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Anxiolytic or Antidepressant Activity from Active Principles in Medicinal Plants
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Anxiolytic or Antidepressant Activity from Active Principles in Medicinal Plants

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2025) | Viewed by 6049

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carolina López-Rubalcava

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados IPN (Cinvestav-IPN), Ciudad de México 07360, Mexico
Interests: phytopharmacology; anxiolytics; antidepressants; animal models
Dr. Erika Estrada Camarena

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Lab de Neuropsicofarmacología, Dirección de Neurociencias, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
Interests: neuroendocrinology; the pharmacology of central nervous system focus on mental health; the pharmacology of natural products; depression and anxiety; women’s mental health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For centuries, medicinal plants have been crucial in promoting human health and wellness. Some natural remedies that are deeply ingrained in traditional medicine practices around the world have been known to possess anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, providing relief for millions of individuals dealing with mental health disorders. In recent years, scientific research has placed greater emphasis on verifying the safety and efficacy of medicinal plants used to treat anxiety and depression. Pharmacological studies are now working to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for their therapeutic effects, offering insight into their underlying mechanisms and potential drug development.

To expand our knowledge of medicinal plants that possess anxiolytic and antidepressant properties, this Special Issue aims to explore the biochemical, molecular, and cellular mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic and antidepressant properties of medicinal plants. Accordingly, we welcome original research and review articles that explore the biochemical characterization of active compounds present in medicinal plants with anxiolytic or antidepressant properties or the molecular mechanisms of action associated with anxiolysis and antidepressant effects. It is important to note that all studies must include behavioral trials showing anxiolytic or antidepressant activities in animal models.

Dr. Carolina López-Rubalcava
Dr. Erika Estrada Camarena
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • phytopharmacology
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • medicinal plants
  • animal models

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 3909 KB  
Article
Role of Nitric Oxide in the Antidepressant Effect of an Aqueous Extract of Punica granatum L.: Effects on GSH/GSSG Ratio and Lipoperoxidation in Adult Male Swiss Webster Mice
by Nancy Cervantes-Anaya, Alexandere Aedo-Torrado, Erika Estrada-Camarena, Verónica Pérez de la Cruz, Daniela Ramírez Ortega, María Eva González-Trujano and Carolina López-Rubalcava
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(21), 10255; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110255 - 22 Oct 2025
Viewed by 724
Abstract
Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder in which oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) signaling have been implicated. Natural compounds such as Punica granatum have shown potential antidepressant effects, but their mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of [...] Read more.
Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disorder in which oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) signaling have been implicated. Natural compounds such as Punica granatum have shown potential antidepressant effects, but their mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant-like effects of an aqueous extract of P. granatum in male Swiss Webster mice and to explore the possible involvement of NO-related system. Acute administration of P. granatum (0.25–2 mg/kg, i.p.) was tested in the forced swim and tail suspension tests. The interaction with NO signaling was examined through co-administration with an NO donor (sodium nitroprusside, SNP) and NOS inhibitors (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME and 7-nitroindazole, 7-NI). Biochemical markers of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and GSH/GSSG ratio) were also assessed. P. granatum significantly reduced immobility and increased swimming behavior, consistent with an antidepressant-like effect. SNP, L-NAME, and 7-NI induced pro-depressant effects, which were prevented by P. granatum co-administration. Treatment also attenuated oxidative stress markers in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. These findings suggest that the antidepressant-like effects of P. granatum may involve interactions with NO signaling, although this interpretation remains indirect, as specific NO pathway indices were not measured. Acute P. granatum administration exerts antidepressant-like and antioxidant effects in male mice. The results support its potential as a natural candidate for depression treatment, particularly in conditions associated with oxidative imbalance and possible NO dysregulation. Future studies should confirm these mechanisms using direct molecular assessments and include female cohorts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anxiolytic or Antidepressant Activity from Active Principles in Medicinal Plants)
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18 pages, 2167 KB  
Article
Antidepressant Effects of Ginsenoside Rc on L-Alpha-Aminoadipic Acid-Induced Astrocytic Ablation and Neuroinflammation in Mice
by Dohyung Kwon, Yunna Kim and Seung-Hun Cho
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179673 - 6 Sep 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2550
Abstract
Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder that affects millions worldwide. Current treatments, such as antidepressants targeting the serotonergic system, have limitations, including delayed onset of action and high rates of treatment resistance, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Ginsenoside Rc (G-Rc) has shown [...] Read more.
Depression is a prevalent and debilitating mental disorder that affects millions worldwide. Current treatments, such as antidepressants targeting the serotonergic system, have limitations, including delayed onset of action and high rates of treatment resistance, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Ginsenoside Rc (G-Rc) has shown potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, but its antidepressant properties remain unexplored. This study investigated the antidepressant effects of G-Rc in an L-alpha-aminoadipic acid (L-AAA)-induced mouse model of depression, which mimics the astrocytic pathology and neuroinflammation observed in major depressive disorder. Mice were administered G-Rc, vehicle, or imipramine orally after L-AAA injection into the prefrontal cortex. G-Rc significantly reduced the immobility time in forced swimming and tail suspension tests compared to vehicle treatment, with more pronounced effects than imipramine. It also attenuated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-β, lipocalin-2) and alleviated astrocytic degeneration, as indicated by increased GFAP and decreased IBA-1 levels. Additionally, G-Rc modulated apoptosis-related proteins, decreasing caspase-3 and increasing Bcl-2 levels compared to the L-AAA-treated group. These findings suggest that G-Rc exerts antidepressant effects by regulating neuroinflammation, astrocyte–microglia crosstalk, and apoptotic pathways in the prefrontal cortex, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic agent for depression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anxiolytic or Antidepressant Activity from Active Principles in Medicinal Plants)
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18 pages, 3400 KB  
Article
Antidepressant-like and Beneficial Effects of a Neoponcirin-Beta-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex in Mice Exposed to Prolonged Stress
by Luis José López Méndez, Lucía Martínez-Mota, Julia Cassani, Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales, Gloria Benítez-King, Luis Enrique Becerril-Villanueva, Ana María Dorantes-Barrón, Noé Jurado-Hernández and Rosa Estrada-Reyes
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8289; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158289 - 29 Jul 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1961
Abstract
Neoponcirin causes anxiolytic-like effects in mice when administered intraperitoneally but not orally. Neoponcirin is non-water-soluble and insoluble in solvents, and in medium acid, it isomerizes, reducing its bioavailability. To improve the pharmacological properties of neoponcirin, we formed a neoponcirin complex with beta-cyclodextrin (NEO/βCD), [...] Read more.
Neoponcirin causes anxiolytic-like effects in mice when administered intraperitoneally but not orally. Neoponcirin is non-water-soluble and insoluble in solvents, and in medium acid, it isomerizes, reducing its bioavailability. To improve the pharmacological properties of neoponcirin, we formed a neoponcirin complex with beta-cyclodextrin (NEO/βCD), which was characterized by FT-IR, UV-Vis, and NMR, and their solubility profile. We evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of NEO/βCD acutely administered to mice orally in the behavioral paradigms, the tail suspension (TST) and the forced swimming (FST) tests. We also analyzed the benefits of repeated oral doses of NEO/βCD on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors induced in mice by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS), using the FST, hole board, and open field tests. We determined the stressed mice’s expression of stress-related inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNFα) and corticosterone. Results showed that a single or chronic oral administration of NEO/βCD caused a robust antidepressant-like effect without affecting the ambulatory activity. In mice under CUMS, NEO/βCD also produced anxiolytic-like effects and avoided increased corticosterone and IL-1β levels. The effects of the NEO/βCD complex were robust in both the acute and the stress chronic models, improving brain neurochemistry and recovering immune responses previously affected by prolonged stress. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anxiolytic or Antidepressant Activity from Active Principles in Medicinal Plants)
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