Neuroprotective flavonoids from Flemingia macrophylla.
- Shiao YJ et al (2005).
- Planta Med.
- PubMed:
- 16206038
The effects of Plumbago scandens extracts were investigated on tremors in mice induced by tremorine, a model of Parkinson's disease. At low doses, the extracts did not have an effect, but at high doses of 1000-2000 mg/kg, they were effective in reducing tremors for up to an hour. Biperiden, an anticholinergic drug, was used as a control and also was effective. This suggests that Plumbago scandens may have potential therapeutic use in treating Parkinson's disease.
A study screened extracts from various plant species for anticholinesterase activity on two enzymes, AChE and BChE, known to be involved in Alzheimer's disease. At a concentration of 10 microg/ml, none of the extracts showed any significant inhibitory activity. However, at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, extracts from Rhododendron ponticum subsp. ponticum, Rhododendron luteum, Corydalis solida subsp. solida, Glaucium corniculatum, and Buxus sempervirens showed remarkable inhibitory activity above 50% on AChE. Rhododendron ponticum subsp. ponticum, Corydalis solida subsp. solida, and Buxus sempervirens were the most active extracts against BChE. Fumaria extracts were highly potent inhibitors against both enzymes. This study suggests that these plant extracts have potential medicinal value in Alzheimer's disease treatment.
In this study, researchers tested the potential for an herbal extract called Dipsacus asper to protect against cognitive impairment caused by chronic exposure to aluminum chloride in rats. The animals showed significant declines in memory and increases in beta-amyloid protein, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, after 90 days of exposure to aluminum chloride. Treatment with Dipsacus asper or vitamin E for up to five months improved the rats' performance on memory tasks and reduced the levels of beta-amyloid in their brains. The researchers suggest that Dipsacus asper may have therapeutic benefits for Alzheimer's disease.
The lower leaves of fern Notholaena sulphurea contain a new flavonoid called 2,3-trans-5,2'-dihydroxy-7,8-dimethoxy-dihydroflavonol-3-O-acetate, along with a co-constituent called 2,3-cis diastereoisomer. This acylated flavonoid is unique to N. sulphurea and confirms the fern's classification within the Notholaena genus. The discovery of this novel compound may have implications for future studies on the chemical makeup and potential medicinal properties of ferns.
Researchers evaluated the effectiveness of an Ayurveda treatment, consisting of a mixture of cow's milk with powdered Mucuna pruriens, Hyoscyamus reticulatus, Withania somnifera, and Sida cordifolia, on 18 patients clinically diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Thirteen patients underwent cleansing and palliative therapy, while five underwent only palliative therapy. The group that underwent both therapies experienced significant improvements in daily activities and motor skills compared to the group that only received palliative therapy. The study revealed that each dose contained approximately 200mg of L-DOPA and established the importance of cleansing therapy prior to palliative therapy. This research highlights the potential benefits of Ayurveda medication in treating Parkinson's disease.
Researchers investigated the affinity of 14 quinolizidine alkaloids for nicotinic and/or muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. They found that N-methylcytisine and cytisine had the highest affinity at the nicotinic receptor, while certain types of quinolizidine alkaloids were particularly active at the muscarinic receptor. This study suggests that these compounds could potentially be used to develop drugs targeting these receptors.