Chinese herbal extracts show promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease by improving memory and reducing inflammation. These extracts have potential for early AD treatment due to their fewer adverse effects and ease of consumption.
Researchers studied the antidepressant effects of an Areca catechu fruit extract on rats under chronic unpredictable mild stress. They identified a potential underlying mechanism. These results suggest that ACL may be a promising treatment for depression.
This study screened essential oils for their potential as rapid-acting antidepressants. PC12 and BV2 cells were tested, and effective oils were given to mice, which were then subjected to behavioral tests. In vivo experiments showed that six essential oils decreased immobility time in the tail suspension test, with two oils increasing time and entries into the open arms of the elevated plus maze. Four compounds had a strong affinity for glutamate receptor subunits and are predicted to underlie the fast-acting effect. These oils and compounds are promising candidates for further study as fast-acting antidepressants.
The brain is highly affected by the production and accumulation of ROS, which is a common factor in almost all neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers evaluated extracts of black pepper for their neuroprotective potential in human neuroblastoma cells. The extracts exhibited neuroprotection by decreasing oxidative stress and restoring mitochondrial membrane potential in cells, as well as displaying potent anti-glycation and significant anti-Aβ fibrilization activities. The extracts' multitarget neuroprotective mechanism makes them a potential candidate for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers investigated the chemistry and neuroprotective effects of ellagitannins (ETs) in Melastoma dodecandrum (MD), a traditional Chinese medicine. ETs are natural tannins that have promising anti-Alzheimer's disease effects. This study focused on the potential of urolithins, an intestinal metabolite of ETs. Results indicated that MD contains high levels of ETs, suggesting it may have neuroprotective benefits. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore potential treatment for AD.
Researchers explored how Ginkgo biloba L. leaves treat vascular dementia. The study's methods and results remain undisclosed, and no broader implications were discussed.
Pinitol added to GBE reduces brain damage, improves function, promotes white matter repair, and inhibits inflammation in stroke mice, suggesting potential as a treatment for stroke patients.
A new method called HM20-T has been developed to preserve weak fluorescent signals of precise structures in biological tissues during resin embedding and ultra-thin sectioning. The preservation ratio of fluorescent signals doubled for green fluorescent protein tagged presynaptic elements and tdTomato labeled axons. The method was also suitable for a variety of fluorescent dyes and did not affect immunoreactivity. This method can be used to better characterize multi-color labeled structures in biological tissues and contribute to investigating composition and circuit connections in the brain.