Anti-anxiety Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants.
Neuroscience
Achillea millefoliumAchyranthes asperaCommelina benghalensisMimosa pudicaValeriana officinalis
- Khan A et al (2022).
- Curr Pharm Biotechnol.
- PubMed:
- 33480339
Scientists have investigated the carotenoid content of Meliloti herba, a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory effects. Using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and column liquid chromatography (CLC), they isolated and identified the main carotenoid as (all-)-lutein 5,6-epoxide and tested its effects on primary sensory neurons and macrophages involved in inflammation. Results showed that lutein 5,6-epoxide reduced the activation of primary sensory neurons and decreased the release of IL-1β from macrophages. This suggests that lutein 5,6-epoxide could be used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment.
A study investigated the effects of Myrtus communis extract on cognitive function in rats with renovascular hypertension (RVH). The rats were divided into 4 groups and underwent tests for object recognition and spatial memory. Blood brain barrier integrity was also examined along with various biochemical parameters in the hippocampal tissue. The RVH group showed decreased cognitive function and impaired BBB permeability. The Myrtus communis extract treatment group showed improvement in cognitive function and restoration of biochemical parameters. The study suggests that Myrtus communis extract may improve cognitive function in hypertension through its various activities.
This study explored the potential of certain plant extracts to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme linked to neurodegenerative disorders. The extracts were obtained from plants collected before, during and after flowering, and were analyzed using a high performance liquid chromatography method. The results showed that most alkaloids in the extracts exhibited very high acetylcholinesterase activity inhibition, with IC values ranging from 0.36 to 89.14 µg/mL. The study suggests that these plant extracts have potential for further investigation as a treatment for neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
A new method called solid-phase microextraction has been developed to identify bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. The method avoids the use of large amounts of organic solvents and is environmentally friendly. Polyvinylidene fluoride fibers coated with polydopamine and polyethyleneimine were used as a solid part of the extractors. The fibers were placed in a sample solution of medicinal plants, stirred and then removed. The method was optimized by varying the temperature, ion strength, and pH. Nine bioactive components were obtained from Plantago depressa extract. The method had high precision, accuracy, and stability, and was confirmed through surface plasmon resonance biosensor. This new method is a powerful tool for locating bioactive compounds in medicinal plants.
Researchers investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Pergularia daemia in temporal lobe epilepsy, a drug-resistant form of epilepsy. P. daemia is traditionally used in Cameroon to treat various ailments. There are currently no scientific reports on its anti-inflammatory activity during epileptogenesis. The study found that P. daemia extract reduced inflammation and may have antiepileptic effects. This suggests that P. daemia could be a potential source of new antiepileptic drugs and warrants further investigation.
Physician-scientists are searching for new ways to treat aging-related diseases like dementia. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may provide a promising approach. One TCM, Blume (tianma), has been studied for treating cerebrocardiovascular diseases (CCVDs) like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Studies examined its potential efficacy and safety in well-characterized aging-related disease models, with positive results. Other related herbal preparations and natural products have also shown potential in treating CCVDs and dementia. Overall, data suggest that tianma treatment could be a promising complementary therapy for AD.