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Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder affecting approximately 0.32% of the global population. Despite advancements in pharmacological treatments, many patients with schizophrenia continue to experience significant impairments, and approximately one-third of these patients do not respond to antipsychotic drugs. However, various studies have demonstrated the potential benefits of herbs in managing schizophrenia due to the diverse biological activities of phytochemicals, including neuroprotective activity, anti-oxidant potential, modulation of neurotransmission, and anti-inflammatory activity. Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) is a widely studied herb used in the treatment of the central nervous system. This study conducted a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of Brahmi in managing schizophrenia. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched between February and March, 2024. A total of 103 articles were found, with only 9 studies meeting the eligibility criteria. Data analysis was done by using themes. The review found that Brahmi could reverse positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. It does this by changing the glutamatergic pathway and GABAergic transmission, lowering MDA levels, raising GSH levels, slowing down the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AchE), and maintaining the density of neurones. It is recommended that additional research elucidating the effects of Brahmi in other models of schizophrenia and the possible mechanisms of action be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) is considered a target protein in developing substrate reduction therapy for metachromatic leukodystrophy. This study employed a multistep virtual screening approach for getting a specific and potent inhibitor against CST from 35 phytoconstituents of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell and 31 phytoconstituents of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. from the IMPPAT 2.0 database. Using a binding score cutoff of -8.0 kcal/mol with ADME and toxicity screening, four phytoconstituents IMPHY009537 (Stigmastenol), IMPHY004141 (alpha-Amyrenyl acetate), IMPHY014836 (beta-Sitosterol), and IMPHY001534 (jujubogenin) were considered for in-depth analysis. In the binding pocket of CST, the major amino acid residues that decide the orientation and interaction of compounds are Lys85, His84, His141, Phe170, Tyr176, and Phe177. The molecular dynamics simulation with a 100ns time span further validated the stability and rigidity of the docked complexes of the four hits by exploring the structural deviation and compactness, hydrogen bond interaction, solvent accessible surface area, principal component analysis, and free energy landscape analysis. Stigmastenol from Bacopa monnieri with no potential cross targets was found to be the most potent and selective CST inhibitor followed by alpha-Amyrenyl acetate from Mucuna pruriens as the second-best performing inhibitor against CST. Our computational drug screening approach may contribute to the development of oral drugs against metachromatic leukodystrophy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modulation of in vivo adult neurogenesis (AN) is an evolving concept in managing neurodegenerative diseases. CDRI‐08, a bacoside‐enriched fraction of Bacopa monnieri, has been demonstrated for its neuroprotective actions, but its effect on AN remains unexplored. This article describes the status of AN by monitoring neuronal stem cells (NSCs) proliferation, differentiation/maturation markers and BDNF–TrkB levels (NSCs signalling players) vs. the level of neurodegeneration and their modulations by CDRI‐08 in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) of male rats with moderate grade hepatic encephalopathy (MoHE). For NSC proliferation, 10 mg/kg b.w. 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered i.p. during the last 3 days, and for the NSC differentiation study, it was given during the first 3 days to the control, the MoHE (developed by 100 mg/kg b.w. of thioacetamide i.p. up to 10 days) and to the MoHE male rats co‐treated with 350 mg/kg b.w. CDRI‐08. Compared with the control rats, the hippocampus DG region of MoHE rats showed significant decreases in the number of Nestin+/BrdU+ and SOX2+/BrdU+ (proliferating) and DCX+/BrdU+ and NeuN+/BrdU+ (differentiating) NSCs. This was consistent with a similar decline in BDNF+/TrkB+ NSCs. However, all these NSC marker positive cells were observed to be recovered to their control levels, with a concordant restoration of total cell numbers in the DG of the CDRI‐08‐treated MoHE rats. The findings suggest that the restoration of hippocampal AN by CDRI‐08 is consistent with the recovery of BDNF–TrkB‐expressing NSCs in the MoHE rat model of neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to investigate the potential protective effects of Bacopa monnieri extract on alcohol-induced toxicity in rats, focusing on its hypolipidemic and cardioprotective properties. For a period of 30 days, the experimental rats were orally intoxicated with alcohol (2 g/kg body weight) daily. Simultaneously, Bacopa monnieri extract was administered at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight. The results of the study revealed that the rats subjected to alcohol-induced toxicity experienced a significant reduction in antioxidant defense systems, such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid, while the activity of glutathione-S-transferase was enhanced compared to the control group. Additionally, the alcoholinduced group exhibited increased levels of triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC), as well as a significant decrease in phospholipids (PL). However, when Bacopa monnieri was supplemented along with alcohol, it significantly improved the antioxidant status and normalized the lipid profiles. These findings suggest that Bacopa monnieri possesses cardioprotective and hypolipidemic activities, which provide protection against alcohol-induced toxicity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopa monnieri is a plant with a rich history of use in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, spanning several centuries. It is also referred to as Brahmi in some regions. This product serves as a treatment for various skin conditions, such as inflammation and wound healing. Its properties also aid in the production of collagen and improve circulation. The inclusion of antioxidants enhances your skin's overall health, resulting in a rejuvenated and vibrant appearance. The present study aimed to prepare a nano-lipoidal system loaded with Bacopa monnieri (BM) extract and its characterization. Twelve formulations (F1-12) were developed using the ether injection method using different ratios of BM extract, L-alpha phosphatidylcholine (SPC), ethanol, and water. Bacoside A was used as a marker compound for estimation purposes. BM extract-loaded ethosomes were characterized in which formulation F-5 showed the highest entrapment efficiency of 89 %, with vesicle size 188 nm, while the zeta potential was -29.19 mV, and the polydispersity index (PDI) was 0.221±1.45. In vitro extract release using a dialysis membrane was performed for 12 hours, and it was found to be 44 % and 61 % at the end of 8 and 12 hours. The formulation followed zeroorder non-Fickian diffusion kinetics, which is best for transdermal formulations. The goat skin was used for Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) study which showed the fluorescence intensity of Rhodamine B entrapped in those was 16.783, while it was 8.580 in the blank hydroethanolic solution, which confirmed the penetration of the ethosomal systems up to 30-40 µm deeper into the skin which gives a possibility that ethosomes can contribute in collagen synthesis and decrease the degradation of elastin in the deeper layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work was to evaluate the pharmacological effects and therapeutic potential of individual compounds and extracts of B. monnieri based on the analysis of data from scientific periodicals regarding chemical composition and biological action. Theoretically significant were the studies of the materials of the scientific-metric database PubMed and Google Scholar over the last five years regarding the chemical composition and biological action of extracts based on B. monnieri and their individual components. The search query was carried out by the Latin name of the plant, with the exception of publications related to botanical research. In separate PubChem searches, names of individual phytocompounds were used to establish structure and distribution in plants. The SuperPred web server was used to predict therapeutic potential. The authors analyzed the chemical composition of the extracts, presented the structural and pharmacological characteristics of bacosides and their aglycones: bacosin and juubogenin, cucurbitacin E, loliolide, betulinic and asiatic acids and the flavonoid oroxindin. The mechanism of action of bacoside on β-amyloid is characterized and illustrated. Using machine learning, the prospects for using the main compounds of bacopa to create drugs were calculated taking into account the ATC classification, their biological effects and alternative plant sources were given. Experimental animal studies of whole aqueous or ethanolic extracts of B. monnieri have been found to support a cognitive enhancement effect. The extract was not toxic to humans. Numerous clinical trials show the effectiveness of the use of extracts in the treatment of anhedonia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, dementia and hyperactivity. An analysis of clinical studies in Ukraine shows that drugs based on B. monnieri can be used in the complex treatment of cognitive impairment associated with dyscirculatory encephalopathy in adults and perinatal CNS damage in children. Considering the amphiphilicity of bacosides and the non-toxicity of extracts, they can be involved in the development of various dosage forms with a wide range of therapeutic applications. Further study of the pharmacological action of B. monnieri and the development of drug technology for solid and liquid dosage forms based on it are promising.

In this study, the impacts of LEDs on the phytoremediation of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) by Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. were investigated, along with the examination of the biochemical characteristics of plants exposed to metal-induced toxicity. In vitro multiple and rapid plant propagations were successfully achieved by adding 1.0 mg/L 6-Benzyl amino purine (BAP) to the Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal salt and vitamin culture medium. For plant-based remediation experiments, different concentrations of As (0–1.0 mg/L) and Hg (0–0.2 mg/L) were added to the water environment, and trials were conducted for four different application periods (1–21 days). White, red, and blue LEDs, as well as white fluorescent light, were preferred as the light environment. The results revealed that LED lights were more effective for heavy metal accumulation, with red LED light significantly enhancing the plant's phytoremediation capacity compared to other LED applications. Moreover, when examining biochemical stress parameters such as levels of photosynthetic pigments, protein concentrations, and lipid peroxidation, plants under red LED light showed better results. Generally, the lowest results were obtained under white fluorescent light. These findings contribute to phytoremediation studies by highlighting the integration of LED lights, thereby enabling the development of a more effective, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable remediation system compared to other treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological condition with recurrent seizures. One-third of epilepsy patients experience unacceptable side effects from antiepileptic drugs. Pyrus pashia is a deciduous tree from southern Asia. Ethnomedicinally, Malakand tribes use its fruits for epilepsy treatment. Our prior research demonstrated the anticonvulsive properties of ethanolic extract of Pyrus pashia (EPP) and its bioactive compound chrysin in acute seizure tests. This study aims to investigate the impact of EPP and chrysin on cognitive impairment in a PTZ-induced kindling mice model of epilepsy. Swiss albino male mice were equally divided into four groups. The first group received 0.5% carboxy methyl cellulose dissolved in normal saline while the other three groups were pre-treated with Diazepam (DZP) (1 mg/kg, i.p.), EPP (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and chrysin (5 mg/kg, p.o.). After 30 min, all groups were administered PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p.) and evaluated for seizure severity, cognitive function, and neuronal apoptosis. Western blot analysis was conducted to analyze the expressions of apoptosis biomarkers and memory-related genes, including cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). The therapeutic effects of EPP and Chrysin were comparable to DZP in terms of reducing seizure severity, but unlike DZP, they prevented PTZ-induced memory impairment in experimental animals. Additionally, they increased the levels of BDNF and CREB while reducing apoptotic biomarkers in the hippocampus of experimental animals. Based on the leads offered by this study EPP and its major bioactive constituent, could be developed as the treatment option for epilepsy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Apple polysaccharides (AP), extracted from the fruit of apple, has been used to treat multiple pathological diseases. In this study, we evaluated the effects of AP on cognitive impairment and intestinal aging in naturally aging mice. As a result, it was found that AP could improve spatial learning and memory impairment in aging mice through the Morris water maze experiment. Additionally, AP intervention can upregulate the expression of nerve growth factor (BDNF), postsynaptic marker (PSD95), and presynaptic marker (SYP) proteins. Moreover, AP can enhance total antioxidant capacity, reduce the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine, and inhibit the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. And the administration of AP restored intestinal mucosal barrier function, reduced the expression of aging and apoptosis related proteins. The administration of AP also altered the gut microbiota of mice. At the genus level, AP decreased the abundance of Helicobacter and Bilophila, while increased the abundance of Lactobacillus and Bacteroides. In summary, these data demonstrate that AP treatment can alleviate cognitive impairment, oxidative stress, and inflammatory reactions, repair the intestinal mucosal barrier, reduce intestinal aging, and alter specific microbial characteristics, ultimately improving the health of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries is a common human oral disease worldwide, caused by an acid-producing bacteria Streptococcus mutans. The use of synthetic drugs and antibiotics to prevent dental caries has been increasing, but this can lead to severe side effects. To solve this issue, developing and developed countries have resorted to herbal medicines as an alternative to synthetic drugs for the treatment and prevention of dental caries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for plant-derived products to treat such diseases. Bacopa monnieri, a well-documented medicinal plant, contains 52 phytocompounds, including the pentacyclic triterpenoid metabolite known as asiatic acid (ASTA). Hence, this study aimed to demonstrate, for the first time, the antibacterial activity of phytocompound ASTA against S. mutans. The findings revealed that ASTA significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and the production of virulence factors such as acidurity, acidogenicity, and eDNA synthesis. Molecular docking analysis evaluated the potential activity of ASTA against S. mutans virulence genes, including VicR and GtfC. Furthermore, toxicity assessment of ASTA in human buccal epithelial cells was performed, and no morphological changes were observed. An in vivo analysis using Danio rerio (zebrafish) confirmed that the ASTA treatment significantly increased the survival rates of infected fish by hindering the intestinal colonization of S. mutans. Furthermore, the disease protection potential of ASTA against the pathognomonic symptom of S. mutans infection was proven by the histopathological examination of the gills, gut, and kidney. Overall, these findings suggest that ASTAmay be a promising therapeutic and alternative drug for the treatment and prevention of oral infection imposed by S. mutans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) fruit pulp is a rich source of γ-glutamylcysteine (γ-EC), a direct precursor to the antioxidant glutathione (GSH). This study elucidated the in vitro neuroprotective potential of unripe durian fruit pulp extract (UDE) against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y cells and neuroinflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 cells. Treatments with γ-EC, GSH standards, or UDE exhibited no cytotoxicity in SH-SY5Y and BV-2 cells, except at high concentrations. A 4-h pretreatment with 100 µM γ-EC or UDE containing 100 µM γ-EC significantly increased SH-SY5Y cell viability post H2O2 induction. Moreover, a similar pretreatment reduced LPS-stimulated production of proinflammatory cytokines in BV-2 cells. The neuroprotective effect of UDE is primarily attributed to γ-EC provision and the promotion of GSH synthesis, which in turn elevates intracellular GSH levels and reduces proinflammatory cytokines. This study identifies γ-EC in UDE as a potential neuroprotective biomarker boosting intracellular GSH levels, providing insights into UDE's therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal-enriched fly ash (FA) deposits are recognized as hazardous contaminated sites on the earth, which pollute our ecosystems. Consequently, the present investigation was carried out to explore the phytoremediation potential of naturally growing medicinal plants in the FA dumpsite. This present study chose two native medicinal plants i.e., Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea found to be naturally colonizing abundantly on FA dumpsite to assess heavy metal accumulation. FA sample of B. monnieri thriving sites found to have metal content in order Mn (216.6)> Cr (39.27)> Zn (20.8)> Ni (16.1)> Cu (15.03)> Co (6.7)> Pb (5.43) whereas for A. oleracea FA dumpsites, the order of metal availability was Mn (750.3)> B (54.5)>Cr (37.2)>Zn (31.33)> Cu (18.7)> Ni (16.93)> Co (7.7)>Pb (4.23). In B. monnieri, higher concentrations of Cr and Mn were observed in the shoot in comparison to the root, indicative of its potential as a hyperaccumulator plant. Conversely, in A. oleracea, greater amounts of Pb were detected in the shoot relative to the root. Hence, it is recommended that B. monnieri and A. oleracea grow on such heavy metal-enriched substrates should be avoided for medicinal purposes; however, these plants can be used for phytoremediation purposes. Fly ash phytoremediation through natural colonizer plant species is limited. Native colonizing plant species on fly ash has a pivotal role in phytoremediation. Naturally colonizing medicinal plants were dominant over the Fly ash dumpsites. Bacopa monnieri and Acmella oleracea have phytoremediation potential on fly ash. Indeed, fly ash-grown medicinal plants should not be used by local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centella asiatica (Indian pennywort) is a green leafy vegetable containing centelloside' (triterpenoid), a key phytochemical component in traditional medicine. Being a glycophytic species, they exhibit decline in growth performance and yield traits when subjected to water-deficit (WD) conditions. Glycine betaine (GB) is a low molecular-weight organic metabolite that plays a crucial role in abiotic stress conditions in higher plants. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential of GB in alleviating water-deficit stress (in terms of morphological and physiological responses) in two different genotypes of Indian pennywort, "Nakhon Pathom" (NP; high centelloside-yielding genotype) and "Pathum Thani" (PT; low centelloside-yielding genotype). The genotypes of Indian pennywort were propagated by stolon cutting and transplanted into plastic bags containing 2 kg of garden soil. At the flower-initiation stage (30 days after transplantation), uniform plant material was treated exogenously with 0 (control), 25, and 50 mM GB at 100 mL per plant (one-time foliar spray) and then divided into two groups, 1) well watered (WW; irrigated daily with 400 mL fresh water; 98% field capacity) and 2) water deficit (WD; withheld water for 14 days; 72% field capacity). Foliar application of GB (25 mM) significantly improved leaf osmotic potential in NP under WD conditions via osmotic adjustment by free proline and fructose. Differences in leaf temperature (Tleaf) between WD and WW in NP were maximized (+ 1.93 °C) and the gap of Tleaf was reduced in the case of 25–50 mM GB application. Similarly, crop water stress index (CWSI) in NP and PT plants under WD condition was significantly increased by 1.95- and 1.86-fold over the control, respectively; however, it was significantly decreased by exogenous GB application. Increasing Tleaf and CWSI in drought-stressed plants was closely related to stomatal closure, leading to reduced gas exchange parameters, i.e., stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rate (E), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and consequently decreased plant biomass and total centelloside yield. Overall physiological, morphological, and secondary metabolite traits were enhanced in NP under WD conditions using 25 mM GB exogenous application compared with the control. The study highlights the significance of GB in Indian pennywort production under limited water irrigation (water deficit) with higher vegetable yield and phytochemical stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of Bacopa monnieri in acetic-acid-induced ulcerative colitis in mice. Acetic acid (3%v/v, in 0.9% saline) was infused intrarectally to induce ulceration in mice. Administration of acetic acid resulted in severe inflammation of the colon along with an increase in the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assessed on 7th day. Treatment with Bacopa monnieri extract (20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg, p.o) and saponin-rich fraction (5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg; p.o) for 7 days i.e. 2 days before and 5 days after acetic acid infusion, significantly attenuated the colonic inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, it also reduced the MPO levels and the disease activity score as compared to the control group. It may be concluded that Bacopa monnieri has the potential for ameliorating acetic-acid-induced colitis and its saponin-rich fraction may be responsible for this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penconazole (PEN) is a systemic triazole fungicide used to control various fungal diseases on grapes, stone fruits, cucurbits, and strawberries. Still, it leaves residues on treated crops after collection with many hazardous effects on population including neurotoxicity. Withania somnifera leaves extract (WSLE) is known for its memory and brain function enhancing ability. To evoke such action efficiently, WSLE bioactive metabolites are needed to cross the blood–brain barrier, that could limit the availability of such compounds to be localized within the brain. Therefore, in the present study, the association between PEN exposure and neurotoxicity was evaluated, and formulated WSLE nanoemulsion was investigated for improving the permeability of the plant extract across the blood–brain barrier. The rats were divided into five groups (n = 6). The control group was administered distilled water, group II was treated with W. somnifera leaves extract nanoemulsion (WSLE NE), group III received PEN, group IV received PEN and WSLE, and group V received PEN and WSLE NE. All rats were gavaged daily for 6 weeks. Characterization of compounds in WSLE using LC–MS/MS analysis was estimated. Neurobehavioral disorders were evaluated in all groups. Oxidative stress biomarkers, antioxidant enzyme activities, and inflammatory cytokines were measured in brain tissue. Furthermore, the gene expression patterns of GFAP, APP, vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad2 and Bax were measured. Histopathological changes and immunohistochemical expression in the peripheral sciatic nerve and cerebral cortex were evaluated. A total of 91 compounds of different chemo-types were detected and identified in WSLE in both ionization modes. Our data showed behavioral impairment in the PEN-treated group, with significant elevation of oxidative stress biomarkers, proinflammatory cytokines, neuronal damage, and apoptosis. In contrast, the PEN-treated group with WSLE NE showed marked improvement in behavioral performance and histopathological alteration with a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and anti-inflammatory cytokines compared to the group administered WSLE alone. The PEN-treated group with WSLE NE in turn significantly downregulated the expression levels of GFAP, APP, vimentin, TGF-β1, Smad2 and Bax in brain tissue. In conclusion, WSLE NE markedly enhanced the permeability of plant extract constituents through the blood brain barrier to boost its neuroprotective effect against PEN-induced neurotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many real-world complex systems are characterized by interactions in groups that change in time. Current temporal network approaches, however, are unable to describe group dynamics, as they are based on pairwise interactions only. Here, we use time-varying hypergraphs to describe such systems, and we introduce a framework based on higher-order correlations to characterize their temporal organization. The analysis of human interaction data reveals the existence of coherent and interdependent mesoscopic structures, thus capturing aggregation, fragmentation and nucleation processes in social systems. We introduce a model of temporal hypergraphs with non-Markovian group interactions, which reveals complex memory as a fundamental mechanism underlying the emerging pattern in the data. Network memory impacts dynamical processes emerging in real-world social systems, however little is known about memory of temporal networks beyond pairwise interactions. The authors develop a framework to characterize the temporal organization of higher-order networks and propose a model of temporal hypergraphs with higher-order memory to reproduce the patterns emerging in real-world complex systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopa monnieri, a cognitive-enhancing herb crucial in health supplements, faces quality variations and contamination by toxic substances in conventional field cultivation, which hinders industrial use. Here, indoor cultivation of diploid (2x) and tetraploid (4x) B. monnieri using hydroponic and soil systems was studied. Soil cultivation promoted longer shoot lengths but resulted in lower biomass and chlorophyll contents compared to hydroponic cultivation. Conversely, soil cultivation significantly elevated total phenolics, total triterpenoids, bacoside A3, and bacopaside X contents in both lines, showing 1.7- to 3.3-fold increases over hydroponic cultivation. Furthermore, 4x plants grown in soil had higher bacopaside II and total bacoside contents than hydroponically grown plants, with 2- and 1.5-fold increases, respectively. Yet, no significant differences were observed in growth and pigment between 2x and 4x lines under the same system. Similarly, no significant differences in bioactive compound productions were found between 2x and 4x hydroponically grown plants. However, in soil, 4x plants exhibited higher total phenolic content, bacopaside II, and total bacoside contents compared to 2x plants. Interestingly, 2x plants grown in soil were the top performers for bacoside production per plant. These findings optimize cultivation practices to meet industry demands, warranting further research into large-scale production techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapeutic options to contain seizures, a transitional stage of many neuropathologies, are limited due to the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Herbal nanoparticle formulations can be employed to enhance seizure prognosis. Bacoside A (BM3) and bacopaside I (BM4) were isolated from Bacopa monnieri and synthesized as nanoparticles (BM3NP and BM4NP, respectively) for an effective delivery system to alleviate seizures and associated conditions. After physicochemical characterization, cell viability was assessed on mouse neuronal stem cells (mNSC) and neuroblastoma cells (N2a). Thereafter, anti-seizure effects, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, immunostaining and epileptic marker mRNA expression were determined in vitro. The seizure-induced changes in the cortical electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyography (EMG), Non-Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep were monitored in vivo in a kainic acid (KA)-induced rat seizure model. The sizes of BM3NPs and BM4NPs were 165.5 nm and 689.6 nm, respectively. They were biocompatible and also aided in neuroplasticity in mNSC. BM3NPs and BM4NPs depicted more than 50% cell viability in N2a cells, with IC50 values of 1609 and 2962 µg/mL, respectively. Similarly, these nanoparticles reduced the cytotoxicity of N2a cells upon KA treatment. Nanoparticles decreased the expression of epileptic markers like fractalkine, HMGB1, FOXO3a and pro-inflammatory cytokines (P < 0.05). They protected neurons from apoptosis and restored MMP. After administration of BM3NPs and BM4NPs, KA-treated rats attained a significant reduction in the epileptic spikes, sleep latency and an increase in NREM sleep duration. Results indicate the potential of BM3NPs and BM4NPs in neutralizing the KA-induced excitotoxic seizures in neurons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the connection between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). The authors highlight the role of adipokines, specifically leptin and adiponectin, in the pathophysiology of NAFLD/MAFLD. They also discuss the involvement of mast cells (MC) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in the development and progression of these conditions. Additionally, the article mentions the association between NAFLD/MAFLD and systemic disorders such as cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (C-CVD) and neuroautoimmune pathologies. The authors suggest that targeting MC activation and understanding the molecular mechanisms of adipokines could lead to potential therapeutic strategies for these conditions. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose: The study was undertaken with a purpose of at source bioconversion of wet kitchen waste. To accelerate the “Zero Waste Concept” and meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2015. Method: Wet waste was mixed with dry paper, cardboard material and a microbial culture was inoculated in the bag. Proper mixing of the material enhanced the process of composting. Results: Microgold-Y had a pH range of 6.7 to 7.0 with 45 to 58% moisture content, and suitable for plant growth. Germination test using radish (R. sativus) revealed 100% sprouting between 24 to 48 hrs on Microgold-Y (10%) followed with 93.3% on Microgold-Y (20%) as against 96.6 % in sand (control), grown in small containers (5x6 cm) at 20.2 to 20.7 0c and 58 to 65% RH. Besides, profuse growth and flowering was observed in B. monnieri on Microgold Y while poor growth without flowering in control. Safety evaluation on earthworm, E. fetida revealed the survival of 60% as compared to 95% in control (cow dung). The worms produced undersized cocoons (

Central in the study of population codes, coordinated ensemble spiking activity is widely observable in neural recordings with hypothesized roles in robust stimulus representation, interareal communication, and learning and memory formation. Model-free measures of synchrony characterize coherent pairwise activity but not higher-order interactions, a limitation transcended by statistical models of ensemble spiking activity. However, existing model-based analyses often impose assumptions about the relevance of higher-order interactions and require repeated trials to characterize dynamics in the correlational structure of ensemble activity. To address these shortcomings, we propose an adaptive greedy filtering algorithm based on a discretized mark point-process model of ensemble spiking and a corresponding statistical inference framework to identify significant higher-order coordination. In the course of developing a precise statistical test, we show that confidence intervals can be constructed for greedily estimated parameters. We demonstrate the utility of our proposed methods on simulated neuronal assemblies. Applied to multi-electrode recordings from human and rat cortical assemblies, our proposed methods provide new insights into the dynamics underlying localized population activity during transitions between brain states. Author summary: Simultaneous ensemble spiking is hypothesized to have important roles in neural encoding; however, neurons can also spike simultaneously by chance. In order to characterize the potentially time-varying higher-order correlational structure of ensemble spiking, we propose an adaptive greedy filtering algorithm that estimates the rate of all reliably-occurring simultaneous ensemble spiking events. Moreover, we propose an accompanying statistical inference framework to distinguish the chance occurrence of simultaneous spiking events from coordinated higher-order spiking. We demonstrate the proposed methods accurately differentiate coordinated simultaneous spiking from chance occurrences in simulated data. In application to human and rat cortical data, the proposed methods reveal time-varying dynamics in higher-order coordination that coincide with changing brain states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) causes progressive loss of cognitive function and synaptic plasticity, which is the most common form of dementia. The present study was designed to scrutinize the effects of cacao on passive avoidance memory function and to identify the roles of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and oxidative stress in an AD rat model induced by unilateral intracerebroventricular (UICV) injection of amyloid-beta (Aβ). Methods: Oral administration of cacao (500 mg/kg/day) was given for 2 consecutive months. A memory retention test was conducted 24 h after passive avoidance training was completed. Subsequently, the amplitude of population spike (PS) and slope of field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) were assessed at hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) in perforant pathway-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapses. Moreover, total thiol group (TTG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were evaluated in the plasma. Furthermore, compact Aβ plaques were detected in the hippocampal DG by performing Congo red staining. Results: As a result of AD induction, passive avoidance memory was impaired; also, reduced fEPSP slopes, PS amplitudes, and content of TTG, and increase in MDA levels in the rats were observed. In contrast, cacao treatment ameliorated passive avoidance memory impairment, improved hippocampal LTP impairment, modulated oxidative-antioxidative status, and delayed Aβ plaques production in AD rats. Disscussion: Conclusively, cacao alleviates Aβ-induced cognitive deficit, probably by the amelioration of hippocampal LTP impairment, modulation of oxidative-antioxidative status, and inhibition of Aβ plaque accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of Ayurveda shows a long-standing relationship between Bacopa monnieri L. (Brahmi) and human health, giving the plant a valuable source for developing nontoxic medications. Traditionally, Brahmi has been primarily used to treat insomnia, epilepsy, memory loss, and anxiety. This makes the plant a valuable resource for the safe development of alternative drugs. Research on B. monnieri 's biological effects has exploded in recent years, with the herb showing promise as a neuroprotective, memory-enhancing, and most importantly chemo-preventive and anti-neoplastic drug. In this particular context, a thorough review of the literature facilitates a profound comprehension of the roles played by particular bioactive compounds and the B. monnieri entire plant extract, which has different functional molecular pathways. Recent studies conducted by researchers report Brahmi as a promising neuroprotective, memory-enhancing, anti-neoplastic, and chemo-preventive agent. Each naturally occurring chemical component isolated from Bacopa monnieri leaf extract using various solvents exhibits strong anti-metastatic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-proliferative properties on several cancer cells. This thorough analysis covering the recent research showing Brahmi's anticancer effect will help one understand its role better and realize its potential as an effective anticancer drug. [Display omitted] • Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) plant has effective anti-cancer effect. • Using various solvents, each naturally occurring chemical component extracted from Bacopa monnieri leaf extract has demonstrated strong anti-metastatic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-proliferative effects on various cancer cell types. • Clinical translation of Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri) plant extract & development as a drug should be prime focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, a member of the Apiaceae family, is rich in coumarins, such as imperatorin and osthole. Cnidium monnieri fruit (CM) has a broad range of therapeutic potential that can be used in anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and sexual dysfunction treatments. However, its efficacy in lowering blood pressure through vasodilation remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the potential therapeutic effect of CM 50% ethanol extract (CME) on hypertension and the mechanism of its vasorelaxant effect. CME (1–30 µg/mL) showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation on constricted aortic rings in Sprague Dawley rats induced by phenylephrine via an endothelium-independent mechanism. The vasorelaxant effect of CME was inhibited by blockers of voltage-dependent and Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Additionally, CME inhibited the vascular contraction induced by angiotensin II and CaCl2. The main active compounds of CM, i.e., imperatorin (3–300 µM) and osthole (1–100 µM), showed a concentration-dependent vasorelaxation effect, with half-maximal effective concentration values of 9.14 ± 0.06 and 5.98 ± 0.06 µM, respectively. Orally administered CME significantly reduced the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our research shows that CME is a promising treatment option for hypertension. However, further studies are required to fully elucidate its therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopa monnieri, also referred to as Herpestis monnieri, water hyssop, and "Brahmi" has been used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine for centuries. The silver nanoparticles are most commonly used for sterilizing in consumer and medical products include fabrics, food storage bags, refrigerator surfaces and personal care products. This study explores the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using B. monnieri. The biosynthesized Ag-NPs were characterized using UV-Vis-spectrophotometer and the antioxidant ability of AgNPs mediated B. monnieri extract was analyzed using DPPH and Hydrogen peroxide assay. The percentage of DPPH and H2O2 activity increased with increasing concentration of AgNPs, The AgNPs mediated leaves extract of B. monnieri was performed for the determination of anti-inflammatory activity and antimicrobial activity. Aeromonas sp., Bacillus cereus, Brevibacillus parabrevis, Enterococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, A. nidulans, Penicillum funiculosum, A. fumigatus, Trichoderma harzianum, A. terreus and A. candidus were selected for the antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles. The maximum zone of inhibition was found against E. coli and A. candidus at 80 μl concentration. This study concluded that silver nanoparticles have a significant potential as an antimicrobial compound against the pathogenic microorganisms studied and can be used to treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria. Silver nanoparticles have a major role on nanotechnology and nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using combined chromatographic methods, two new triterpenoid glycosides, bacopasaponin K (1) and bacopasaponin L (2), along with eight known compounds, bacopaside IV (3), bacopaside VII (4), bacopasaponin E (5), bacoside A3 (6), bacopasaponin F (7), bacopasaponin C (8), bacopaside I (9), and bacopaside II (10) were isolated from the methanol extract of the Bacopa monnieri. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectroscopic analysis, HR-ESI-MS and comparing with the NMR data reported in the literature. All these compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Compounds 4, 6, 8, and 10 exhibited potential cytotoxic effects against human lung cancer cells (PC9) and human colon cancer cells (SW620). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative injury is concerned with the pathogenesis of several liver injuries, including those from acute liver failure to cirrhosis. This study was designed to explore the antioxidant activity of Bacopa monnieri (BM) on Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) induced oxidative damage in Wistar albino rats. Aflatoxin B1 treatment (200 μg/kg/day, p.o.) for 28 days induced oxidative injury by a significant alteration in serum liver function test marker enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, albumin and bilirubin), inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) along with reduction of antioxidant enzymes (GSH, SOD, CAT), GSH cycle enzymes and drug-metabolizing enzymes (AH and AND). Treatment of rats with B. monnieri (20, 30 and 40 mg/kg for 5 days, p.o.) after 28 days of AFB1 intoxication significantly restored these parameters near control in a dose-dependent way. Histopathological examination disclosed extensive hepatic injuries, characterized by cellular necrosis, infiltration, congestion and sinusoidal dilatation in the AFB1-treated group. Treatment with B. monnieri significantly reduced these toxic effects resulting from AFB1. B. monnieri per se group (40 mg/kg) did not show any significant change and proved safe. The cytotoxic activity of B. monnieri was also evaluated on HepG2 cells and showed a good percentage of cytotoxic activity. This finding suggests that B. monnieri protects the liver against oxidative damage caused by AFB1, which aids in the evaluation of the traditional usage of this medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study was undertaken with a purpose of at source bioconversion of wet kitchen waste. To accelerate the "Zero Waste Concept" and meet the UN's Sustainable Development Goals 2015. Method: Wet waste was mixed with dry paper, cardboard material and a microbial culture was inoculated in the bag. Proper mixing of the material enhanced the process of composting. Results: Microgold-Y had a pH range of 6.7 to 7.0 with 45 to 58% moisture content, and suitable for plant growth. Germination test using radish (R. sativus) revealed 100% sprouting between 24 to 48 hrs on Microgold-Y (10%) followed with 93.3% on Microgold-Y (20%) as against 96.6% in sand (control), grown in small containers (5x6 cm) at 20.2 to 20.7° C and 58 to 65% RH. Besides, profuse growth and flowering was observed in B. monnieri on Microgold Y while poor growth without flowering in control. Safety evaluation on earthworm, E. fetida revealed the survival of 60% as compared to 95% in control (cow dung). The worms produced undersized cocoons (< 2 mm) on microgold as compared to control (2.7 to 3.7 mm) and interestingly regained their reproduction on pre-mature microgold. Conclusion: The yeast was identified as Pichia kudriavzevii determined by the specialists at ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-12 based on NCBI Blast Result and FASTA Sequence. The pH and moisture content of the product (Microgold-Y) ranged from 6.7 to 7.0 and moisture ranged from 45 to 58 per cent, which are ideal attributes of good compost recommended for field applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging of the global population has increased the prevalence of neurodegenerative conditions. Bacopa monnieri (BM), an herb with active compounds, such as bacosides A and B, betulinic acid, loliolide, asiatic acid, and quercetin, demonstrates the potential for brain health. Limited research has been conducted on the therapeutic applications of BM in neurodegenerative conditions. This systematic review aims to project BM's beneficial role in brain disorders. BM has anti-apoptotic and antioxidant actions and can repair damaged neurons, stimulate kinase activity, restore synaptic function, improve nerve transmission, and increase neuroprotection. The included twenty-two clinical trials demonstrated that BM can reduce Nuclear Factor-κB phosphorylation, improve emotional function, cognitive functions, anhedonia, hyperactivity, sleep routine, depression, attention deficit, learning problems, memory retention, impulsivity, and psychiatric problems. Moreover, BM can reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory biomarkers and oxidative stress. Here, we highlight that BM provides notable therapeutic benefits and can serve as a complementary approach for the care of patients with neurodegenerative conditions associated with brain disorders. This review adds to the growing interest in natural products and their potential therapeutic applications by improving our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cognitive function and neurodegeneration and informing the development of new therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employed novel extraction methods with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) to extract bioactive compounds and proteins from Bacopa monnieri leaves. The conditional influence of ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and enzymatic-assisted extraction (EAE) on the recovery efficiency of phenolics, proteins, flavonoids, and terpenoids was evaluated. The conditions of UAE were 50 mL/g LSR, 600W of ultrasonic power, and 30% water content with 40°C for 1 min to obtain the highest bioactive compounds and protein contents. The conditions of MAE were 40 mL/g LSR, 400W of microwave power with 30% water content for 3 min to reach the highest contents of biological compounds. The conditions of EAE were 30 mL/g of LSR, 20 U/g of enzyme concentration with L-Gly-Na molar ratio at 2:4:1, and 40% water content for 60 min to acquire the highest bioactive compound contents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is employed to analyze the surface of Bacopa monnieri leaves before and after extraction. Comparing seven extraction methods was conducted to find the most favorable ones. The result showed that the UMEAE method was the most effective way to exploit the compounds. The study suggested that UMEAE effectively extracts phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, and protein from DBMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is commonly a neurodevelopmental behavioural disorder in children and adolescents. Mainly characterized by symptoms like lack of attention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness, it can impact the overall mental development of the one affected. Several factors, both genetic and non-genetic, can be responsible for this disorder. Although several traditional treatment methods involve medication and other counselling techniques, they also come with different side effects. Hence, the choice is now shifting to alternative treatment techniques. Herbal treatments are considered one of the most popular complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) administered. However, issues related to the safety and efficacy of herbal remedies for the treatment of ADHD need to be investigated further. This study aims to find out the recent advancement in evidence-based use of herbal remedies for ADHD by a comprehensive and systematic review that depicts the results of the published works on herbal therapy for the disorder. The electronic databases and the references retrieved from the included studies present related randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and open-label studies. Seven RCTs involving children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD met the inclusion criteria. There is a fair indication of the efficacy and safety of Melissa officinalis L., Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst., Matricaria chamomilla L., and Valeriana officinalis L. from the studies evaluated in this systematic review for the treatment of various symptoms of ADHD. Limited evidence was found for Ginkgo biloba L. and pine bark extract. However, various other preparations from other plants did not show significant efficacy. There is inadequate proof to strongly support and recommend the administration of herbal medicines for ADHD, but more research is needed in the relevant field to popularize the alternative treatment approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation phenology plays a key role in controlling the seasonality of ecosystem processes that modulate carbon, water and energy fluxes between biosphere and atmosphere. Accurate modelling of vegetation phenology in the interplay of Earth's surface and the atmosphere is thus crucial to understand how the coupled system will respond to and shape climatic changes. Phenology is controlled by meteorological conditions at different time scales: on the one hand, changes in key meteorological variables (temperature, water, radiation) can have immediate effects on the vegetation development; on the other hand, phenological changes can be driven by past environmental conditions, known as memory effects. However, the processes governing meteorological memory effects on phenology are not completely understood, resulting in their limited performance of phenology simulated by land surface models. A deep learning model, specifically a long short-term memory network (LSTM), has the potential to capture and model the meteorological memory effects on vegetation phenology. Here, we apply the LSTM to model the vegetation phenology using meteorological drivers and canopy greenness at high temporal resolution collected taking advantage of digital repeat photography by the PhenoCam network. We compare a simple multiple linear regression model, a no-memory-effect, and a full-memory-effect LSTM model to predict the whole seasonal greenness trajectory and the corresponding phenological transition dates of 50 sites and 317 site-year during 2009–2018, across deciduous broadleaf forests, evergreen needleleaf forests and grasslands. The deep learning model outperforms the multiple linear regression model, and the full-memory-effect LSTM model performs better than no-memory-effect model for all three plant function types (median R2 of 0.878, 0.957, and 0.955 for broadleaf forests, evergreen needleleaf forests and grasslands) corroborating the benefits of deep learning approach and the importance of multi-variate meteorological memory effects in phenology modelling. We also find that the LSTM model is capable of predicting the seasonal dynamic variations of canopy greenness and reproducing trends in shifting phenological transition dates. We also performed a sensitivity analysis of the LSTM model to assess its plausibility, revealing its coherence with established knowledge of vegetation phenology sensitivity to meteorological conditions, particularly changes in temperature. Our study highlights that 1) multi-variate meteorological memory effects play a crucial role in vegetation phenology, and 2) deep learning opens up new avenues for improving the representation of vegetation phenological processes in land surface models via a hybrid modelling approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacosides are dammarane-type triterpenoidal saponins in Bacopa monnieri and have various pharmacological applications. All the bacosides are diversified from two isomers, i.e., jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin. The biosynthetic pathway of bacoside is not well elucidated. In the present study, we characterized a UDP-glycosyltransferase, UGT79A18, involved in the glycosylation of pseudojujubogenin. UGT79A18 shows higher expression in response to 5 h of wounding, and 3 h of MeJA treatment. The recombinant UGT79A18 shows in vitro activity against a wide range of flavonoids and triterpenes and has a substrate preference for protopanaxadiol, a dammarane-type triterpene. Secondary metabolite analysis of overexpression and knockdown lines of UGT79A18 in B. monnieri identify bacopasaponin D, bacopaside II, bacopaside N2 and pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside as the major bacosides that were differentially accumulated. In the overexpression lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.7-fold enhanced bacopaside II, 8-fold enhanced bacopasaponin D, 3-fold enhanced pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside, and 1.6-fold enhanced bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control plant, whereas in the knockdown lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.4-fold reduction in bacopaside II content, 3-fold reduction in the bacopasaponin D content, 2-fold reduction in the pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside content, and 1.5-fold reduction in bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control. These results suggest that UGT79A18 is a significant UDP glycosyltransferase involved in glycosylating pseudojujubogenin and enhancing the pseudojujubogenin-derived bacosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact and repellent toxicities of essential oil from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. (Apiales: Apiaceae) fruit on adults of Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), and its ability to protect stored tobacco leaves from adult L. serricorne infestation were investigated. Essential oil from C. monnieri fruit had potent contact and repellent toxicities against adults of L. serricorne, and the contact and repellent activity increased significantly with increasing exposure time and dose. The greatest corrected mortality of contact toxicity bioassays killed 85.1% at 0.24 µl/cm2 at 72 hours of exposure. The greatest mean percentage repellency in repellent toxicity bioassays killed 93.5% of class V at 0.16 µl/cm2 at 48 hours of exposure. Essential oil of C. monnieri fruit substantially protected packaged flue-cured tobacco leaves from adult L. serricorne infestation. The number of L. serricorne was zero in flue-cured tobacco leaves packaged in kraft paper bags coated with essential oil of C. monnieri fruit at 0.04 µl/cm2 at 45 days. The results suggest that essential oil of C. monnieri fruit is a promising alternative to commonly used insecticides to control L. serricorne. Se investigó el efecto por contacto y la repelencia del aceite esencial de frutos de Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. (Apiales: Apiaceae) en adultos de Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae), así como la posibilidad de proteger hojas de tabaco almacenadas. El aceite esencial tuvo alta toxicidad y repelencia y ambas cualidades incrementaron al aumentar la dosis y el tiempo de exposición. La mayor mortalidad corregida y toxicidad por contacto fue 85.1% con 0.24 µl/cm2 y 72 horas de exposición. La mayor repelencia mató 93.5% de la clase V a 0.16 µl/cm2 y 48 h de exposición. El aceite esencial protegió el tabaco curado de la infestación de adultos de L. serricorne. El número de L. serricorne en hojas de tabaco curado en bolsas fue cero con la concentración de 0.04 µl/cm2 a los 45 días, lo que representa una alternativa a los insecticidas que se usan para el control de la plaga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants are a major source of numerous therapeutic agents, and the emergence of pathogenic bacteria has rekindled interest in traditional medicine systems as an alternative approach to overcoming resistance. The dried plant material of four medicinal plants, namely Terminalia arjuna (bark), Terminalia bellirica (fruit), Aegle marmelos (leaves), and Bacopa monnieri (leaves), was powdered, and aqueous extracts were prepared. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated against three clinically important strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli 385. As E. coli 385 was resistant to the broadest spectrum of antibiotics tested, it was classified as (MDR multi-drug resistant). E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium smegmatis (MTTC), and Vibrio alginolyticus (ATCC) were also assessed using the agar well diffusion method for zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC). Clinically important strains were found to be sensitive to the aqueous extract of T. bellerica (19.51 ± 0.61 mm) with MICs ranging from 0.31 to 0.62 mg/ml. The MDR strain was also sensitive to Bellirica monnieri (16.10 ± 0.31 mm) aqueous extract. To determine the potential for a wide range of applications, the antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The T. arjuna plant extract exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity with the lowest EC50 values for DPPH (1.15 ± 0.061 mg/ml) and ABTS (1.02 ± 0.07 mg/ml). The plant extracts were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and LC-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries is a common human oral disease worldwide, caused by an acid-producing bacteria Streptococcus mutans. The use of synthetic drugs and antibiotics to prevent dental caries has been increasing, but this can lead to severe side effects. To solve this issue, developing and developed countries have resorted to herbal medicines as an alternative to synthetic drugs for the treatment and prevention of dental caries. Therefore, there is an urgent need for plant-derived products to treat such diseases. Bacopa monnieri, a well-documented medicinal plant, contains 52 phytocompounds, including the pentacyclic triterpenoid metabolite known as asiatic acid (ASTA). Hence, this study aimed to demonstrate, for the first time, the antibacterial activity of phytocompound ASTA against S. mutans. The findings revealed that ASTA significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans and the production of virulence factors such as acidurity, acidogenicity, and eDNA synthesis. Molecular docking analysis evaluated the potential activity of ASTA against S. mutans virulence genes, including VicR and GtfC. Furthermore, toxicity assessment of ASTA in human buccal epithelial cells was performed, and no morphological changes were observed. An in vivo analysis using Danio rerio (zebrafish) confirmed that the ASTA treatment significantly increased the survival rates of infected fish by hindering the intestinal colonization of S. mutans. Furthermore, the disease protection potential of ASTA against the pathognomonic symptom of S. mutans infection was proven by the histopathological examination of the gills, gut, and kidney. Overall, these findings suggest that ASTA may be a promising therapeutic and alternative drug for the treatment and prevention of oral infection imposed by S. mutans.

The real-time monitoring of wheat phenology variations among different varieties and their adaptive responses to environmental conditions is essential for advancing breeding efforts and improving cultivation management. Many remote sensing efforts have been made to relieve the challenges of key phenophase detection. However, existing solutions are not accurate enough to discriminate adjacent phenophases with subtle organ changes, and they are not real-time, such as the vegetation index curve-based methods relying on entire growth stage data after the experiment was finished. Furthermore, it is key to improving the efficiency, scalability, and availability of phenological studies. This study proposes a two-stage deep learning framework called PhenoNet for the accurate, efficient, and real-time classification of key wheat phenophases. PhenoNet comprises a lightweight encoder module (PhenoViT) and a long short-term memory (LSTM) module. The performance of PhenoNet was assessed using a well-labeled, multi-variety, and large-volume dataset (WheatPheno). The results show that PhenoNet achieved an overall accuracy (OA) of 0.945, kappa coefficients (Kappa) of 0.928, and F1-score (F1) of 0.941. Additionally, the network parameters (Params), number of operations measured by multiply-adds (MAdds), and graphics processing unit memory required for classification (Memory) were 0.889 million (M), 0.093 Giga times (G), and 8.0 Megabytes (MB), respectively. PhenoNet outperformed eleven state-of-the-art deep learning networks, achieving an average improvement of 3.7% in OA, 5.1% in Kappa, and 4.1% in F1, while reducing average Params, MAdds, and Memory by 78.4%, 85.0%, and 75.1%, respectively. The feature visualization and ablation analysis explained that PhenoNet mainly benefited from using time-series information and lightweight modules. Furthermore, PhenoNet can be effectively transferred across years, achieving a high OA of 0.981 using a two-stage transfer learning strategy. Furthermore, an extensible web platform that integrates WheatPheno and PhenoNet and ensures that the work done in this study is accessible, interoperable, and reusable has been developed (https://phenonet.org/). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) induces an augmented, broad-spectrum antimicrobial response to subsequent infection, a phenomenon termed innate immune memory. This study examined the effects of treatment with β-glucan, a fungus-derived dectin-1 ligand, or monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA), a bacteria-derived Toll-like receptor 4 ligand, on innate immune memory with a focus on identifying common cellular and molecular pathways activated by these diverse PAMPs. Treatment with either PAMP prepared the innate immune system to respond more robustly to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in vivo by facilitating mobilization of innate leukocytes into blood, recruitment of leukocytes to the site of infection, augmentation of microbial clearance, and attenuation of cytokine production. Examination of macrophages ex vivo showed amplification of metabolism, phagocytosis, and respiratory burst after treatment with either agent, although MPLA more robustly augmented these activities and more effectively facilitated killing of bacteria. Both agents activated gene expression pathways in macrophages that control inflammation, antimicrobial functions, and protein synthesis and suppressed pathways regulating cell division. β-glucan treatment minimally altered macrophage differential gene expression in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, whereas MPLA attenuated the magnitude of the LPS-induced transcriptional response, especially cytokine gene expression. These results show that β-glucan and MPLA similarly augment the innate response to infection in vivo. Yet, MPLA more potently induces alterations in macrophage metabolism, antimicrobial functions, gene transcription and the response to LPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centella asiatica, known as Indian or Asiatic pennywort, is consumed raw as salad or used as a brain tonic, treatment of Alzheimer's disease, and memory improvement. Differences in the drying method will lead to different levels of phytochemical profile and biological activity. Therefore, the present work aimed to investigate the Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR) spectra fingerprint profiles, HPLC analysis of four bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of C. asiatica samples exposed to various drying methods, including air-, oven-, and sun-drying. Results showed that all samples had identical FTIR spectra patterns, but there were differences in the absorbance intensities at 1692 and 1634 cm-1, showing the effect of drying methods on the content of extracts' bioactive compounds. These differences were analysed by chemometrics namely principal components analysis (PCA), and groupings were shown for the three samples. Based on the IC50 values, ovendrying (OD) had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by sun-drying (SD) and airdrying (AD), with IC50 values of 52.25, 94.18, and 99.29 µg/mL, respectively. HPLC analysis showed that OD had a higher percentage for madecassoside and asiaticoside with values of 0.86 and 0.96%, respectively, compared to SD and AD. Meanwhile, AD had the highest content of madecassic and asiatic acids, with values of 0.50 and 0.48%. The absorbance and antioxidant activity data for the three C. asiatica extracts were analysed for the correlation using an orthogonal partial least square. Results showed that at 1006 - 989 cm-1, it positively correlated with antioxidant activity, and could be identified as the C-O functional group of alcohol and phenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. is a high value medicinally important plant used as a memory enhancer, the germplasm of which requires to be conserved long-term due to its over-exploitation. Access to an efficient shoot tips cryoconservation protocol that results in high post-thaw regrowth and is applicable to many genotypes is a prerequisite for long-term conservation of valuable germplasm. Experiments were conducted to assess the effect of shoot tip size and cryoconservation techniques, including vitrification (V) and droplet-vitrification (DV), to improve post-thaw regrowth in two accessions of B. monnieri. Optimal results after cryopreservation were obtained when small size (SS – 0.5 × 0.5 mm) shoot tips were excised from cultures pretreated on MS basal medium supplemented with 0.3 M sucrose (SM) for 4 to 16 wk, precultured on SM medium for 2 d and dehydrated with Plant Vitrification Solution-2 (PVS2) at 0 °C for 35 min. High post-thaw regrowth of > 50% was obtained using V technique, which was further enhanced by using DV technique (approximately 80%). Genetic integrity of regenerated plantlets after cryoconservation using V and DV showed no significant variation among the control and cryoconserved plants using 39 Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers. Further, the developed protocol was evaluated in other four accessions and four-fold enhanced post-thaw regrowth (approximately 80%) and reduction of preparation time by approximately 20 wk was achieved. These results demonstrated that this improved protocol has potential to be implemented for cryobanking of in vitro germplasm of Bacopa monnieri. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current review focuses on the plant Bacopa monnieri, one of prominent medical herbs in Indian ayurvedic system. The plant is well known for its cognitive and memory enhancing capabilities. The plant contains many useful alkaloids and secondary metabolites. Studies have shown that it has various promising pharmacological properties which have the potential to treat many illnesses and disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism also in for renal disease, water retention, blood cleaning etc. This leads to the over exploitation of the plant which puts a stress on the naturally available stock of the plant, therefore, it becomes a necessity to find optimum methods for mass production of the plant and its important secondary metabolites. This review attempts to compile and to discuss the advancements in methods and techniques including type of culture vessels, plant growth regulators (PGRs), effect of stress, plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) interactions; for in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri and the enhanced production of its important bioactive (bacoside) for its sustainable exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lantana camara Linn. (Verbenaceae) is used for improving memory in certain African societies. This study investigated the effect of prophylactic treatment with hydroethanolic leaf extract of Lantana camara (LCE) on short-term memory deficit and neuroinflammation induced with scopolamine in zebrafish and mice. Zebrafish (AB strain) and mice (ICR) were given donepezil (0.65 mg/kg, oral) and LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg, oral) for 7, and 10 days, respectively, before induction of cognitive impairment with scopolamine immersion (200 µM) and intraperitoneal injection (2 mg/kg), respectively. Spatial short-term memory was assessed in zebrafish using both Y- and T-mazes, whereas Y-maze was used in mice. Mice hippocampal and cortical tissues were analyzed for mRNA expression of proinflammatory genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) using qRT-PCR. In the zebrafish Y-maze, LCE (10 and 100 mg/kg) increased time spent in the novel arm by 55.89 ± 5.70%, and 68.21 ± 2.75%, respectively, but not at 30 mg/kg. In the zebrafish T-maze, there was an increase in time spent in the food-containing arm at 30 (44.23 ± 2.13) and 100 mg/kg (52.30 ± 1.94). In the mouse Y-maze, spontaneous alternation increased by 52.89 ± 4.98% at only 10 mg/kg. LCE (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) inhibited proinflammatory gene (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2) mRNA expression, with the highest inhibitory effect on IL-6 in both the hippocampus (83.27 ± 2.49%; 100 mg/kg) and the cortex (98.74 ± 0.11%; 10 mg/kg). LCE ameliorated scopolamine-induced AD in both zebrafish and mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Dementia is a common aging-related neurodegenerative disease in the elderly worldwide. Alterations in neurogenesis and angiogenesis factors have been linked to cognitive impairment in neurological disorders. However, synthetic drugs to improve memory disorders have uncomfortable side effects. The purpose of this study is to explore the neuroprotective potential of the fruit ethanol extract of andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC) [Andaliman fruit ethanol extract (AEE)] on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and spatial memory in rat models of aging. Materials and Methods: This study had an experimental design with AEE. The 4 groups were treated as follows: N (normal), M (served as positive control), P1 (AEE 150 mg/kg bw), and P2 (AEE 300 mg/kg BW) for 8 weeks. Aged model rats (M, P1, and P2) were obtained by inducing D-galactose (150 mg/kg bw). BDNF and VEGF expression were determined by RT-PCR, and spatial memory was assessed using the test of the Moris Water Maze (MWM). The Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used to assess the statistical analysis. Results: AEE had a tendency to increase BDNF in P2 compared to the normal group (1.98 versus 1). VEGF expression increased in P1 and P2 compared to the normal group (1.14 and 1.29 versus 1). AEE at a dose of 300 mg/kg bw significantly improved spatial memory (p = 0.026). Conclusion: For eight weeks, AEE at a dose of 300 mg/kg bw considerably increased the potential to enhance VEGF and BDNF expression as well as spatial memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT: Herbal therapy is a type of alternative or complementary medicine that uses natural ingredients to alleviate health issues including mental illness. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition marked by a slow loss of memory coupled with shrinkage of brain tissue, localized loss of neurons, primarily in the hippocampus and basal forebrain, and decreased levels of the central cholinergic neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Bacopa monnieri is also known as brahmi which is very well known for memory enhancer and Piper nigrum is work as bioavailability enhancer which will reduce the dose frequency and increase effectiveness on other drugs. So, this study's goal was to look at the physicochemical parameters, phytochemical characteristics, and synergistic memory enhancing effect of B. monnieri with P. nigrum a natural bioenhancer on mice with scopolamine-induced learning and memory deficits. Six group of six animal were treated respectively, once daily with ethanolic extract of B. monnieri (EEBM) (200 mg/kg), ethanolic extract of P. nigrum (EEPN) 200 mg/kg, Combination of EEBM (100 mg/kg) with EEPN (100 mg/kg), donepezil 1 mg/kg via oral dosing and were given intraperitoneal (ip) injection of scopolamine 1 mg/kg daily to induce cognitive deficits. The tests for locomotor activity, stair climbing, and pole climbing were utilised to evaluate the learning and memory components. Additionally examined were dopamine, serotonin (5-HT) and other physiological elements. The results showed combination of Brahmi and black pepper shows pole climbing, actophotometer activity, staircase activity that showed better therapeutic advantages for improving mice's antiamnesic activity as compared to single extract of Brahmi. In response, the treated groups with combined extract emitted noticeably more dopamine and serotonin. When compared to illness control, the extract's ability to improve memory was highly significant (P< 0.001). These findings indicate that the combination of Brahmi and black pepper improved memory and hence could serve as a viable therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative illnesses.

Abstract Background A symbiotic connection between Piriformospora indica and Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettest, obtained through co-cultivation synergism, was found to improve growth, biomass production, and bacoside content in the plants. Brahmi (B. monnieri L.), a well-known Indian plant prized for its memory-boosting properties, has a lengthy history and a premium price tag. Because of its remarkable ability to colonize a wide variety of plant species, the axenically cultivable mycorrhiza-like endophytic fungus P. indica has gained a lot of interest recently. Methods In the current study, fungal spores from recently revived cultures were added to jam bottles next to rooted Brahmi plants for in vitro co-cultivation. The control plants were left without fungal discs. Pre-rooted micro-propagated Brahmi plants were treated with agar discs containing actively growing hyphae. For a period of 3 months, both trials were conducted with a fully randomized setup. Microscopy of the treated and control plant roots verified co-cultivation. Results Microscopic examination of the roots of co-cultivated plants reveals a high degree of colonization with host plants. These endophytic fungal structures include intracellular chlamydospores, and arbuscules, an intercellular and intracellular hyphae network, and a mycelial network on the root surface. In both in vitro and in vivo co-cultivation studies, the plant extended the host plant’s lifespan in 3 months by displaying continuous regeneration; in contrast, the control plant displayed signs of senescence. With biomass exceeding the control by 1.18 times in vivo and 1.28 times in vitro. In vitro, co-cultivation circumstances also led to an increase in the rate of utilization of nutritional medium. In comparison to the control, the amount of bacoside increases to 100% in vivo after a month of co-cultivation and 33% in vitro after 3 months. Conclusions In the present investigation, in vivo co-cultivation showed a favorable interaction effect on biomass production as well as bacoside content, which can satisfy the raw material demands of Brahmi plants in pharmaceutical industries.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in women and the most common cancer in males. Chemotherapy, allopathy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, surgery, immune system, and targeted therapies are frequently used to treat lung cancer. These medications induce other diseases and have a variety of negative effects. Thus, we used a different strategy and sought to treat lung cancer with medicinal herbs. We selected the perennial creeping herb Bacopa monnieri, which belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family, among other medicinal herbs. It contains several active phytoconstituents, including sterols, alkaloids, flavanoids, terpenoids, and saponins. The primary component with anti-lung cancer efficacy is phytosterol, according to the components. According to the phytochemical investigation, this plant contained it. The literature review indicates that the problem is lessened by nanoparticle production. Thus, the novelty of our work is the manufacture of zinc oxide nanoparticles for the treatment of lung cancer using BM stem extracts. Researchers have been interested in ZnO material because of its huge band gap (3.37 eV) with n-type semi-conductivity and high excitonic binding energy (60 meV) with regards to the different semiconductor nanomaterials, such as TiO2, SnO2, GaN, CuO, GaAs, Si, and ZnO. Zinc oxide in bulk is economical and can be used for many different industrial processes, such as the creation of nanoparticles. Zinc acetate serves as the precursor and stem extract serves as the reducing agent in the synthesis. The absorbance peak between 300 and 400 nm in UV spectroscopy was used to characterize the ZnO nanoparticles that were produced from hydromethanolic BM stem extract. In later research, lung cancer treatment might be considered. Given that lung (A549) cell lines will be treated with phytosterol-containing hydromethanolic BM stem extract in the form of ZnO nanoparticles, which will cause cell death by reducing cell proliferation, DNA damage and apoptosis may occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst.) is extensively used as a nutritional supplement in various commercial products as the plant contains abundant phytochemicals and has antioxidant properties. This study assessed the phytochemical contents, antioxidant properties, and DNA damage protection among seven Brahmi products sold through Thai online markets. Results showed that the P6 sample exhibited 3.5–7.5 fold higher bacoside contents than values observed in the other six product samples. The P6 sample also demonstrated the highest TTC, TFC, and TPC compared to the other brands. For antioxidant activity, the samples (P1–P7) displayed high capacity to scavenge DPPH free radicals with slightly significant differences ranging from 78.37 ± 0.25 to 87.21 ± 0.05 at p-value ≤0.01. The P6 sample showed strong protection against H2O2-induced oxidation of DNA strand breakage, indicating highly potent phytochemical compounds with effective free radical scavenging activity, and the ability to prevent DNA damage. The P6 sample showed promise as a valuable ingredient for the development of functional food products. However, further in vivo animal and clinical studies are required to explore the neuroprotective enhancement effects of Brahmi extracts.

Comparing the size of functionally distinct brain regions across individuals with remarkable differences in sensory processing and cognitive demands provides important insights into the selective forces shaping animal nervous systems. We took advantage of the complex system of worker-to-soldier differentiation in the termitid Procornitermes araujoi, to investigate how a profound modification of body morphology followed by an irreversible shift in task performance are translated in terms of brain structure and size. This behavioural shift is characterised by a reduction of the once wide and complex behavioural repertoire of workers to one exclusively dedicated to nest defence (soldiers). In accordance with soldier's reduced cognitive and sensory demands, we show here that differentiation of workers into soldiers is associated with a size reduction of the mushroom body (MB) compartments, higher-order brain regions responsible for multimodal processing and integration of sensory information, as well as learning, memory, and decision-making. Moreover, in soldiers, we found an apparent fusion of the medial and lateral MB calyces likely associated with its volume reduction. These results illustrate a functional neuroplasticity of the MB associated with division of labour, supporting the link between MB size and behavioural flexibility in social insect workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]