Remedia Sternutatoria over the Centuries: TRP Mediation

Lujain Aloum,Janah Shaya,Eman Alefishat,Georg A Petroianu

doi:10.3390/molecules26061627

Lujain Aloum, Janah Shaya + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061627

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Abstract

Sneezing (sternutatio) is a poorly understood polysynaptic physiologic reflex phenomenon. Sneezing has exerted a strange fascination on humans throughout history, and induced sneezing was widely used by physicians for therapeutic purposes, on the assumption that sneezing eliminates noxious factors from the body, mainly from the head. The present contribution examines the various mixtures used for inducing sneezes (remedia sternutatoria) over the centuries. The majority of the constituents of the sneeze-inducing remedies are modulators of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. The TRP channel superfamily consists of large heterogeneous groups of channels that play numerous physiological roles such as thermosensation, chemosensation, osmosensation and mechanosensation. Sneezing is associated with the activation of the wasabi receptor, (TRPA1), typical ligand is allyl isothiocyanate and the hot chili pepper receptor, (TRPV1), typical agonist is capsaicin, in the vagal sensory nerve terminals, activated by noxious stimulants.

Highlights

We explored various mixtures and their constituents, used as remedia sternutatoria over the centuries, aiming to conclude the mechanism of action via which these remedies trigger sneezing
Is allyl isocyanate the typical agonist of TRPA1 [61,70], and it exerts an inhibitory effect on TRPA1 at high concentrations, suggesting bimodal activity [71]
Transient receptor potential (TRP) canonical (TRPC) channels upregulation is involved in cardiac hypertrophy; its activation results in an increase in calcium

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. When we sneeze (sternutatio), one of the upper airway reflexes, starting with a deep inspiration proceeded by involuntary expulsion of air [1]. The reflex is mediated by the vagal afferent input from the nasal receptors [2,3]. Channels have been reported to play a role in sneezing as nasal receptors [4]. A putative sneezing center in the medulla is activated and a complex motor pattern is initiated: a deep inspiration is triggered, accompanied by the head tilting to the back, eye closure and nasopharyngeal and glottis closure. The Greek philosophers from the fourth century BC depicted sneezing as a divine sign. Physicians over the centuries utilized intranasal powders/mixtures to induce sneezing. We explored various mixtures and their constituents, used as remedia sternutatoria (or sneeze-inducing) over the centuries, aiming to conclude the mechanism of action via which these remedies trigger sneezing

Remedia Sternutatoria

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Discussion

Conclusions