Novel Therapeutic Approach for the Management of Mood Disorders: In Vivo and In Vitro Effect of a Combination of L-Theanine, Melissa officinalis L. and Magnolia officinalis Rehder & E.H. Wilson.

Vittoria Borgonetti,Nicoletta Galeotti,Paolo Governa,Marco Biagi

doi:10.3390/nu12061803

Vittoria Borgonetti, Nicoletta Galeotti + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12061803

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Journal: Nutrients	Publication Date: Jun 17, 2020
Citations: 16	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Florence, University of Siena

Abstract

Mood disorders represent one of the most prevalent and costly psychiatric diseases worldwide. The current therapies are generally characterized by several well-known side effects which limit their prolonged use. The use of herbal medicine for the management of several psychiatric conditions is becoming more established, as it is considered a safer support to conventional pharmacotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of a fixed combination of L-theanine, Magnolia officinalis, and Melissa officinalis (TMM) in an attempt to evaluate how the multiple modulations of different physiological systems may contribute to reducing mood disorders. TMM showed an anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like activity in vivo, which was related to a neuroprotective effect in an in vitro model of excitotoxicity. The effect of TMM was not altered by the presence of flumazenil, thus suggesting a non-benzodiazepine-like mechanism of action. On the contrary, a significant reduction in the effect was observed in animals and neuronal cells co-treated with AM251, a cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonist, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may be involved in the TMM mechanism of action. In conclusion, TMM may represent a useful and safe candidate for the management of mood disorders with an innovative mechanism of action, particularly as an adjuvant to conventional therapies.

Highlights

Mood disorders are a group of psychiatric illnesses representing the most prevalent and costly brain diseases worldwide [1]
The aim of this study was to investigate the possible anxiolytic and antidepressant activity of a fixed combination of L-theanine, Magnolia officinalis, and Melissa officinalis (TMM) in an attempt to evaluate how the multiple modulations of different physiological systems may contribute to reducing mood disorders
A significant reduction in the effect was observed in animals and neuronal cells co-treated with AM251, a cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) antagonist, suggesting that the endocannabinoid system may be involved in the TMM mechanism of action

Summary

Introduction

Mood disorders are a group of psychiatric illnesses representing the most prevalent and costly brain diseases worldwide [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 350 million people are affected by depression and anxiety, and this represents a huge impact in terms of economic cost and considering the negative impact on suffers’ quality of life [2]. The conventional management of mood disorders is based on pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. The commonly used drugs are generally characterized by several well-known side effects which limit their prolonged use [3,4]. The use of herbal medicine in the management of several psychiatric conditions has become more established, as it is considered a safer support to conventional pharmacotherapy [5].

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