Celastrus paniculatus oil ameliorates synaptic plasticity in a rat model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of action of Celastrus paniculatus oil on the treatment of perinatal rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods: In the perinatal stage, the rats were either isolated or administered with lead acetate to establish an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Atomoxetine served as the reference standard. Animals' behaviours were assessed through Y-maze, novel object preference, fear conditioning and residentintruder aggression tests. Oxidative stress parameters, bioamine concentration (dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine), nerve growth factor, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were estimated. Synaptophysin immunohistochemical assay was performed. Results: Celastrus paniculatus oil significantly improved behavioural parameters in Y maze, novel object preference, discrimination index, fear conditioning and resident intruder aggressive tests. The treatment groups showed a decrease in malondialdehyde level. Changes in the levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin were restored by Celastrus paniculatus oil. Celastrus paniculatus oil increased nerve growth factor and decreased interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB, and TNF-α. Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was also improved by Celastrus paniculatus oil with alleviated reactive gliosis, degeneration, and vascular proliferation. Conclusions: This research shows the therapeutic potential of Celastrus paniculatus oil for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Celastrus paniculatus oil ameliorates synaptic plasticity in a rat model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective: To explore the effect and mechanism of action of Celastrus paniculatus oil on the treatment of perinatal rats with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Methods: In the perinatal stage, the rats were either isolated or administered with lead acetate to establish an animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Atomoxetine served as the reference standard. Animals' behaviours were assessed through Y-maze, novel object preference, fear conditioning and resident-intruder aggression tests. Oxidative stress parameters, bioamine concentration (dopamine, noradrenaline and 5-hydroxytryptamine), nerve growth factor, interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were estimated. Synaptophysin immunohistochemical assay was performed. Results: Celastrus paniculatus oil significantly improved behavioural parameters in Y maze, novel object preference, discrimination index, fear conditioning and resident intruder aggressive tests. The treatment groups showed a decrease in malondialdehyde level. Changes in the levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin were restored by Celastrus paniculatus oil. Celastrus paniculatus oil increased nerve growth factor and decreased interleukin-6, nuclear factor-κB, and TNF-α. Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was also improved by Celastrus paniculatus oil with alleviated reactive gliosis, degeneration, and vascular proliferation. Conclusions: This research shows the therapeutic potential of Celastrus paniculatus oil for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Preparation, Characterization Of Silver-Nanoparticles From Seed Coat Exudates Of Celastrus Paniculatus Willd. And Their Bactericidal And Biofilm Inhibition Effects

We are reporting a novel approach for preparing silver nanoparticles with seed coat exudates of Celastrus paniculatus Willd, a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases, fever, leprosy and neurological disorders. HPTLC study revealed that aqueous, soluble seed coat exudates contain phenolics, alakaloids and flavonoids. The formation, crystalline nature and morphology of the nanoparticles were identified by UV–Vis spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and selected-area electron diffraction (SAED). Functional group stretching of aqueous soluble extracts was identified by using FTIR. Results revealed that nanosilver particles are spherical, range in size from 10 to 82 nm and crystalize in face-centered cubic structures. Surface-enhanced Raman spectra analysis showed that AgNP are capped with bioactive molecules from exudates and that they may act as precursors of the reduction of silver nitrate from the metallic state (Ag+) to the atomic state (Ag0). We also examined the minimal inhibitory concentration for bacteria Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis using a resazurin color assay. Nanosilver strongly inhibited the bacterial growth, leading to MIC values of 40µg/ml and 60µg/ml for the bacteria, respectively. The colony screening method and inhibition kinetics of biofilm formation in the Klebsiella pneumoniae strain were also studied using the tube method and a quantitative microplate assay. SEM analysis and quantification of the EPS revealed a fivefold decrease in concentration in treated compared to untreated. The inhibition response was duly reflected in SEM images.

Synthetic Seed Production as a Tool for the Conservation and Domestication of Celastrus paniculatus: A Rare Medicinal Plant

The black-oil tree (Celastrus paniculatus Willd) is a highly valued medicinal plant species belong to the Celastraceae family, known as Jyothishmathi in Ayurveda and Duhundu in Sri Lanka and grows as a perennial vine. It is an endangered medicinal plant species recorded in the red list of endangered fauna and flora of Sri Lanka in 1999. The seed oil of Celastrus paniculatus contains sesquiterpene alkaloids namely; celapagine, celapanigine, celapanine and celastrol, used in traditional system of medicine for various disorders and because of its high pharmaceutical value, plants are over exploited in natural habitats. Owing to poor seed germination and lack of successful vegetative propagation methods, domestication and commercial planting of this important medicinal plant species to meet the demand seems impossible. Therefore, it is of high importance to develop a reliable and efficient in vitro propagation to produce black oil plants for commercial use. In this study, it was attempted to produce synthetic seeds of Celestrus paniculatus via in vitro multiple shoot proliferation. Nodal segment explants were collected from freshly emerged age of sprouts, surface sterilized and cultured in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with different 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and Thidiazuron (TDZ) concentrations for shoot induction. The highest soot proliferation rate; 25 shoot tips/explant were observed with 0.1 mg/L TDZ. Induced shoot tips were used for synthetic seed production after encapsulating with BAP and a-naphthalene acetic (NAA) enriched sodium alginate. Shoot tip encapsulated beads produced with 4% sodium alginate were firm, clear, round and uniform in size and easy to handle. The influence of growth regulators (BAP and NAA) and storage period on the germination of encapsulated shoot tips was studied to evaluate the success of encapsulated shoot tips as a propagule. The beads germinated with 2 mg/L BAP and 0.2 mg/L NAA provided 80% in vitro germination percentage. Shoot tips of synthetic seeds remained green and healthy after storage at 5°C for a period of 8 weeks. Current findings suggest that encapsulated micro shoots (synthetic seeds) could be produced successfully, as the first step in domestication and conservation of Celastrus paniculatus. Further studies required on rooting of micro shoots, acclimatization and transferring of plantlets produced from synthetic seeds to in vivo conditions for domestication and conservation purposes.

Neuroprotection Effects of Celastrus paniculatus Seed Oil against Monosodium Glutamate in Human IMR-32 Cells

Aims: The aim of this study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil (CPO) against monosodium glutamate in human IMR-32 cells. Study Design: Celastrus paniculatus seed oil used historically in Indian subcontinent for its neuro-enhancement property and also considered to have free radical scavenging activity. Methodology: In present study we have employed IMR-32, a neuroblastoma cells as our model system and utilized monosodium glutamate (MSG) a widely used food additive and proven inducer of free radicals to study the ameliorative effect of CPO against induced oxidative stress in neuronal cells. Results: Results showed that CPO ameliorates total protein level, decreases protein carbonyl and lipid peroxidation levels (p<0.001) as well as enhances the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase (p<0.001) under oxidative stress conditions. Further we found that CPO increases the free radical scavenging capacity of cell by enhancing (p<0.001) glutathione level and help its regeneration by revitalizing the activity of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase enzymes. Conclusion: It can be concluded that CPO has antioxidant property and proved to have ameliorative role against free radicals induced neuronal impairment.

Antidepressant-like Activity of Celastrus paniculatus Seed Oil in Mice Subjected to Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress.

Aims: The present study was done to evaluate the antidepressant-like effect of Celastrus paniculatus seed oil in Swiss young albino mice subjected to chronic unpredictable mild stress. Study Design: Prospective. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Haryana, India, between August 2012 to February 2013. Methodology: The behavioral models such as forced swim test (FST) and sucrose preference test were used to evaluate the effect of seed oil on depression in mice. The oil (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and fluoxetine (20 mg/kg, p.o.) per se were administered for 14 successive days to unstressed and stressed mice. The effect of oil on locomotor activity of mice was also evaluated. In addition, the effects of oil on brain monoamine oxidase-A, malondialdehyde levels, reduced glutathione and catalase activities; and plasma corticosterone and nitrite levels were also assessed. Results: The oil significantly decreased immobility period of both unstressed and stressed mice in FST as compared to the control. The oil also prevented the stressinduced decrease in sucrose preference, indicating significant antidepressant-like activity There was no significant effect on locomotor activity of mice by the oil. Antidepressant-like activity of the oil was comparable to the standard drug, fluoxetine. The oil also significantly decreased monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) activity, malondialdehyde levels in both unstressed and stressed mice; and significantly prevented stress-induced decrease in reduced glutathione and catalase activities. It also significantly attenuated stress inducedincrease in plasma nitrite and corticosterone levels. Conclusion: Celastrus paniculatus seed oil showed significant antidepressant-like activity in both unstressed and chronic unpredictable mild stressed mice probably due to inhibition of MAO-A activity, decrease in plasma nitrite levels; and through scavenging of free radicals. In addition, the oil also showed antidepressant-like activity in stressed mice probably through decrease in plasma corticosterone levels.