Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
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Valeriana wallichii DC (Valerianaceae), popularly named as Indian valerian has been shown to exist as three chemotypes. The present study evaluated the antidepressant like effect of root essential oil of Valeriana wallichii patchouli alcohol chemotype in both acute and chronic treatment study using forced swim test (FST). Mice (n=6 per group) received 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg p.o. doses of test drug. ⋯ The antidepressant-like effect of essential oil (20mg/kg) was prevented by pretreatment of mice with l-arginine (750 mg/kg i.p.) and sildenafil (5mg/kg i.p). On the contrary, pretreatment of mice with l-NAME (10mg/kg i.p.) or methylene blue (10mg/kg i.p.) potentiated the antidepressant action of essential oil (10mg/kg). Taken together, these findings demonstrated that nitric oxide pathway is involved in mediating antidepressant like effect of essential oil from this chemotype.
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Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton is a commonly prescribed Chinese medical herb for tumor therapy. In this study, an extract of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton referred as Cpv was prepared and its anti-tumor effect was evaluated with MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton power was extracted with ethanol and the main components of the extract (Cpv) were analyzed with HPLC. ⋯ We concluded that Cpv inhibited MCF-7 cells proliferation by inducing apoptosis mediated by increasing ROS formation, decreasing ΔΨm, regulating Bcl-2 family proteins expression, and activating caspases. Cpv treatment also modulated several signaling transduction pathways. These results might provide some molecular basis for the anti-tumor activity of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton.