Summary: Researchers have found that chronic stress causes depression-like behaviors in fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, affecting their motivation and activity.
Research has shown that Ayurvedic medicinal plants, particularly Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) and Centella asiatica, improve resistance to chronic stress when used to repel flies.
Interestingly, the team identified chlorogenic acid found in Centella asiatica and other botanicals such as coffee beans as a key anti-stress ingredient.
This study highlights the potential of traditional medicinal plants in the treatment of stress-related disorders and sheds light on the biological mechanisms of stress resistance.
Key facts:
- Chronic stress induced depression-like behaviors in fruit flies, but preventive treatment with Ayurvedic herbs improved their resilience.
- The study identified chlorogenic acid in Centella asiatica as an effective anti-depressant component, which also targets the protein phosphatase calcineurin found in flies.
- This research bridges Ayurveda and modern neuroscience to provide insight into the biological mechanisms of stress and potential natural treatments.
Source: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Long-term exposure to stress can lead to depression-like disorders that manifest as a lack of motivation – even in fruit flies. Drosophila melanogaster. As a result, the insects show less drinking behavior, are less inclined to stop eating sweet food, and are not willing to leave the space in the experimental setting.
However, traditional medicinal plants in Portland, Oregon, in collaboration with the BENFRA Center for Plant Nutrition Supplemental Research, researchers at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany have shown that some associated symptoms can be alleviated to some extent.
Researchers have shown that two plants used in Ayurvedic medicine can improve resistance to severe stress when used prophylactically in flies. Although they had an anxiety state, they did not exhibit behavior consistent with depression.
Papers have been published on their study of the two plant materials Nutritious foods.
Plants that contain biologically active substances help the body to cope with stress
The JGU research group led by Professor Roland Strauss has been using it Drosophila melanogaster A model to analyze the basic mechanisms for coping with stress and the effects of stress on the nervous system.
“Chronic stress can cause depression-like conditions in fruit flies, and these are reflected in changes in their behavior,” Strauss explained. In this most recent research context, his group collaborated with the BENFRA Plant Nutrition Supplemental Research Center in the United States of America. The center researches botanicals that improve neurological and functional recovery in aging.
The Mainz-based researchers focus on testing herbal and natural ingredients that are used in traditional Asian medicine and are also marketed as dietary supplements.
The idea is that certain plants contain above-average active substances or substances that exhibit particularly high levels of biological activity. These adaptogens help the body adapt to physical and emotional stress.
“An advantage over conventional drugs may be that medicinal plants contain different active plant compounds that act on different sites of the stress axis,” said Helen Holvoth, a PhD candidate in Professor Strauss’s group and lead author of the two papers.
“Since they have a balanced effect on stress resistance, the substances themselves may cause less unwanted effects than if they were only given in their pure form.”
Another possible benefit is that nutritional supplements can be used as complementary medicine in conjunction with pharmacotherapy.
In the joint project, Strauss’ team tested their approach to the treatment of anxiety using two Ayurvedic medicinal plants. Withania somnifera (known as Ashwagandha or sleeping berry) and Gotu Cola (Indian Pennywort).
The research partners were able to show that when given prophylactically, both plants increased the resistance to severe stress so that the stressed flies did not go into a depression-like state in the first place.
Chlorogenic acid has been identified as a substance related to the treatment of stress
” as if Withania somniferaDr. Burkhard Pock, who participated in the experiments, found that the way you prepare the root makes a difference.
This surprising result shows how important it is to pay attention to the production methods used for food supplements.
The team in Mainz and their collaborators in Portland achieved even more impressive results during testing Gotu Cola. As a prophylactic, they were able to identify a certain part, chlorogenic acid, which acts as an anti-stress substance.
Chlorogenic acid is found in many botanical studies, especially in large amounts in coffee beans, e.g. It is also found in traditional medicinal herbs such as valerian.Valeriana officinalis) and St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), its ability to relieve stress has been known for a long time.
The analysis of such medicinal substances not only provides general information about their effect on nerve stress, but also provides starting points for basic rehabilitation research.
“In this case, we were able to identify an appropriate target protein for chlorogenic acid. Drosophilaprotein phosphatase calcineurin,” said Professor Roland Strauss, explaining further research results.
In humans, calcineurin is found in many parts of the body, with particularly high concentrations in the nervous system. There it interacts with many proteins and transduces many signaling pathways.
So psychopharmacology and depression research news
Author: Catherine Voigt
Source: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Contact: Catherine Voigt – Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Image: Image credited to Neuroscience News.
Preliminary study: Open Access.
“Chlorogenic acids, acting via calcineurin, are major compounds in Centella asiatica that modulate chronic stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster.” by Roland Strauss et al Nutritious foods
Draft
Chlorogenic acids, acting via calcineurin, are major compounds in Centella asiatica that modulate chronic stress resistance in Drosophila melanogaster.
Common symptoms of depressive disorder include anhedonia, sleep problems, and decreased physical activity.
Medications used to treat depression usually aim to increase serotonin signaling, but these can have unwanted side effects. Depression is treated with traditional medicine using herbs Gotu Cola (CA) and this was found to be well supported.
However, very few controlled studies have addressed the protective role of CA in depression, nor have active compounds or mechanisms mediating this action been identified.
To solve this problem, we used Drosophila melanogaster To investigate whether CA can improve depression-related symptoms such as anhedonia and reduce withdrawal symptoms.
We found that CA water extract confers resistance to stress-induced phenotypes and that this effect is mainly due to the mono-caffeoylquinic acids present in CA.
Furthermore, we postulate that the protective action of CA is due to the synergism between chlorogenic acid and one of the isomers present in CA. However, increasing the amount of chlorogenic acid can overcome the requirement for the second isomer.
Finally, chlorogenic acid acts through calcineurin, a multifunctional phosphatase that can regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity and is also involved in neuronal repair.