Effects of astaxanthin on depressive and sleep symptoms: A narrative mini-review.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition that results in persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest, imposing a significant economic burden on health systems and society. Impaired sleep is both a symptom and a risk factor for depression. Natural astaxanthin (AST), a carotenoid primarily derived from algae and aquatic animals, possesses multiple pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant stress effects. Prior research suggests that AST may have antidepressant properties. This mini-review highlights the potential mechanisms by which AST can prevent depression, providing novel insights into drug research for depression treatment. Specifically, this mechanism suggests that astaxanthin may improve sleep and thus potentially aid in the treatment of depression.

Novel oral edaravone attenuates diastolic dysfunction of diabetic cardiomyopathy by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of diastolic dysfunction associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Novel oral edaravone (OED) alleviates oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals and may be suitable for the treatment of chronic diseases such as diabetic cardiomyopathy. Oral administration of OED to type 2 diabetic rats (induced by high-sugar/high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin) for 4 w decreased malondialdehyde and increased superoxide dismutase. Moreover, it significantly improved ratios of early to late diastolic peak velocity, myocardium hypertrophy accompanied by decreased cross-sectional areas of cardiomyocytes, the proportion of apoptotic cells, collagen volume fractions, and deposition of collagen I/III. In H9c2 cells, OED reduced reactive oxygen species, cell surface area, and numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling-positive cells induced by glucolipotoxicity. OED remarkably upregulated expression of the nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, OED promoted Nrf2 nuclear translocation and upregulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate quinone oxidoreductase and heme oxygenase. Silencing of Nrf2 abolished the protective effect of OED in H9c2 cells. Our findings demonstrate that OED has the therapeutic potential to ameliorate diastolic dysfunction associated with diabetic cardiomyopathy. Its effect was mainly achieved by attenuating hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, apoptosis, and fibrosis by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Long-term oral administration of hyperoside ameliorates AD-related neuropathology and improves cognitive impairment in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a highly prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological hallmarks of ß-amyloid plaque deposits, tau pathology, inflammation, and cognitive decline. Hyperoside, a flavone glycoside isolated from Rhododendron brachycarpum G. Don (Ericaceae), has neuroprotective effects against Aß both in vitro and in vivo. However, whether hyperoside could delay AD pathogenesis remains unclear. In the present study, we observed if chronic treatment with hyperoside can reverse pathological progressions of AD in the APP/PS1 transgenic mouse model. Meanwhile, we attempted to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in regulating its effects. After 9 months of treatment, we found that hyperoside can improve spatial learning and memory in APP/PS1 transgenic mice, reduce amyloid plaque deposition and tau phosphorylation, decrease the number of activated microglia and astrocytes, and attenuate neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the brain of APP/PS1 mice. These beneficial effects may be mediated in part by influencing reduction of BACE1 and GSK3ß levels. Hyperoside confers neuroprotection against the pathology of AD in APP/PS1 mouse model and is emerging as a promising therapeutic candidate drug for AD.

Breviscapine exerts neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most serious neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and multiple neurological changes. To date, there are no effective drugs to delay or cure AD. Breviscapine (Bre) is an active ingredient of flavonoids extracted from breviscapus. Previous research suggests that Bre is an effective medicine for the prevention and treatment of AD. In the present study, we sought to explore the molecular mechanisms responsible for short-term beneficial effects of Breviscapine on Aß burden, neuronal and synaptic, cognitive function in APP/PS1 transgenic mice at 6 months age. Our results showed that 3 months of intraperitoneal treatment with Bre rescued learning deficits, relieved memory retention, improved the ability to explore the outside world, markedly decreased Aß burden, attenuated function of neocortical and hippocampal neuron, and increased the synaptic proteins levels in the brain of APP/PS1 mice by decreasing BACE1, promoting Aß-degrading enzyme IDE expression, suppressing RAGE expression, and regulating p38/p53/NT4 pathway. This finding provides more evidence of neuroprotective effects and action mechanisms of Bre antagonist AD, suggesting that Bre may have potential as anti-AD agent.

Scutellarin Mitigates Aß-Induced Neurotoxicity and Improves Behavior Impairments in AD Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is pathologically characterized by excessive accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aß) within extracellular spaces of the brain. Aggregation of Aß has been shown to trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotoxicity resulting in cognitive dysfunction. In this study, we use models of cerebral Aß amyloidosis to investigate anti-amyloidogenic effects of scutellarin in vitro and in vivo. Our results show that scutellarin, through binding to Aß42, efficiently inhibits oligomerization as well as fibril formation and reduces Aß oligomer-induced neuronal toxicity in cell line SH-SY5Y. After nine months of treatment in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice, scutellarin significantly improves behavior, reduces soluble and insoluble Aß levels in the brain and plasma, decreases Aß plaque associated gliosis and levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, attenuates neuroinflammation, displays anti-amyloidogenic effects, and highlights the beneficial effects of intervention on development or progression of AD-like neuropathology.