alpha-asarone and Body-Weight

Acorus calamus has a rich history in natural medicine, and offers many health benefits. The plant has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, diuretic, antiurolithiatic and other properties. Moreover, various parts, especially the rhizome and roots, are sources of a range of bioactive phenolic compounds with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. This review article summarizes the current knowledge of the chemical composition of different parts of A. calamus and their roles in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, as no human studies have been performed, the review only includes in vitro and animal studies. The paper also briefly reviews the toxicity of A. calamus and its products for human health, especially regarding the cardiovascular system.

Topics: Acorus; Allylbenzene Derivatives; Animals; Anisoles; Body Weight; Cardiovascular Diseases; Epoxy Compounds; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Oils, Volatile; Phenols

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological ailment that causes memory loss and impairments and is linked to a drop-in acetylcholine level. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are used for the management of AD. In our ongoing research to search for natural AChE inhibitors from medicinal plants, we found that the Acorus calamus possesses memory-enhancing properties. α-Asarone is the major compound isolated from the Acorus calamus and it has neuroprotective action in animal models, nonetheless, its anticholinesterase activity in different brain regions was not fully understood. The purpose of this research was to determine the anti-amnesic and anti-cholinesterase activities of α-asarone against scopolamine-induced memory impairments in rats.. The anti-cholinesterase activity of α-asarone was determined using Ellman's method in different brain areas, such as the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. In addition, the anti-amnesic effect of α-asarone was also investigated using elevated plus-maze, passive avoidance, and active avoidance tests.. The effect of α-asarone on memory impairment against scopolamine-induced (1 mg/kg body weight) amnesia was evaluated. Administration of α-asarone (15 and 30 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days to rats significantly ameliorated the scopolamine-induced memory impairment as measured in the elevated plus-maze, passive avoidance, and avoidance active tests compared to the scopolamine-treated group. In this study, we also show that α-asarone treatment significantly (p<0.05) reduced brain acetylcholinesterase activity in the cortex, hippocampus, and striatum brain regions of amnesic rats.. These results confirmed that α-asarone has anti-amnesic and anti-cholinesterase potential which may be useful for the management of AD.

Topics: Acetylcholine; Acetylcholinesterase; Allylbenzene Derivatives; Alzheimer Disease; Amnesia; Animals; Anisoles; Avoidance Learning; Body Weight; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Maze Learning; Memory Disorders; Rats; Scopolamine

In the present study, the effect α-asarone on nicotine withdrawal-induced depression-like behavior in mice was investigated. In this study, mice were exposed to drinking water or nicotine solution (10-200µg/ml) as a source of drinking for forty days. During this period, daily fluid consumption, food intake and body weight were recorded. The serum cotinine level was estimated before nicotine withdrawal. Naïve mice or nicotine-withdrawn mice were treated with α-asarone (5, 10 and 20mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10mg/kg, i.p.) for eight consecutive days and the forced swim test (FST) or locomotor activity test was conducted. In addition, the effect of α-asarone or bupropion on the hippocampal pCREB, CREB and BDNF levels during nicotine-withdrawal were measured. Results indicated that α-asarone (5, 10 and 20mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment did not significantly alter the immobility time in the FST or spontaneous locomotor activity in naïve mice. However, the immobility time of nicotine-withdrawn mice was significantly attenuated with α-asarone (5, 10 and 20mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment in the FST. Besides, α-asarone (5, 10 and 20mg/kg, i.p.) or bupropion (10mg/kg, i.p.) pretreatment significantly attenuated the hippocampal pCREB levels in nicotine-withdrawn mice. Overall, the present results indicate that α-asarone treatment attenuated the depression-like behavior through the modulation of hippocampal pCREB levels during nicotine-withdrawal in mice.

Topics: Allylbenzene Derivatives; Animals; Anisoles; Behavior, Animal; Body Weight; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Depression; Drinking; Hippocampus; Locomotion; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Nicotine; Phosphoproteins; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome

α-Asarone (1-propenyl-2,4,5-methoxybenzol), one of the active components of Acorus calamus extract, was examined for its efficacy as a radioprotector in mice exposed to lethal and sublethal whole-body γ-radiation. Oral administration of α-asarone 1h prior to the radiation exposure reduced radiation induced alterations in the endogenous antioxidant defense systems. The radiation induced cellular DNA damages as revealed by comet assay, micronuclei formation and chromosomal aberrations were also significantly reduced following the asarone treatment. α-Asarone administration enhanced the endogenous spleen colony formation and reduced radiation-induced mortality and facilitated recovery from the radiation-induced loss of body weight in mice surviving after 8Gy γ-radiation exposure. These studies highlight the role of α-asarone as a good natural radioprotecting agent with therapeutic implications in case of radiation-exposure scenarios.

Topics: Allylbenzene Derivatives; Animals; Anisoles; Antimutagenic Agents; Body Weight; Colony-Forming Units Assay; DNA Damage; Gamma Rays; Hematopoietic System; Male; Mice; Oxidative Stress; Radiation-Protective Agents; Whole-Body Irradiation

Dominant lethal studies were conducted in male and female mice with alpha-asarone, the active hypolipidaemic component of Guatteria gaumeri Greenman, by per os sub-chronic treatment (10 and 20 mg/kg, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks) and subsequent mating. alpha-Asarone did not produce germinal mutations in either males or females. Epididymal sperm examination of male mice immediately after treatment failed to reveal any alteration in sperm count on shape. No significant alterations were observed in testicular or epididymal weights or testicular histology.

Topics: Allylbenzene Derivatives; Animals; Anisoles; Body Weight; Female; Fertility; Genes, Dominant; Genes, Lethal; Male; Mice; Mutation; Organ Size; Pregnancy; Reproduction; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa