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Herbs with Antidepressant Effects
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
Unpurified aqueous extracts of Angelica sinensis exhibited antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner in several standard assays. It significantly inhibited FeCl2-ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation in vitro in rat liver homogenates, with up to half the efficacy of α-tocopherol. It showed similar antioxidant effects in the Cytochrome c assay of superoxide anion scavenging activity, and the xanthine oxidase test of anti-superoxide activity.4 Ligustilide, a major bioactive component of Angelica sinensis, also exhibited antioxidant effects in vitro by protecting cultured PC12 neuronal cells from H2O2-induced cytotoxicity.5
The Influence of Environmental Pollution on Secondary Metabolite Production in Medicinal Plants
Published in Azamal Husen, Environmental Pollution and Medicinal Plants, 2022
Swati T. Gurme, Mahendra L. Ahire, Jaykumar J. Chavan, Pankaj S. Mundada
Exposure of medicinal plants to heavy metals not only influences the concentration of secondary metabolites but also manipulates the content of associated anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and some essential oils too. The decrease in the level of essential oil and growth of the plant was assessed in the case of Mentha piperita (cv Tundza and Clone No 1) (Lamiaceae) and Mentha arvensis var. piperascens (cv Mentolna-14) on exposure to Pb (Zheljazkov and Nielsen 1996). A study carried out in a greenhouse by Kunwar et al. (2015) shows that exposure of O. basilicum to varying concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Cd-treated soil resulted in quantitative rather than qualitative change in essential oil. The stimulation of jasmonic acid and ethylene upon application of heavy metals was also illustrated in certain plants (Maksymiec 2007). Ethylene regulates the production of alkaloids, hyoscyamine, and scopolamines. A change in the concentration of ethylene ultimately changes the production of these compounds (Pitta-Alvarez et al. 2000). This result was observed in in vitro hairy root culture of Brugmansia candida exposed to Ag. The release of scopolamines is elevated compared to hyoscyamine, and this may be due to ethylene-mediated down-regulation of hyoscyamine-6-β-hydroxylase (H6H) which is responsible for the synthesis of scopolamines from hyoscyamine (Pitta-Alvarez et al. 2000). The combined and individual effects of Pb and Cd were studied on Ligusticum chuanxiong by Zeng et al. (2020). As compared to individual metal exposure, combined exposure conditions resulted in a superior antioxidant defence strategy in L. chuanxiong. This condition affects mainly the content of ferulic acid, tetramethylpyrazine, and ligustilide, along with the total weight of the plant (Zeng et al. 2020). Heavy metal exposure also results in lipid peroxidation and the production of highly active signalling molecules (Gratão et al. 2005).
Inhibiting Insulin Resistance and Accumulation of Triglycerides and Cholesterol in the Liver
Published in Christophe Wiart, Medicinal Plants in Asia for Metabolic Syndrome, 2017
Ethanol extract of roots of Angelica acutiloba (Siebold & Zucc.) Kitag. given to Wistar rats on high-fat diet at a daily dose of 300 mg/kg lowered body weight gain from 48.6 to 22.6 g/rats (normal: 16.9 g/rat) and lowered epididymal white adipose from 411.8 mg/100 g bw to 345.4 mg/100 g (normal 337.3 mg/100 g).358 This extract lowered serum cholesterol by 28.3%, low-density lipoprotein–cholesterol by 51.4% and triglycerides by 25.3%, lowered free fatty acids and lowered atherogenic index from 2.9 to 1 (normal: 0.6).358 This extract lowered hepatic cholesterol and triglycerides by 33% and 59%, respectively.358 At the hepatic level, this extract increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α, as well as acyl-CoA oxidase and microsomal ω-oxidation (CYP4A) whereby the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 and protein-2 were downregulated358 implying peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α activation. Histological observation of liver tissues of treated rodent evidenced a decrease in average size of epididymal adipocytes and reduction of hepatic steatosis.358 The roots of this plant contain the polyacetylenes falcarinol, falcarindiol, falcarinolone, choline, scopoletin, umbelliferone, and vanillic acid359 as well as series of alkyl phthalide derivatives of which ligustilide.360 Ligustilide at a concentration of 250 µM inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor-α, prostaglandin E2, and nitric oxide as well as expression of inducible nitric oxide synthetase by Murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide via inhibition of nuclear factor-κB.361 Ligustilide has a low oral bioavailability due to extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver.362 Is metabolized in butylidenephthalide, senkyunolide I, and senkyunolide H.362 Butylidenephthalide given orally at a dose of 80 mg/kg/day for 30 days to rats intoxicated with thioacetamide decrease the development of hepatic fibrosis.363
Ligustilide alleviates the insulin resistance, lipid accumulation, and pathological injury with elevated phosphorylated AMPK level in rats with diabetes mellitus
Published in Journal of Receptors and Signal Transduction, 2021
Sujuan Guo, Guofeng Wang, Zhengxiong Yang
Pathogenesis of DM is complicated, and islet dysfunction serves as an essential element contributing to abnormal blood glucose. Suppression of β-cell apoptosis may suggest a significant breakthrough in DM treatment, since β-cell apoptosis may induce a decrease in β-cell mass [7]. Ligustilide (LIG), the main lipophilic component of the Umbelliferae family such as Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, exhibits multiple pharmacological activities including protective effects on apoptotic cells. For example, chondrocytes apoptosis induced by nitric oxide in rats was alleviated by LIG [8]. LIG also showed a protective influence on PC12 cell under oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation through inhibiting apoptosis [9]. The anti-apoptotic function of LIG reported previously suggests a potential effect of LIG on DM, which has yet to be explored.
Ligustilide provides neuroprotection by promoting angiogenesis after cerebral ischemia
Published in Neurological Research, 2020
Changhong Ren, Ning Li, Chen Gao, Wei Zhang, Yong Yang, Sijie Li, Xunming Ji, Yuchuan Ding
Ligustilide (LGSL) is a bioactive substance isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong, the dried rhizome of L. chuanxiong Hort [12]. L. chuanxiong is one of the most popular herbal medicines used in many European countries in East Asia. Beneficial roles of LGSL have also been reported in aging [13], cancer [14], and several central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease [15] and stroke [16]. A previous study showed that LGSL protects against the effects of cerebral ischemia by antioxidant and anti-apoptosis [17]. Recently, a study showed that LGSL reduces ischemia-reperfusion injury by ameliorating neuroinflammation in mice [18]. LGSL was shown to mitigate blood-brain barrier disruption and brain edema via Nrf2 and HSP70 pathways in vitro [19]. These studies suggest that LGSL is a potential agent for the treatment of ischemic/hypoxia-induced injury. However, to date, the effect of LGSL in promoting angiogenesis after ischemic stroke is unknown.
Gemcitabine enhances pharmacokinetic exposure of the major components of Danggui Buxue Decoction in rat via the promotion of intestinal permeability and down-regulation of CYP3A for combination treatment of non-small cell lung cancer
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2023
Xin Xu, Xi-yang Sun, Ming Chang, Zhao-liang Hu, Ting-ting Cheng, Tai-jun Hang, Min Song
All four active components were rapidly absorbed within 10 min, with no significant differences in Tmax between the DBD and DBD + Gem groups. After combination with gemcitabine, among all the pharmacokinetic parameters of ononin, only AUC showed an obvious rise of about 1.36-fold (p < 0.05), which was 146.9 ± 45.0 ng/mL × min compared with 107.9 ± 35.9 ng/mL × min in DBD group. The Cmax and AUC0–t of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside were 12.1 ± 9.6 ng/mL, 401.3 ± 66.1 ng/mL × min in DBD-administrated rats and 23.2 ± 13.8 ng/mL, 624.6 ± 73.1 ng/mL × min in the combination group, showing an about 1.92-fold and 1.56-fold increase (p < 0.05), respectively, indicating the absorption promotion. Pharmacokinetic parameters of ligustilide and ferulic acid were remarkably altered by gemcitabine co-administration, as higher Cmax and AUC with prolonged t1/2 and MRT, demonstrating absorption and elimination were both affected. The Cmax and AUC0–t of ligustilide were found to be 133.5 ± 43.4 ng/mL, 5090.4 ± 918.6 ng/mL × min in the DBD + Gem group, which were increased by 1.32-fold (p < 0.05) and 3.06-fold (p < 0.01) as compared to the DBD group. The t1/2 and MRT of ligustilide were 103.2 ± 23.7 min and 44.9 ± 26.6 min, which were significantly extended by about 2.37-fold (p < 0.01) and 2.38-fold (p < 0.05) after combination, respectively. The CL/F of ligustilide was 204.2 ± 90.1 mL/min after combination with gemcitabine, showing about 3.95-fold reduction (p < 0.001) compared with DBD administration alone. The Cmax and AUC0–t of ferulic acid were 102.8 ± 43.8 ng/mL, 2879.3 ± 890.0 ng/mL × min in the co-administration group, as 54.4 ± 26.8 ng/mL and 614.1 ± 130.5 ng/mL × min compared to the DBD group, indicating about 1.89-fold (p < 0.05) and 4.67-fold (p < 0.01) enhancement. The t1/2 and MRT of ferulic acid were found to be 101.3 ± 37.6 min and 61.3 ± 30.2 min, significantly prolonged by about 7.79-fold and 8.06-fold (p < 0.01). The clearance of ferulic acid in the DBD + Gem group was 55.2 ± 31.2 mL/min compared with 212.1 ± 71.3 mL/min in the DBD group, indicating a 3.84-fold decline (p < 0.001).