Identification of Anxiolytic Potential of Niranthin: In-vivo and Computational Investigations

Abstract

Anxiety is an unpleasant state, which can critically decrease the quality of life is often accompanied by nervous behaviour and rumination. Niranthin is a lignan isolated from various Phyllanthus sources. The literature survey on niranthin highlights wide ranges of the therapeutic potentials. In a present study, based on our previous investigations, we evaluated pure, isolated and characterized niranthin as an anxiolytic agent. The niranthin [6-[(2R,3R)-3-[(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)methyl]-4-methoxy-2-(methoxymethyl)butyl]-4-methoxy-1,3-benzodioxole] was purchased from commercial source and further subjected for assessment of its anxiolytic potentials using popular animal models including Elevated plus-maze model/test (EPM) and Light & Dark Exploration test (L&D). GABA-A receptor mediation was evaluated by pretreating the mice with the GABA-A receptor antagonist Flumazenil before the EPM task. Molecular docking simulation studies (pdb id: 4COF) carried out by Vlife QSAR software showed that niranthin (docking score: − 62.1714 kcal/mol) have shown comparatively best docking score compared to the standard drug Diazepam (docking score: − 63.1568 kcal/mol). To conclude, Niranthin has probable potential in the management of anxiety disorder. Our in-silico and in-vivo analysis (indirectly) indicated the plausible role of GABA mediation for anxiolytic activity. Although, these studies are preliminary, future in depth experimental explorations will be required to use Niranthin as anti-anxiety drug in near future. Graphic Abstract

In-Vivo Investigations of Chronic Inflammatory Pain Modulating Potential of Niranthin

“…For the study of muscle histology, animals were sacrificed on 22 nd day. synthase receptor [11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…The molecular docking analysis also support these effects of Niranthin could be due to the inhibition of PGE2 at the peripheral as well as spinal or supraspinal levels. As Niranthin have the ability to cross the blood brain barrier [12].…”

“…Previously studies from our lab have reported preliminary molecular docking hints of various phytocompounds from Phyllanthus species including Niranthin as chronic pain modulators docked with various inflammatory targets like COX-2, PGE synthase, TNF-Alpha, IL-1 and Nmethyl-D-aspartate receptor. From thesestudies by our lab, we had several hints forplausible roles of Niranthin in chronic pain modulation [11][12][13][14][15]. Which encouraged us to initiate the present study oftheevaluation of chronic pain modulatory potential of pure, well characterized and isolated Niranthin by using well reported in-vivo chronic inflammatory pain model [11][12][13][14][15].…”

“…From thesestudies by our lab, we had several hints forplausible roles of Niranthin in chronic pain modulation [11][12][13][14][15]. Which encouraged us to initiate the present study oftheevaluation of chronic pain modulatory potential of pure, well characterized and isolated Niranthin by using well reported in-vivo chronic inflammatory pain model [11][12][13][14][15]. We believe that our current study of pure Niranthin phytoconstituent as a pain modulating agent will shade more lights for its pharmacological potential.…”

Anxiolytic effect of YangshenDingzhi granules: Integrated network pharmacology and hippocampal metabolomics

“…Rats were placed in the center of the illuminated chamber and allowed to wonder for 5 min. The SuperMaze + high-throughput tracking system was used to record the behavior of rats, and analyze their total distance, light area distance, time in the light area and light area entrance ( Chopade et al, 2021 ; Chopade et al, 2020 ).…”