0000000000223649
AUTHOR
Janine Naß
showing 14 related works from this author
Evaluating ancient Egyptian prescriptions today: Anti-inflammatory activity of Ziziphus spina-christi.
2015
Abstract Background Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (Christ's Thorn Jujube) is a wild tree today found in Jordan, Israel, Egypt, and some parts of Africa, which was already in use as a medicinal plant in Ancient Egypt. In ancient Egyptian prescriptions, it was used in remedies against swellings, pain, and heat, and thus should have anti-inflammatory effects. Nowadays, Z. spina-christi, is used in Egypt (by Bedouins, and Nubians), the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, Iraq, and Morocco against a wide range of illnesses, most of them associated with inflammation. Pharmacological research undertaken to date suggests that it possesses anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, hypotensive and anti-microbial e…
Insights into apoptotic proteins in chemotherapy: quantification techniques and informing therapy choice.
2018
Cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of cancer is evasion of apoptosis leading to tumor progression and drug resistance. Biomarker research has become a sign of the times, and proteins involved in apoptosis may be used for clinical diagnostic or prognostic purposes in cancer treatment. The recent progress in proteomic technology has triggered an emerging number of researchers to study the molecular mechanisms that regulate the apoptotic signal transduction pathways in cancer. Areas covered: A PubMed search for 'Proteomics' and 'cancer' and 'chemotherapy' and 'apoptosis' has been conducted for literature until December 2017.The study of apoptot…
Increased Stress Resistance and Lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans Wildtype and Knockout Mutants—Implications for Depression Treatment by Medicinal …
2021
Depression and anxiety disorders are widespread diseases, and they belong to the leading causes of disability and greatest burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. It is expected that the numbers will dramatically rise during the COVID-19 pandemic. Established medications are not sufficient to adequately treat depression and are not available for everyone. Plants from traditional medicine may be promising alternatives to treat depressive symptoms. The model organism Chaenorhabditis elegans was used to assess the stress reducing effects of methanol/dichlormethane extracts from plants used in traditional medicine. After initial screening for antioxidant activity, nine extracts were selected f…
Ursolic acid enhances stress resistance, reduces ROS accumulation and prolongs life span in C. elegans serotonin-deficient mutants.
2021
Introduction: Depression and anxiety disorders contribute to the global disease burden. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural compound present in many vegetables, fruits and medicinal plants, was tested in vivo for its effect on (1) enhancing resistance to stress and (2) its effect on life span. Methods: The compound was tested for its antioxidant activity in C. elegans. Stress resistance was tested in the heat and osmotic stress assay. Additionally, the influence on normal life span was examined. RT-PCR was used to assess possible serotonin targets. Results: UA prolonged the life span of C. elegans. Additionally, UA significantly lowered reactive oxygen species (ROS). Molecular docking studies, PCR…
Ursolic acid ameliorates stress and reactive oxygen species in C. elegans knockout mutants by the dopamine Dop1 and Dop3 receptors.
2020
Abstract Background Depression and stress-related disorders are leading causes of death worldwide. Standard treatments elevating serotonin or noradrenaline levels are not sufficiently effective and cause adverse side effects. A connection between dopamine pathways and stress-related disorders has been suggested. Compounds derived from herbal medicine could be a promising alternative. We examined the neuroprotective effects of ursolic acid (UA) by focusing on dopamine signalling. Methods Trolox equivalent capacity assay was used to determine the antioxidant activities of UA in vitro. C. elegans N2 wildtype and dopamine receptor-knockout mutants (dop-1-deficient RB665 and dop-3-deficient LX70…
Artemisinin und seine Derivate – eine neue Option für die Krebstherapie?
2017
ZusammenfassungArtemisinin und seine Derivate sind nicht nur hochwirksame Medikamente gegen Malaria. Zahlreiche präklinische und vorläufige klinische Daten deuten darauf hin, dass sie auch therapeutisches Potenzial für die Onkologie besitzen könnten. Artemisinin-basierte Medikamente induzieren oxidativen Stress und DNA-Schäden und hemmen die Angiogenese. Tumorzellen sterben durch diese Substanzen, indem sie verschiedene Formen des Zelltodes hervorrufen (Apoptose, Autophagie, Ferroptose). Zytostatika-resistente Tumorzellen werden durch Artemisinin und seine Derivate effektiv abgetötet. Artemisinin-Derivate zeigen mit verschiedenen Standard-Krebsmedikamenten, Radiotherapie und therapeutischen…
Withanone Ameliorates Stress Symptoms in Caenorhabditis Elegans by Acting through Serotonin Receptors
2021
ABSTRACT Introduction Depression is responsible for 800 000 deaths worldwide, a number that will rise significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Affordable novel drugs with less severe side effects are urgently required. We investigated the effect of withanone (WN) from Withania somnifera on the serotonin system of wild-type and knockout Caenorhabditis elegans strains using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods. Methods WN or fluoxetine (as positive control drug) was administered to wild-type (N2) and knockout C. elegans strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109, and MT9772) to determine their effect on oxidative stress (Trolox, H2DCFDA, and juglone assays) on osmotic stress and heat stres…
The triterpenoid ursolic acid ameliorates stress in Caenorhabditis elegans by affecting the depression-associated genes skn-1 and prdx2.
2021
Abstract Introduction Depression is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Lower antioxidant concentrations and increased oxidative stress levels contribute to the development of depression. Effective and tolerable medications are urgently needed. Nrf2 and PRDX2 are promising targets in the treatment of oxidative stress and, therefore, promising for the development of novel antidepressants. Ursolic acid (UA), a natural triterpenoid found in various plants is known to exert neuroprotective and antioxidant effects. Skn-1 (which corresponds to human Nrf2) and prdx2 deficient mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are suitable models to study the effect of UA on these targets. Ad…
Induction of stress resistance and extension of lifespan in Chaenorhabditis elegans serotonin-receptor knockout strains by withanolide A
2021
Abstract Introduction Approximately 300 million people worldwide suffer from depression. The COVID-19 crisis may dramatically increase these numbers. Severe side effects and resistance development limit the use of standard antidepressants. The steroidal lactone withanolide A (WA) from Withania somnifera may be a promising alternative. Caenorhabditis elegans was used as model to explore WA's anti-depressive and anti-stress potential. Methods C. elegans wildtype (N2) and deficient strains (AQ866, DA1814, DA2100, DA2109 and MT9772) were used to assess oxidative, osmotic or heat stress as measured by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), determination of lifespan, and mRNA expression of …
Biopiracy of natural products and good bioprospecting practice
2016
Made available in DSpace on 2018-11-26T16:27:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2016-02-15 Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft Background: Biopiracy mainly focuses on the use of biological resources and/or knowledge of indigenous tribes or communities without allowing them to share the revenues generated out of economic exploitation or other non-monetary incentives associated with the resource/knowledge. Methods: Based on collaborations of scientists from five continents, we have created a communication platform to discuss not only scientific topics, but also more general issues with social relevance. This platform was termed 'PhytCancer -Phytotherapy to Fight Cancer' (www.phy…
Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacotherapy of Military Personnel Suffering from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
2017
Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe problem among soldiers with combating experience difficult to treat. The pathogenesis is still not fully understood at the psychological level. Therefore, genetic research became a focus of interest. The identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may help to predict, which persons are at high risk to develop PTSD as a starting point to develop novel targeted drugs for treatment. Methods We conducted a systematic review on SNPs in genes related to PTSD pathology and development of targeted pharmacological treatment options based on PubMed database searches. We focused on clinical trials with military personnel. Results…
Biopiracy versus One-World Medicine-From colonial relicts to global collaborative concepts.
2017
Abstract Background Practices of biopiracy to use genetic resources and indigenous knowledge by Western companies without benefit-sharing of those, who generated the traditional knowledge, can be understood as form of neocolonialism. Hypothesis The One-World Medicine concept attempts to merge the best of traditional medicine from developing countries and conventional Western medicine for the sake of patients around the globe. Study design Based on literature searches in several databases, a concept paper has been written. Legislative initiatives of the United Nations culminated in the Nagoya protocol aim to protect traditional knowledge and regulate benefit-sharing with indigenous communiti…
The activity of Artemisia spp. and their constituents against Trypanosomiasis.
2018
Abstract Background Trypanosomiasis belongs to the neglected tropical diseases. Although standard therapies are available, the safety and efficacy of current synthetic drugs are limited due to the development of drug resistance and adverse side effects. Purpose Artemisia annua and artemisinin are not only active against Plasmodia, but also other protozoa. Therefore, we reviewed the literature on species of the genus Artemisia and their phytochemicals regarding their activity against trypanosomes. Study design A PubMed search for “Artemisia/Artemisinin and Trypanosoma” has been conducted for literature until December 2017. Results Interestingly, not only A. annua L. and its active principle,…
Development of artemisinin resistance in malaria therapy
2019
Malaria affects 200 million people worldwide. Today, the most successful treatments are artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACT). Resistance has already been described for the elder anti-malarials chloroquine, sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and mefloquine. Unfortunately, over the last few years there has also been an emerging resistance to the successfully used drug artemisinin, especially in African and Asian countries. A systematic PubMed literature research was conducted for studies published between January 2002 and December 2018. Despite ACTs continue to be first line treatment, the number of studies is rising reporting on artemisinin resistance mutations. Most publications reported on…