OBJECTIVE: Anxiety is one of the most common symptoms associated with autistic spectrum disorder. The essential oil of Cananga odorata (Lam.) Hook. f. & Thomson, usually known as ylang-ylang oil (YYO), is often used in aromatherapy as a mood-regulating agent, sedative, or hypotensive agent. In the present study, the effects and mechanisms of YYO in alleviating anxiety, social and cognitive behaviors in autism-like rats were investigated. METHODS: The prenatal valproic acid (VPA) model was used to induce autism-like behaviors in offspring rats. The effectiveness of prenatal sodium valproate treatment (600 mg/kg) on offspring was shown by postnatal growth observation, and negative geotaxis, olfactory discrimination and Morris water maze (MWM) tests. Then three treatment groups were formed with varying exposure to atomized YYO to explore the effects of YYO on the anxiety, social and cognitive behaviors of the autistic-like offspring through the elevated plus-maze test, three-chamber social test, and MWM test. Finally, the monoamine neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine and their metabolites, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of the rats were measured using a high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Offspring of VPA exposure rats showed autism-like behaviors. In the VPA offspring, medium-dose YYO exposure significantly elevated the time and entries into the open arms in the elevated plus-maze test, while low-dose YYO exposure significantly enhanced the social interaction time with the stranger rat in session 1 of the three-chamber social test. VPA offspring treated with YYO exposure used less time to reach the platform in the navigation test of the MWM test. YYO exposure significantly elevated the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine in the PFC of VPA offspring. CONCLUSION YYO exposure showed the effects in alleviating anxiety and improving cognitive and social abilities in the offspring of VPA exposure rats. The role of YYO was related to the regulation of the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine. Please cite this article as: Zhang N, Wang ST, Yao L. Inhalation of Cananga odorata essential oil relieves anxiety behaviors in autism-like rats via regulation of serotonin and dopamine metabolism. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 205-214.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Rats ; Animals ; Autistic Disorder/drug therapy* ; Oils, Volatile/therapeutic use* ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Cananga/metabolism* ; Dopamine ; Anxiety/drug therapy* ; Valproic Acid/pharmacology* ; Plant Oils ; Disease Models, Animal

Eight new annonaceous acetogenins, squamotin A-D (1-4), annosquatin IV-V (5 and 6), muricin O (7) and squamosten B (8), together with four known ones (9-12) were isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa. Their structures were elucidated by chemical methods and spectral data. The inhibitory activities of compound 1-9 against three multidrug resistance cell lines were evaluated. All tested compounds showed strong cytotoxicity.
Acetogenins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Annona ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; toxicity ; Seeds ; chemistry

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aromatherapy on stress responses, autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, and blood pressure in patients hospitalized to receive coronary angiography (CAG). METHODS: A non-equivalent control group with a pretestposttest design was used. The subjects were patients admitted to the day angiography room to receive CAG at E University Hospital (34 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group). The experimental group treatment was inhalation of the aroma oil blended with lavender, ylang-ylang, and neroli at a ratio of 4:2:1 twice before and after CAG. The measurements of stress index, ANS activity, and blood pressure were performed 5 times as follows: at admission, at pre-CAG after treatment I, at post-CAG, 2 hours after treatment II, and 4 hours after treatment II. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test and repeated-measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: Significant interactions in the high frequency of ANS (F=5.58, p=.005) were observed between group and time. Stress index (z=2.14, p=.016), systolic blood pressure (z=4.14, p < .005), and diastolic blood pressure (z=3.28, p=.001) were significantly different between the experimental and control groups after 4 hours of treatment II. CONCLUSION: The findings showed that aromatherapy was not effective before CAG, but was effective after CAG. Therefore, aromatherapy can be used as a nursing intervention for patients receiving CAG.
Angiography ; Aromatherapy ; Autonomic Nervous System ; Blood Pressure ; Cananga ; Coronary Angiography ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Lavandula ; Nursing

Women's health has been threatened by various diseases mainly including heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, depression, and autoimmune disease. But development of medication for these diseases has been restricted by high development costs and low success rates. Herein the attempt to develop valid bioactive materials from a traditional natural material has been made. Resveratrol has been reported to be effective in treatment of breast cancer and heart disease. Goji berry has received attention as a natural based therapeutic material to treat a diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and osteoporosis. Leonurus family has been reported to be effective particularly in pregnant women due to high contents of vitamin as well as stimulation of uterine contraction. Annona family has effects such as anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and recently it is proposed to be as a therapeutic material to cure depression based on its strong antidepressant effect. Shiraia bambusicola has been utilized to cure angiogenesis-related disease from ancient China and furthermore recently it was proved to be effective in rheumatoid arthritis. Getting an understanding of utilization of these traditional natural materials not only enhances the interest in development of therapeutic materials for preventing and treating various women's diseases, but also makes it possible to develop novel therapeutic materials.
Annona ; Antioxidants ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; China ; Depression ; Female ; Fruit ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Leonurus ; Osteoporosis ; Pregnant Women ; Uterine Contraction ; Vitamin A ; Women's Health

OBJECTIVETo confirm the anticancer effect of total annonaceous acetogenins (TAAs) abstracted from Annona squamosa Linn. on human hepatocarcinoma.

METHODSThe inhibitory effect of TAAs was demonstrated in H22-bearing mice. The potency of TAAs was confirmed as its 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) on Bel-7402 cell under Sulfur Rhodamine B staining. Both underlying mechanisms were explored as cellular apoptosis and cell cycle under flow cytometry. Mitochondrial and recipient apoptotic pathways were differentiated as mitochondrial membrane potential under flow cytometry and caspases activities under fluorescence analysis.

RESULTSThe inhibitory rate of TAAs in mice was 50.98% at 4 mg/kg dose. The IC50 of TAAs on Bel-7402 was 20.06 µg/mL (15.13-26.61µg/mL). Effective mechanisms of TAAs were confirmed as both of arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and inducing apoptosis dose- and time-dependently. Mitochondrial and recipient pathways involved in apoptotic actions of TAAs.

CONCLUSIONTAAs is effective for hepatocarcinoma, via inhibiting proliferation and inducing apoptosis.

Acetogenins ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Annona ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Organ Specificity ; drug effects ; Spleen ; drug effects ; Thymus Gland ; drug effects ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

To investigate the secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi Pericinia sp. F-31. Column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC were used to separate and purify the compounds. Two compounds were isolated from the fermentation broth of Periconia sp. Their structures were identified as 5-(1-hydroxyhexyl) -6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (1) and 2-(3-hydroxy-4-methylphenyl) -propanoic acid (2). Compound 1 was a new lactone compound, compound 2 was new natural product, and the NMR data of compound 2 was reported for the first time.
Annona ; microbiology ; Ascomycota ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Endophytes ; chemistry ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Lactones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure

The antidepressant effects of the flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed extract were examined by assessing the extent of attenuation of behavioural alterations and oxidative damage in the rats that were stressed by forced swim test. Compared with the model control group, the altered behavioural parameters were attenuated significantly (P < 0.05) in the group treated with the flavonoid-rich fraction (100 and 200 mg·kg(-1)), comparable to the group treated with the standard drug, fluoxetine (10 mg·kg(-1)). The flavonoid-rich fraction and fluoxetine improved significantly (P < 0.05) the activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase as well as other biochemical parameters such as reduced glutathione, protein, and nitrite in the brain of the stressed rats. These results suggested that the flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed extract exerted the antidepressant-like effects which could be useful in the management of stress induced disease.
Animals ; Annonaceae ; chemistry ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Brain ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Fluoxetine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Swimming

OBJECTIVETo investigate the constituents of the Annona squamosa and evaluate their anti-tumor activity.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by spectral data analysis. Their anti-tumor activity was assayed by SRB method.

RESULTEleven compounds were obtained from the 95% EtOH extract. The structures were determined as: annosquamosin C(1),15, 16-epoxy-17-hydroxy-ent-kau-ran-19-oic acid (2),16,17-dihydroxy-ent-kau-ran-19-oic acid(3), annosquamosin A(4), ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (5), 19-nor-ent-kauran4-ol-17-oic acid (6),16-hydroxy ent-kau ran-19-oic acid (7), ent-15beta-hydroxy-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid (8), annosquamosin B (9), ent-16beta, 17-dihydroxykauran-19-al (10), 16, 17-dihydroxy-ent-kauran-19-oic acid me thyl ester (11). Compounds 1,2,3,5,9 showed different inhibitory activities against 95-D lung cancer cells,the effect of compound 5 was strongest with the IC50 value 7.78 micromol x L(-1); Compounds 2, 5, 9 showed inhibitory activities against A2780 ovarian cancer cells, the effects of compounds 2 and 9 were strong with the IC50 values being 0.89, 3.10 micromol x L(-1), respectively.

CONCLUSIONCompound 2 was firstly isolated from this family, while compound 8 and 10 were first found from this genus and the title species, respectively. The in vitro anti-tumor test showed compound 5 significantly inhibited 95-D lung cancer cells and compounds 2 and 9 exhibited remarkbale activity against A2780 ovarian cancer cells.

Annona ; chemistry ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Plant Bark ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: The use of natural bioactive compounds in conventional chemotherapy is a new direction in cancer treatment that is gaining more research attention recently. Bioactive polysaccharides and polysaccharide-protein complexes from some fungi (edible mushrooms) have been identified as sources of effective and non-toxic antineoplastic agents. Selected oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus pulmonarius and P. ostreatus being local [Nigeria] and exotic strains, respectively) were cultured on a novel medium of yeast extract supplemented with an ethanolic extract of Annona senegalensis, and the antileukemic potential of their metabolites was studied. METHODS: Leukemia was successfully induced in Wister rats by intravenous injection (0.2 mL) of a benzene solution every 2 days for 3 consecutive weeks. The aqueous solution of fungal metabolites (20 mg/mL) produced by submerged fermentation was orally administered (0.2 mL) before, during, and after leukemia induction. Leukemia burden was assessed by comparing the hematological parameters at baseline and after leukemia induction. The immunomodulatory potential of the metabolites was assessed by using a phagocytic assay (carbon clearance method). The ability to enhance leukopoiesis was assessed by using the total leukocyte count. RESULTS: Leukemia induction resulted in significant anemia indices and leukocytosis (P<0.05) in the experimental rats. Both metabolites equally enhanced leukopoiesis and demonstrated phagocytic actions; P. ostreatus activity was significantly higher than that of P. pulmonarius (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The metabolites exhibited profound antileukemic potential by suppressing leukemia and demonstrating immunotherapeutic activities on animals after oral administration in various experimental groups.
Administration, Oral ; Anemia ; Animals ; Annona ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Benzene ; Ethanol ; Fermentation ; Fungi ; Immunotherapy ; Injections, Intravenous ; Leukemia ; Leukocytes ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopoiesis ; Pleurotus ; Polysaccharides ; Rats ; Yeasts

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents of the branches and leaves of Uvaria kurzii.

METHODThe compounds were isolated and purified by silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographic methods. Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTNine compounds were isolated and identified as: bidebiline A(1), annobraine (2), oxoputerine (3), atherospermidine (4), liriodenine (5), physcion (6), questin (7), rubiadin 3-methyl ether (8), emodin (9).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1-4, 6-9 were isolated from the genus Uvaria for the first time. Compound 3-5 showed inhabitation activities against tumor cell lines A549, Bel7402, BGC823, HCT-8, A2780, respectively.

Alkaloids ; chemistry ; Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; Aporphines ; chemistry ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Uvaria ; chemistry