Pre-clinical studies have shown that St. John's Wort has a positive effect on cognitive performance in healthy and stress-impaired rodents, making it a potential cognitive-enhancing agent.
Researchers evaluated the neuroprotective effect of SS in rats with cerebral ischemia. The rats were divided into control, ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), and two groups treated with different doses of SS extract for 15 days before I/R. The results showed that SS significantly decreased oxidative stress and DNA damage and increased brain ATP levels and the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain tissues of cerebral ischemic rats compared to I/R rats. The study suggests that SS has antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activity, making it a potential therapeutic agent for preventing neuronal damage from cerebral ischemia.
A species of gall midge called Pumilomyia protrahenda was discovered in 2008 on Artemisia arborescens plants in Sicily. This species had not been seen since 1918. Researchers used detailed analysis of the midge's morphological features to determine that it is a member of the genus Rhopalomyia. The genus Pumilomyia is now considered a synonym under Rhopalomyia. The researchers also provided a detailed re-description of Rhopalomyia protrahenda's physical characteristics. The midges can complete several generations on their host plants between January and May in Sicily. While the host plant has a distribution throughout the Mediterranean, the gall midge is only known to exist in Sicily.
Ruscogenin, a sapogenin from Ophiopogon japonicus, has been shown to protect against ischemic injury to the brain. Researchers investigated its effects on blood-brain barrier dysfunction after stroke and found that it decreased brain damage, improved neurological function, and increased blood flow in mice. In brain cells, ruscogenin increased cell viability, decreased leakage, and modulated tight junction expression. It also inhibited the expression of inflammatory markers and decreased reactive oxygen species generation. These findings suggest that ruscogenin has potential for preventing and treating stroke.
The study investigated the potential of Viola tricolor and Viola odorata to protect brain cells from damage caused by oxygen deprivation and neurodegenerative disorders. The research was conducted in vitro using an SGD-induced cell death model. The results showed that both plant species have antioxidant properties that protect neurons from damage. The findings suggest that these plants may have therapeutic potential in preventing or treating brain ischemia and neurodegenerative diseases.