Is Cadmium Genotoxicity Due to the Induction of Redox Stress and Inflammation? A Systematic Review.

The transition metal cadmium (Cd) is toxic to humans and can induce cellular redox stress and inflammation. Cd is a recognized carcinogen, but the molecular mechanisms associated with its genotoxicity and carcinogenicity are not defined. Therefore, a systematic review was undertaken to examine the scientific literature that has covered the molecular mechanism of Cd genotoxicity and its relationship to cellular redox stress and inflammation.

An In Vivo and In Silico Approach Reveals Possible Sodium Channel Nav1.2 Inhibitors from as a Novel Treatment for Epilepsy.

Epilepsy is a neurological disease that affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Despite an existing abundance of antiepileptic drugs, lifelong disease treatment is often required but could be improved with alternative drugs that have fewer side effects. Given that epileptic seizures stem from abnormal neuronal discharges predominately modulated by the human sodium channel Nav1.

Alcohol Triggers the Accumulation of Oxidatively Damaged Proteins in Neuronal Cells and Tissues.

Alcohol is toxic to neurons and can trigger alcohol-related brain damage, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline. Neuronal cells may be vulnerable to alcohol toxicity and damage from oxidative stress after differentiation. To consider this further, the toxicity of alcohol to undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells was compared with that of cells that had been acutely differentiated.

An In Silico and In Vitro Assessment of the Neurotoxicity of Mefloquine.

Mefloquine (MQ) is a quinoline-based anti-malarial drug used for chemoprophylaxis or as a treatment in combination with artesunate. Although MQ has clear anti- properties, it can induce neurotoxicity and undesired neuropsychiatric side effects in humans. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the neurotoxicity of MQ using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Differential Effects of Paraquat, Rotenone, and MPTP on Cellular Bioenergetics of Undifferentiated and Differentiated Human Neuroblastoma Cells.

Paraquat (PQ), rotenone (RO), and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) are neurotoxicants that can damage human health. Exposure to these neurotoxicants has been linked to neurodegeneration, particularly Parkinson's disease. However, their mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated, nor has the relative vulnerability of neuronal subtypes to their exposures.

Are Therapies That Target α-Synuclein Effective at Halting Parkinson's Disease Progression? A Systematic Review.

There are currently no pharmacological treatments available that completely halt or reverse the progression of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Hence, there is an unmet need for neuroprotective therapies. Lewy bodies are a neuropathological hallmark of PD and contain aggregated α-synuclein (α-syn) which is thought to be neurotoxic and therefore a suitable target for therapeutic interventions.

Differentiated Neurons Are More Vulnerable to Organophosphate and Carbamate Neurotoxicity than Undifferentiated Neurons Due to the Induction of Redox Stress and Accumulate Oxidatively-Damaged Proteins.

Organophosphate (OP) and carbamate pesticides are toxic to pests through targeted inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). However, OPs and carbamates may be harmful to non-target species including humans and could induce developmental neurotoxicity if differentiated or differentiating neurons are particularly vulnerable to neurotoxicant exposures. Hence, this study compared the neurotoxicity of OPs, chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPO), and azamethiphos (AZO) and the carbamate pesticide, aldicarb, to undifferentiated versus differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

Acai Berry ( sp.) Extracts Are Neuroprotective against L-Glutamate-Induced Toxicity by Limiting Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Cellular Redox Stress.

Aberrant accumulation of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate (L-Glu) has been implicated as a mechanism of neurodegeneration, and the release of L-Glu after stroke onset leads to a toxicity cascade that results in neuronal death. The acai berry () is a potential dietary nutraceutical. The aim of this research was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of acai berry aqueous and ethanolic extracts to reduce the neurotoxicity to neuronal cells triggered by L-Glu application.

The Potential of Stilbene Compounds to Inhibit M Protease as a Natural Treatment Strategy for Coronavirus Disease-2019.

COVID-19 disease has had a global impact on human health with increased levels of morbidity and mortality. There is an unmet need to design and produce effective antivirals to treat COVID-19. This study aimed to explore the potential ability of natural stilbenes to inhibit the M protease, an acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) enzyme involved in viral replication.

Mefloquine loaded niosomes as a promising approach for the treatment of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a disease with a worldwide distribution and significant morbidity and mortality. In search of effective treatment, mefloquine (MQ) was repurposed and loaded with niosomes to treat acute and chronic phases of toxoplasmosis in experimental mice. Mice were orally inoculated with 20 cysts of Toxoplasma gondii (ME 49 strain) for the acute model of infection and 10 cysts for the chronic model of infection.

A Preliminary Assessment of the Nutraceutical Potential of Acai Berry ( sp.) as a Potential Natural Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by progressive neuronal atrophy and the loss of neuronal function as a consequence of multiple pathomechanisms. Current AD treatments primarily operate at a symptomatic level to treat a cholinergic deficiency and can cause side effects. Hence, there is an unmet need for healthier lifestyles to reduce the likelihood of AD as well as improved treatments with fewer adverse reactions.

An Investigation of the Neurotoxic Effects of Malathion, Chlorpyrifos, and Paraquat to Different Brain Regions.

Acute or chronic exposures to pesticides have been linked to neurotoxicity and the potential development of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). This study aimed to consider the neurotoxicity of three widely utilized pesticides: malathion, chlorpyrifos, and paraquat within the hippocampus (HC), corpus striatum (CS), cerebellum (CER), and cerebral cortex (CC). Neurotoxicity was evaluated at relatively low, medium, and high pesticide dosages.

The Psychological Impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Patients Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a damaging impact on global health. Post-infection, patients may experience mental health difficulties and therefore require suitable psychological treatment and support. The objective of this study was to identify the psychological impact of COVID-19 on patients who were recovering from the physical effects of the disease, and to examine socio-demographic correlates within one month of treatment at a tertiary healthcare facility in Pakistan.

In Silico Design of Dual-Binding Site Anti-Cholinesterase Phytochemical Heterodimers as Treatment Options for Alzheimer's Disease.

The number of patients with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), continues to grow yearly. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) represent the first-line symptomatic drug treatment for mild-to-moderate AD; however, there is an unmet need to produce ChEIs with improved efficacy and reduced side effects. Herein, phytochemicals with reported anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were ranked in silico for their anti-AChE potential.

Is L-Glutamate Toxic to Neurons and Thereby Contributes to Neuronal Loss and Neurodegeneration? A Systematic Review.

L-glutamate (L-Glu) is a nonessential amino acid, but an extensively utilised excitatory neurotransmitter with critical roles in normal brain function. Aberrant accumulation of L-Glu has been linked to neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. To investigate this further, we systematically reviewed the literature to evaluate the effects of L-Glu on neuronal viability linked to the pathogenesis and/or progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs).

Enhanced expression of plasma membrane intrinsic protein 2 improves cotton fiber length in Gossypium arboreum.

Background: Gossypium arboreum is a cotton crop native to tropical and subtropical regions that are naturally resistant to cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV). However, its cultivation is unfavorable due to the lower quality and shorter fiber length of cotton when compared to the market leading G. hirsutum.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Cannabis-Derived Phytocannabinoids and Resveratrol in Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Literature Review of Pre-Clinical Studies.

Currently, there are no pharmacological treatments able to reverse nigral degeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD), hence the unmet need for the provision of neuroprotective agents. Cannabis-derived phytocannabinoids (CDCs) and resveratrol (RSV) may be useful neuroprotective agents for PD due to their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. To evaluate this, we undertook a systematic review of the scientific literature to assess the neuroprotective effects of CDCs and RSV treatments in pre-clinical in vivo animal models of PD.

Anti-Cholinesterase Combination Drug Therapy as a Potential Treatment for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a burgeoning social and healthcare problem. Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are employed for symptomatic treatment of AD, but often elicit adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Herein, the potency of the ChEIs, donepezil, tacrine, berberine, and galantamine to inhibit human or acetylcholinesterase (AChE) proteins were evaluated.

Potential Nutraceutical Properties of Leaves from Several Commonly Cultivated Plants.

Chronic dietary ingestion of suitable phytochemicals may assist with limiting or negating neurodegenerative decline. Current therapeutics used to treat Alzheimer disease elicit broad adverse drug reactions, and alternative sources of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) are required. Herein, we screened methanolic extracts from seven commonly cultivated plants for their nutraceutical potential; ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyryl-cholinesterase (BuChE), and provision of antioxidant activity through their 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging capabilities.

Carbamazepine induces a bioenergetics disruption to microvascular endothelial cells from the blood-brain barrier.

Carbamazepine (CBZ) is a widely employed anti-seizure medication that crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to exert its anti-convulsant action. The effects of CBZ on components of the BBB have yet to be completely delineated. Hence the current study evaluated the effects of CBZ upon mitochondrial functionality of BBB-derived microvascular endothelial cells isolated from Albino rats.

Do Post-Translational Modifications Influence Protein Aggregation in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review.

The accumulation of abnormal protein aggregates represents a universal hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate protein structure and function. Dysregulated PTMs may influence the propensity for protein aggregation in NDD-proteinopathies.

The heavy metals lead and cadmium are cytotoxic to human bone osteoblasts via induction of redox stress.

The heavy metals (HMs) lead and cadmium are persistent environmental pollutants capable of inducing ill-health in exposed individuals. One of the primary sites of accumulation and potential damage from HMs is bone, and we therefore examined the acute effects of lead and cadmium on human bone osteoblasts in vitro over a concentration range of 0.1 μM to 1mM, and for 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hour exposures.

A randomized crossover trial assessing the effects of acute exercise on appetite, circulating ghrelin concentrations, and butyrylcholinesterase activity in normal-weight males with variants of the obesity-linked FTO rs9939609 polymorphism.

Background: The fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) rs9939609 A-allele is associated with higher acyl-ghrelin (AG) concentrations, higher energy intake, and obesity, although exercise may mitigate rs9939609 A-allele-linked obesity risk. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) hydrolyzes AG to des-acyl-ghrelin (DAG), potentially decreasing appetite. However, the effects of the FTO rs9939609 genotype and exercise on BChE activity, AG, DAG, and energy intake are unknown.

In vitro Anti-cholinesterase and Anti-oxidant Activity of Three Standardised Polyherbal Products Used for Memory Enhancing in Ethnomedicine of South-East Nigeria.

Background: Polyherbal standardised extracts used in ethnomedicine of Eastern Nigeria for memory improvements were evaluated for anti-cholinesterases and anti-oxidant properties.

Methods: Anti-cholinesterase, anti-oxidant, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were established using standard procedures.

Results: The three polyherbal extracts exhibited significant concentration dependent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity ( = 0.

An Investigation of Potential Sources of Nutraceuticals from the Niger Delta Areas, Nigeria for Attenuating Oxidative Stress.

Diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants possess antioxidants potentially capable of mitigating cellular oxidative stress. This study investigated the antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and total phenolic and flavonoids contents (TPC/TFC) of dietary sources traditionally used for memory enhancing in Niger Delta, Nigeria. methanolic seed extract (DEMSE), methanolic seed extract (CLMSE), methanolic seed extract (TeCMSE), methanolic seed extract (TrCMSE), methanolic seed extract (TTMSE), and defatted methanolic seed extract (DMOMSE); methanolic fruit extract (DTMFE), methanolic fruit extract (ACMFE), methanolic leaf extract (GAMLE), methanolic stembark extract (MPMSE), and methanolic stembark extract (MIMSE) were evaluated for free radical scavenging antioxidant ability using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power capacity (reduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron), AChE inhibitory potential by Ellman assay, and then TPC/TFC contents determined by estimating milli-equivalents of Gallic acid and Quercetin per gram, respectively.