Lucian Hritcu

• Professor
• Professor (Full) at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University

Background A major issue with neurodegenerative diseases is cholinergic depletion, the development of oxidative stress, and the reduction in the ability to control the expression of genes involved in the regulation of neurogenesis. The most widespread neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current treatments are not able to improve...

Origanum majorana L., also known as sweet marjoram, is a plant with multiple uses, both in the culinary field and traditional medicine, because of its major antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and digestive properties. In this research, we focused on the effects of O. majorana essential oil (OmEO, at concentrations of 25, 150, and 300 μL...

Phytolacca americana fruits exhibit a wide range of biological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This study aims to investigate the phenolic profile of hydroethanolic extracts from both fresh (PEC) and dried (PEU) fruits of P. americana using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and to evalu...

6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) is a nicotine (NIC) derivative with proven therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, the impact of 6HLN on cell growth, migratory behavior, and inflammatory status of three different cancer cell lines (A549, MCF7, and U87) and two normal cell lines (16HBE14o and MCF10A) was investigated. In silico analy...

Plants of the genus Tribulus have been used in folk medicine for wound healing, alleviating liver, stomach, and rheumatism pains, and as cognitive enhancers, sedatives, antiseptics, tonics, and stimulants. The present work aimed to evaluate whether Tribulus terrestris (Tt) administered for 15 days attenuated cognitive deficits and exhibited anxioly...

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly characterized by dementia and cognitive decline. AD is essentially associated with the presence of aggregates of the amyloid-β peptide and the hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau. The available AD therapies can only alleviate the symptoms; therefore, the development...

Petitgrain essential oil (PGEO) is derived from the water distillation process on mandarin (Citrus reticulata) leaves. The chemical constituents of PGEO were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method which revealed the presence of six compounds (100%). The major peaks were for methyl-N-methyl anthranilate (89.93%) and γ-terpin...

The memory-enhancing activity of Matricaria chamomilla hydroalcoholic extract (MCE) is already being investigated by behavioral and biochemical assays in scopolamine-induced amnesia rat models, while the effects of scopolamine (Sco) on cerebral glucose metabolism are examined as well. Nevertheless, the study of the metabolic profile determined by a...

Tribulus terrestris L. (Tt) has been recently gaining attention for its pharmacological value, including its neuroprotective activities. In this study, we explore the neuroprotective effects of a Tribulus terrestris extract in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of scopolamine (SCOP)-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress. SCOP, an antich...

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria named 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain...

The purported cognitive benefits associated with nicotine and its metabolites in the brain are a matter of debate. In this review, the impact of the pharmacologically active metabolite of a nicotine derivative produced by bacteria (6-hydroxy-L-nicotine) on memory, oxidative stress, and the activity of the cholinergic system in the brain was examine...

Clivia miniata (Lindl) is a member of the family Amaryllidaceae known for its chemically diverse alkaloids with a wide range of biological activities. Many reports revealed a direct role of oxidative stress in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Meanwhile, β-site amyloid precursor protein cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE-1) is a molecular target fo...

Mangifera indica L., known as mango, is an evergreen tree with characteristic edible fruits belonging to family Anacardiaceae. It is characterized by rich nutritional value and medicinal aspects for human health. Traditionally, it has been used an aphrodisiac, astringent, appetite stimulant, diuretic, anti-asthmatic, and to relieve gastrointestinal...

Essential oil from Coriandrum sativum has been demonstrated to provide various pharmacological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anticonvulsive, anxiolytic-antidepressant, and anti-aging properties. This study investigated the mechanism of Coriandrum sativum var. microcarpum essential oil (CSEO...

Baicalin (baicalein 7-O-glucuronic acid) is a significant active flavone that was isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis radix. Studies have shown that baicalin displays various biological effects such as neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-ischemic activities. This book chapter was designed to cover t...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder attributed to several etiological factors including cholinergic dysregulation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, β-amyloidogenesis, and tauopathy. This demands the search for multitarget drugs, especially of natural sources owing to their pleiotropic activities and low adver...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Glaucosciadium cordifolium essential oil (GCEO, 25 and 150 µL/L) on anxiety and learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine (SCOP) in zebrafish. The chemical composition was analyzed by GC-MS, and the results showed that the highest content was limonene followed by α- and β-pinene...

Background The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled “International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce” (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring...

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled "International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce" (INPST) was established in 2018, to brin...

Background and objective: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, resulting in the loss of dopamine in the striatum, leading thus to the PD classic movement symptoms: resting tremor, rigidity, and bradykinesia/akinesia. Furthermore...

Background: The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled “International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce” (INPST) was established in 2018, to brin...

The development of digital technologies and the evolution of open innovation approaches have enabled the creation of diverse virtual organizations and enterprises coordinating their activities primarily online. The open innovation platform titled “International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce” (INPST) was established in 2018, to bring together i...

The Pinus L. genus comprises around 250 species, being popular worldwide for their medicinal and aromatic properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the P. halepensis Mill. essential oil (PNO) in an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) environment as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. The AD-like symptoms were induced in Wistar male rats by intracere...

Sweroside is a secoiridoid glycoside and belongs to a large group of naturally occurring monoterpenes with glucose sugar attached to C-1 in the pyran ring. Sweroside can promote different biological activities such as antifungal, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, sedative and antitumor, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities....

Y. schidigera contains a number of unusual polyphenols, derivatives of resveratrol and naringenin, called spiro-flavostilbenoids, which have potent in vitro anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and moderate cholinesterase inhibitory activities. To date, these compounds have not been tested in vivo for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim...

Guiera senegalensis JF Gmel. (Combretaceae) (GS) is a plant used in traditional medicine in West Africa for the treatment of several diseases, such as epilepsy and depression. However, its potential benefits in improving scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment and brain oxidative stress in zebrafish have been investigated. In the present study,...

Angelica purpurascens (Avé-Lall.) Gilli. is a medicinal plant that displays antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and neuroprotective properties. The effect of A. purpurascens essential oil (APO) on memory impairments and brain oxidative stress in zebrafish (Danio rerio) treated with scopolamine (Sco), as well as the underlying mechanism involved, were...

Tyrosinase is a multifunctional copper-containing oxidase enzyme that initiates melanin synthesis in humans. Excessive accumulation of melanin pigments or the overexpression of tyrosinase may result in skin-related disorders such as aging spots, wrinkles, melasma, freckles, lentigo, ephelides, nevus, browning and melanoma. Nature expresses itself t...

Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum has been used as medicinal herbs promoting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities. We investigated the protective effects and the mechanism of O. vulgare ssp. hirtum essential oil (OEO) on cognitive impairment and brain oxidative stress in a scopolamine (Sco)-induced zebrafish (Dan...

THE NATURAL NEUROPROTECTIVE COMPOUNDS USED IN THE 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE INDUCED Pig.46

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder, with an average duration of approximately 8.5 years between the onset of clinical symptoms and death. AD is the most common form of dementia affecting about 10% of people over the age of 65. The disease is characterized by massive loss of neurons a...

Nepeta L. (Lamiaceae) species are belonging to aromatic and medicinal plants. Many biological activities of Nepeta species have been reported. In this study, memory-enhancing activities of Nepeta nuda ssp. nuda essential oil was aimed to be evaluated in laboratory rats treated with scopolamine. GC-MS/GC-FID system was used to identify oil compositi...

Baicalein 5,6-dimethyl ether, a bioactive flavonoid isolated for the first time from Alnus rugosa, was explored for its capability to relieve memory deficits and decrease oxidative stress. We examined the neuropharmacological effects of baicalein 5,6-dimethyl ether on scopolamine (Sco)-induced zebrafish (Danio rerio) anxiety, amnesia, and brain oxi...

Citation: Batir-Marin, D.; Boev, M.; Cioanca, O.; Mircea, C.; Burlec, A.F.; Beppe, G.J.; Spac, A.; Corciova, A.; Hritcu, L.; Hancianu, M. Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Enhancing Properties of Selective Equisetum Extracts. Molecules 2021, 26, 2565. https://doi.org/10.3390/ molecules26092565 Academic Editor: Simona Rapposelli

This scientific research focused on the production of hydroethanolic extract of the plant species Lycopodium selago L. (L. selago) by the ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) and the identification of biocompounds with high antioxidant activity is of interest for possible phytotherapeutic treatment against Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The extract was...

Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus) is a rare and appreciated fungal species belonging to the division Basidiomycota used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for its medicinal value. This species of mushrooms brings the most diverse benefits for the human body, and can have beneficial effects for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). This stud...

The sterile stems belonging to the Equisetum species are often used in traditional medicine of various nations, including Romanians. They are highly efficient in treating urinary tract infections, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory tract infections, and medical skin conditions due to their content of polyphenolic derivatives that have been isolat...

Conyza canadensis is a plant widely used in traditional medicine in Morocco for the treatment of varied health challenges. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no scientific study justifying the traditional use of Conyza extract as an anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. Moreover, data regarding the polyphenolic fraction is limited. Ther...

Background: The conifer species Pinus halepensis (Pinaceae) and Tetraclinis articulata (Cupressaceae) are widely used in traditional medicine due to their health beneficial properties. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which P. halepensis and T. articulata essential oils (1% and 3%) could exhibit neuroprotective effect...

Background: Plants of the genus Markhamia have been traditionally used by different tribes in various parts of West African countries, including Cameroun. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. (Bignoniaceae) is used as an antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer agent. The current study was undertaken in order to...

Background: While the Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wright (Fabaceae) is a traditional herb largely used in the African traditional medicine as analgesic, purgative, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, memory-enhancer, anxiolytic and antidepressant drug, there are no scientific data that clarify the anxiolytic and antidepressant-li...

Background: Albizia adianthifolia (Schumach.) W. Wright (Fabaceae) is a traditional herb largely used in the African traditional medicine as analgesic, purgative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial and memory-enhancer drug. This study was undertaken in order to evaluate the possible cognitive-enhancing and antioxidative effects of the aq...

Bay leaf (Laurus nobilis L.) has been shown to possesses various biological activities such as wound healing activity, antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, antiviral activity, immunostimulant activity, anticholinergic activity, antifungal activity, insect repellant activity, anticonvulsant activity, antimutagenic activity, and analgesic an...

Cotinine (COT) and 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN) are two nicotinic derivatives that possess cognitive-improving abilities and antioxidant properties in different rodent models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), eluding the side-effects of nicotine (NIC), the parent molecule. In the current study, we evaluated the impact of COT and 6HLN on memory deteriorat...

Hericium erinaceus is a medicinal fungal species that produces the active biological metabolite erinacine A with strong antioxidant activity. The classical extraction techniques used to date to obtain metabolites from this fungal species require high consumption of resources and energy and, in the end, prove to be expensive and inefficient, especia...

Thymus vulgaris L. is an aromatic herb used for medicinal purposes such as antimicrobial, spasmolytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antitumor, and may have beneficial effects in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The present study aimed to investigate whether Thymus vulgaris L. essential oil enhances cognitive function via th...

Origanum L. (Lamiaceae) is an important genus of medicinal and aromatic plants used in traditional medicine since ancient times as culinary herbs and remedies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition, as well as the biochemical and cellular activities of freshly prepared Origanum majorana L. essential oil (OmEO) in an...

The nicotinic derivatives, cotinine (COT), and 6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN), showed promising cognitive-improving effects without exhibiting the nicotine’s side-effects. Here, we investigated the impact of COT and 6HLN on memory impairment and the oxidative stress in the Aβ25-35-induced rat model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). COT and 6HLN were chroni...

Rhoifolin (Rho) exerts many biological activities such as anticancer, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, antirheumatic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. The neuroprotective action of this compound has not been studied. The goal of this study was to investigate the improvement impact of Rho on scopolamine (Sco)-induced zebrafish anxiety, amnesi...

The authors wish to make the following correction to their paper [...]

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) could be considered a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of the β-amyloid-peptide (Aβ) within the brain leading to cognitive deficits, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. The present work was carried out to investigate the neuroprotective effect of (-)-cis-carveol (1% and 3%, fo...

Ceratonia siliqua L. is a Mediterranean medicinal plant traditionally cultivated for its ethnopharmacological benefits, such as antidiarrheal, antidiabetic, enhance acetylcholine, antioxidant, antiatherosclerotic, and for its possible anti-neurodegenerative potential. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the chemical composition, as well as...

The present study investigated the capability of an essential oil mix (MO: 1% and 3%) in ameliorating amnesia and brain oxidative stress in a rat model of scopolamine (Sco) and tried to explore the underlying mechanism. The MO was administered by inhalation to rats once daily for 21 days, while Sco (0.7 mg/kg) treatment was delivered 30 min before...

Rosmarinus officinalis L. is a traditional herb with various therapeutic applications such as antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, and anticholinesterase activities, and can be used for the prevention or treatment of dementia. In the present study, we tested whether Rosmarinus officinalis L. could counteract scopolamine-in...

Schinus terebinthifolius is a plant well recognized for its therapeutic profile such as anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, promoting antibacterial activity and antioxidant and antidiabetic properties. .is study aimed at examining whether Schinus terebinthifolius memory-enhancing activities are mediated by cholinergic and brain antioxidant...

Plants of genus Salvia have been used in folk medicine for wound healing, in the alleviation of stomach, liver, and rheumatism pains, as antioxidant, cognitive-enhancer, sedative and antiseptic, stimulant and tonic agents. The present study aimed to evaluate whether Salvia multicaulis essential oil (1% and 3%) administered for 21 days attenuates co...

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders that increase morbidity in the world, and recent data (World Health Organization - WHO) show that over 322 million people suffer from depression and anxiety, especially women being more exposed than men. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) is a catecholaminergic neurotoxin which is formed endogenou...

The most prevalent neurodegenerative disease is Alzheimer’s dementia. It is determined by the deposits of amyloid-beta peptide which leads to memory impairment, oxidative stress, and neurodegeneration. Aromatherapy by using essential oils could represent a natural treatment option for Alzheimer′s dementia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify th...

Background Agathisflavone, a biflavonoid isolated from Schinus polygamus (Cav.) Cabrera leaves been reported to promote various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory properties, promoting cognition and preventing cancer, antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities. Purpose Here, we tested the hypothesis whether anxiety, amnesia, and brain o...

Natural contaminants, especially mycotoxins, pose a challenge since they are found in a wide range of agricultural crops and differ significantly in chemical structure and symptomatology in humans and signs of disease in animals following exposure to these chemical agents. Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by a diverse group of fungi that c...

In the present study, we investigated the effects of the Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) hydroalcoholic extract on anxiety and depression using a scopolamine rat model. Behavioural procedures for anxiety and depression were assessed in rats using elevated plus maze and forced swimming tests. The chamomile extract (25 and 75 mg/kg b.w.) was given...

The non-discriminatory use of pesticides and herbicides to increase agricultural production has caused great concern, as these products are likely to reach the aquatic environment, thus representing a health problem for aquatic species, but also for humans. Cypermethrin, a pyrethroid type II insecticide, is widely used in agriculture, but also for...

Numerous studies indicated that nicotine and its derivatives have numerous neuropharmacological effects on the brain function, including neuroplasticity and memory processes under physiological and pathological conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. 6-Hydroxy-l-nicotine (6HLN), a nicotine metabolite resulted from nicotine degradation within Arthro...

Background Some pathogenic microbial species are becoming less sensitive to antibiotics and developing resistance multiples. The use of essential oils is a serious substitute for treatment with antibiotics in infectious diseases. The present study aims to investigate the chemical composition and to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the essenti...

The richness in soluble sugars and polyphenols, especially condensed tannins, vitamins, minerals and other phytochemicals, recommends Ceratonia siliqua L. species for use in therapeutic practice, especially in terms of neurotoxicity - a major public health problem. Neurodegenerative disorders arise from various metabolic dysfunctions or from the ad...

Background: Tetraclinis articulata is used in traditional medicine and has been reported to possess antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Purpose: This study investigated the effects of T. articulata essential oil on memory and brain oxidative stress in amyloid-β peptide 1–42 (Aβ1-42)-induced an Alzheim...

Background: Matricaria chamomilla L. is a medicinal herb traditionally used as the anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, anxiolytic and antidepressant agent. Nevertheless, supporting evidence demonstrated its memory enhancing activity and antioxidant properties. Purpose: To investigate the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of M. chamo...

The aim of this study was to assess the biometric and biochemical indices collected from seven fish species belonging on the two families, namely: Cyprinidae (Squalius cephalus, Alburnus alburnus, Carassius gibelio) and Percidae (Perca fluviatilis) from the Prut River. Body measurements and weighting were used to determine the increase in length of...

Lactuca sativa Linn. (or lettuce) is a well known plant worldwide due to its use in the preparation of salad, soup, and vegetable curries. This plant also has excellent medicinal properties. Lettuce is cultivated worldwide, and is one of the most consumed green leafy vegetables in the raw form for its taste and high nutritive value. It is regarded...

Depression is a serious disorder that affects hundreds of millions of people around the world and causes poor quality of life, problem behaviors, and limitations in activities of daily living. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic options is of high interest and growth. Research on the relationship between depression and oxidative stress has sh...

Background Plants of the genus Markhamia have been traditionally used by different tribes in various parts of West African countries, including Cameroun. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth.) K. Schum. (Bignoniaceae) is used as an antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant and anti-Alzheimer agent. The current study was undertaken in order to i...

This study was designed to examine an anxiety-like behavior in the adult gonadectomized (GDX) male rats subjected to testosterone propionate (TP) treatment alone or in combination with 8-OH-DPAT, a 5-HT1A receptor agonist, or with NAN-190, 5-HT1A receptor antagonist. Two weeks after gonadectomy, GDX rats were subjected by treatments with the solven...

We investigated the neuropharmacological effects of the methanolic extract from Lactuca capensis Thunb. leaves (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 21 days on memory impairment in an Alzheimer's disease (AD) rat model produced by direct intraventricular delivery of amyloid-β1-42 (Aβ1-42). Behavioural assays such as Y-maze and radial arm maze test were used for...

6-hydroxy-L-nicotine (6HLN), a nicotine derivative from nicotine degradation by Arthrobacter nicotinovorans pAO1 strain, was found to improve behavioural deficits and to reverse oxidative stress in the rat brain. We evaluated the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of nicotine (0.3 mg/kg b.w.) and 6HLN (0.3 mg/kg b.w.) using a chlorisondamine (CH...

This study elucidated the potential antidepressant-like effect of prolonged Ropren® administration (8.6 mg/kg, orally, once daily for 28 days) using a β-amyloid (25-35) rat model of Alzheimer's disease following gonadectomy. The experimental model was created by intracerebroventricular injection of β-amyloid (25-35) into gonadectomized (GDX) rats a...

6-Hydroxy-l-nicotine (6HLN), a nicotine derivative from nicotine degradation by Arthrobacter nicotinovorans pAO1 strain was found to improve behavioral deficits and to reverse oxidative stress in the rat hippocampus. Rats were given CHL (10 mg/kg, i.p.) were used as an Alzheimer’s disease-like model. The nicotine (0.3 mg/kg) and 6HLN (0.3 mg/kg) we...

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapy is based on several natural and synthetic compounds that act as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDA) ligands that have limited efficiency in relieving AD symptoms. Recent studies show that inhibitors isolated from Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata are promising for AD ther...

The main aim of the present study was to characterize and asses the antioxidant and biological activities of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts from Crocus sativus from Greece. The bioactive compounds were analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the most important identified compounds being kaempferol derivatives, safranal an...

In the present study, we identified the effects of inhaled Pimpinella peregrina essential oil (1 and 3 %, for 21 continuous days) on scopolamine-induced memory impairment, anxiety, and depression in laboratory rats. Y-maze and radial arm-maze tests were used for assessing memory processes. Also, the anxiety and depressive responses were studied by...