous system effects and chemical composition of two subspecies of Agastache mexicana; an ethnomedicine of Mexico.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Agastache mexicana subspecies mexicana (Amm) and xolocotziana (Amx) are used in Mexican traditional medicine to relief cultural affiliation syndromes known as "susto" or "espanto", for "nervous" condition, and as a sleep aid. Despite its intensive use, neuropharmacological studies are scarce, and the chemical composition of the aqueous extracts has not been described. Aims of the study are: (1) To analyze the chemical composition of aqueous extracts from aerial parts of Amm and Amx.

Anxiolytic-like and antinociceptive effects of 2(S)-neoponcirin in mice.

Study Aims: 2(S)-neopincirin (NEO) is a constituent from of Clinopodium mexicanum, which is used in traditional Mexican herbal medicine for its tranquilizing and analgesic properties. This study investigated the anxiolytic-like, sedative and antinociceptive effects of NEO in several mice models.

Material And Methods: The anxiolytic-like effect was evaluated in the hole-board (HBT) and Open Field Tests (OFT); sedative effect was evaluated in sleeping time induced by sodium pentobarbital, and its antinociceptive actions were measured in the hot plate test.

A new languidulane diterpenoid from Salvia mexicana var. mexicana.

From the aerial parts of Salvia mexicana var. mexicana, two C-10 epimers (α and β) of salvimexicanolide were isolated. Our interpretation of the data, especially the 13C NMR, led us to conclude that the previously described 13C-NMR spectrum of the α-epimer was not accurately assigned and it actually corresponds to the β-epimer.

Homoisoflavanones from Agave tequilana Weber.

Three homoisoflavanones were isolated from the "piña" and leaves of Agave tequilana Weber. The compounds were identified as: 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4-methoxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one (1), 7-hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one (2) and 4'-demethyl-3,9-dihydro-punctatin (3). This is the first phytochemical study carried out to Agave tequilana Weber.