-
Prevention Science : the Official... Aug 2023Major research breakthroughs over the past 30 years in the field of substance use prevention have served to: (1) enhance understanding of pharmacological effects on the... (Review)
Review
Major research breakthroughs over the past 30 years in the field of substance use prevention have served to: (1) enhance understanding of pharmacological effects on the central and peripheral nervous systems and the health and social consequences of use of psychoactive substances, particularly for children and adolescents; (2) delineate the processes that increase vulnerability to or protect from initiation of substance use and progression to substance use disorders (SUDs) and, based on this understanding, (3) develop effective strategies and practices to prevent the initiation and escalation of substance use. The challenge we now face as a field is to "normalize" what we have learned from this research so that it is incorporated into the work of those involved in supporting, planning, and delivering prevention programming to populations around the world, is integrated into health and social service systems, and helps to shape public policies. But we wish to go further, to incorporate these effective prevention practices into everyday life and the mind-sets of the public, particularly parents and educators. This paper reviews the advances that have been made in the field of prevention and presents a framework and recommendations to achieve these objectives generated during several meetings of prevention and implementation science researchers sponsored by the International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR) that guides a roadmap to achieve "normalization."
Topics: Adolescent; Child; Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Cognition; Implementation Science; Learning; Parents
PubMed: 37052866
DOI: 10.1007/s11121-023-01532-2 -
Annals of Translational Medicine Feb 2022The ginsenoside compound K [20-o-beta-dglucopyranosyl-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol; CK] is the main deglycosylated metabolite of ginsenoside. As a rare ginsenoside converted... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
The ginsenoside compound K [20-o-beta-dglucopyranosyl-20 (S)-protopanaxadiol; CK] is the main deglycosylated metabolite of ginsenoside. As a rare ginsenoside converted from the active substance of ginseng by intestinal bacteria, CK has higher biological activity than other ginsenosides. It has demonstrated diverse and intriguing biological activities, including anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-angiogenesis, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. The purpose of this review was to elucidate the rich pharmacological activities and related mechanisms of ginsenoside CK and , as well as the potential therapeutic value of CK as a drug in a variety of systemically related diseases.
METHODS
The PubMed database was searched for articles published in English from February 2008 to December 2021 using related keywords such as "Ginsenoside compound K", "compound K", and "CK". About 140 research papers and reports written in English were identified. These papers mainly concentrated on the pharmacological activities of CK in cancer prevention, immune regulation, diabetic improvement, central nervous system (CNS) protection, cardiovascular protection, skin improvement, and hepatoprotection.
KEY CONTENT AND FINDINGS
This paper describes the synthesis, pharmacokinetics, and adverse reactions of CK, as well as great detailed summarized of the relevant pharmacological activities. Such diverse intriguing biological properties of CK have been found.
CONCLUSIONS
On account of CK's numerous pharmacological activities and anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammation, antiallergic, anti-diabetic, anti-angiogenesis, anti-aging, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective effects, strong evidence is available for CK as a preventive or therapeutic agent for various diseases. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CK as a drug and its application in the medical field.
PubMed: 35280413
DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-501 -
Neural Regeneration Research Apr 2020The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a subcortical brain structure known primarily for its roles in pleasure, reward, and addiction. Despite less focus on the NAc in pain... (Review)
Review
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a subcortical brain structure known primarily for its roles in pleasure, reward, and addiction. Despite less focus on the NAc in pain research, it also plays a large role in the mediation of pain and is effective as a source of analgesia. Evidence for this involvement lies in the NAc's cortical connections, functions, pharmacology, and therapeutic targeting. The NAc projects to and receives information from notable pain structures, such as the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray, habenula, thalamus, etc. Additionally, the NAc and other pain-modulating structures share functions involving opioid regulation and motivational and emotional processing, which each work beyond simply the rewarding experience of pain offset. Pharmacologically speaking, the NAc responds heavily to painful stimuli, due to its high density of μ opioid receptors and the activation of several different neurotransmitter systems in the NAc, such as opioids, dopamine, calcitonin gene-related peptide, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, and substance P, each of which have been shown to elicit analgesic effects. In both preclinical and clinical models, deep brain stimulation of the NAc has elicited successful analgesia. The multi-functional NAc is important in motivational behavior, and the motivation for avoiding pain is just as important to survival as the motivation for seeking pleasure. It is possible, then, that the NAc must be involved in both pleasure and pain in order to help determine the motivational salience of positive and negative events.
PubMed: 31638081
DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.266909 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2023Kombucha is a customary tea-based beverage that is produced through the process of fermenting a mixture of tea and sugar water with symbiotic culture of bacteria and... (Review)
Review
Kombucha is a customary tea-based beverage that is produced through the process of fermenting a mixture of tea and sugar water with symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). Traditional kombucha has various beneficial effects and can improve immunity. The significant market share of Kombucha can be attributed to the growing consumer inclination towards healthy foods within the functional beverage industry. The research focus has recently expanded from the probiotics of traditional black tea kombucha to encompass other teas, Chinese herbs, plant materials, and alternative substrates. There is a lack of comprehensive literature reviews focusing on substance transformation, functional, active substances, and efficacy mechanisms of alternative kombucha substrates. This article aimed to bridge this gap by providing an in-depth review of the biological transformation pathways of kombucha metabolites and alternative substrates. The review offers valuable insights into kombucha research, including substance metabolism and transformation, efficacy, pharmacological mechanism, and the purification of active components, offering direction and focus for further studies in this field.
PubMed: 37779696
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1254014 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Mar 2020The synthetic cathinones are derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone found in the khat plant (Catha edulis) and have chemical structures and neurochemical... (Review)
Review
The synthetic cathinones are derived from the naturally occurring drug cathinone found in the khat plant (Catha edulis) and have chemical structures and neurochemical consequences similar to other psychostimulants. This class of new psychoactive substances (NPS) also has potential for use and abuse coupled with a range of possible adverse effects including neurotoxicity and lethality. This review provides a general background of the synthetic cathinones in terms of the motivation for and patterns and demographics of their use as well as the behavioral and physiological effects that led to their spread as abused substances and consequent regulatory control. This background is followed by a review focusing on their rewarding and aversive effects as assessed in various pre-clinical animal models and the contribution of these effects to their self-administration (implicating their use and abuse potential). The review closes with an overview of the consequences of synthetic cathinone use and abuse in terms of their potential to produce neurotoxicity and lethality. These characterizations are discussed in the context of other classical psychostimulants.
Topics: Alkaloids; Animals; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Humans; Methamphetamine; Psychotropic Drugs; Self Administration; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 31101438
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.07.015 -
Chinese Herbal Medicines Jul 2021To explore the anaphylaxis effect and anaphylaxis substances of honeysuckle.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the anaphylaxis effect and anaphylaxis substances of honeysuckle.
METHODS
Rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC) were separated and purified, the cells were incubated with compound 48/80 (0.02 g/L), physiological saline and honeysuckle extract (120 g/L) at 37 °C for 0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min. Degranulation were observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope. Annexin V positive cell rate was detected by flow cytometry to reflect the degranulation rate of PMC. SD rats were supplied with honeysuckle extract by intravenous injection at a dose of 2.25 g/L. After administration, different parameters were analyzed, including the symptoms, histamine (HIS) and tryptase (MCT) levels, which were determined to explore the effect of anaphylaxis. Regression analysis was used to calculate the relationships between the peaks and the pharmacological effects to explore potentially anaphylactoid components.
RESULTS
The percentage of Annxin V positive cells and the degranulation ratio were markedly elevated in PMC treated with honeysuckle extract for more than 15 min ( < 0.05). HIS and MCT level were significantly elevated after injection of honeysuckle extract for more than 15 min. Morphology of PMC and systemic symptoms were also changed compared with the controlled group ( < 0.05). Regression analysis was used to calculate the relationship between peaks and pharmacological effects, and to determine peaks 7, 10 and 13 as possible anaphylactoid ingredients.
CONCLUSION
This study established a prospective method to clarify the anaphylactoid components of honeysuckle extract, which would provide guidance for screening anaphylactoid components in traditional Chinese medicine injections containing honeysuckle in the prescription.
PubMed: 36118927
DOI: 10.1016/j.chmed.2021.04.013 -
Biomedicines Oct 2022Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common rhinopathy that affects up to 30% of the adult population. It is defined as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, develops in allergic... (Review)
Review
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a common rhinopathy that affects up to 30% of the adult population. It is defined as an inflammation of the nasal mucosa, develops in allergic individuals, and is detected mostly by a positive skin-prick test. AR is characterized by a triad of nasal congestion, and sneezing. Mast cells (MCs) are innate immune system effector cells that play a pivotal role in innate immunity and modulating adaptive immunity, rendering them as key cells of allergic inflammation and thus of allergic diseases. MCs are typically located in body surfaces exposed to the external environment such as the nasal mucosa. Due to their location in the nasal mucosa, they are in the first line of defense against inhaled substances such as allergens. IgE-dependent activation of MCs in the nasal mucosa following exposure to allergens in a sensitized individual is a cardinal mechanism in the pathophysiology of AR. This review is a comprehensive summary of MCs' involvement in the development of AR symptoms and how classical AR medications, as well as emerging AR therapies, modulate MCs and MC-derived mediators involved in the development of AR.
PubMed: 36289748
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102486 -
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews Mar 2020Based on their pharmacological properties, psychoactive drugs are supposed to take control of the natural reward system to finally drive compulsory drug seeking and... (Review)
Review
Based on their pharmacological properties, psychoactive drugs are supposed to take control of the natural reward system to finally drive compulsory drug seeking and consumption. However, psychoactive drugs are not used in an arbitrary way as pure pharmacological reinforcement would suggest, but rather in a highly specific manner depending on non-pharmacological factors. While pharmacological effects of psychoactive drugs are well studied, neurobiological mechanisms of non-pharmacological factors are less well understood. Here we review the emerging neurobiological mechanisms beyond pharmacological reinforcement which determine drug effects and use frequency. Important progress was made on the understanding of how the character of an environment and social stress determine drug self-administration. This is expanded by new evidence on how behavioral alternatives and opportunities for drug instrumentalization generate different patterns of drug choice. Emerging evidence suggests that the neurobiology of non-pharmacological factors strongly determines pharmacological and behavioral drug action and may, thus, give rise for an expanded system's approach of psychoactive drug use and addiction.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Addictive; Brain; Drug-Seeking Behavior; Humans; Reinforcement, Psychology; Stress, Psychological; Substance-Related Disorders
PubMed: 30179633
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.08.015 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2022
PubMed: 36684007
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1087005