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Nefiracetam
Nefiracetam is a nootropic drug of the racetam family. Preliminary research suggests that it may possess certain antidementia properties in rats. Effects Nefiracetam's cytoprotective actions are mediated by enhancement of GABAergic, cholinergic, and monoaminergic neuronal systems. Preliminary studies suggest that it improves apathy and motivation in post-stroke patients. It may also exhibit antiamnesia effects for the Alzheimer's type and cerebrovascular type of dementia. In addition, research in animal models suggests antiamnesic effects against a number of memory impairing substances, including: ethanol, chlorodiazepoxide, scopolamine, bicuculline, picrotoxin, and cycloheximide. Pharmacology Unlike other racetams, nefiracetam shows high affinity for the GABAA receptor ( IC50) = 8.5 nM), where it is presumed to be an agonist. It was able to potently inhibit 80% of muscimol binding to the GABAA receptor, although it failed to displace the remaining 20% of specific muscimol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Racetam
Racetams are a class of drugs that share a pyrrolidone nucleus. Some, such as piracetam, aniracetam, oxiracetam, pramiracetam and phenylpiracetam are considered nootropics. Others such as levetiracetam, brivaracetam, and seletracetam are anticonvulsants. Mechanism There is no universally accepted mechanism of action for racetams. Racetams generally show negligible affinity for common central nervous system receptors, but modulation of central neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and glutamate, has been reported. Although aniracetam and nebracetam show affinity for muscarinic receptors, only nefiracetam demonstrates nanomolar interactions. Modification of membrane-located mechanisms of central signal transduction is another hypothesis. Like some ampakines, some racetams such as piracetam and aniracetam are positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptor. Racetams are understood to work by allosterically modulating glutamate receptors, specifically AMPA receptors, lead ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Racetams
Racetams are a class of drugs that share a pyrrolidone nucleus. Some, such as piracetam, aniracetam, oxiracetam, pramiracetam and phenylpiracetam are considered nootropics. Others such as levetiracetam, brivaracetam, and seletracetam are anticonvulsants. Mechanism There is no universally accepted mechanism of action for racetams. Racetams generally show negligible affinity for common central nervous system receptors, but modulation of central neurotransmitters, including acetylcholine and glutamate, has been reported. Although aniracetam and nebracetam show affinity for muscarinic receptors, only nefiracetam demonstrates nanomolar interactions. Modification of membrane-located mechanisms of central signal transduction is another hypothesis. Like some ampakines, some racetams such as piracetam and aniracetam are positive allosteric modulators of the AMPA receptor. Racetams are understood to work by allosterically modulating glutamate receptors, specifically AMPA receptors, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nootropic
Nootropics ( , or ) (colloquial: smart drugs and cognitive enhancers, similar to adaptogens) are a wide range of natural or synthetic supplements or drugs and other substances that are claimed to improve cognitive function or to promote relaxation, particularly boosting mood, executive functions, attention, memory, creativity, or motivation in healthy individuals. The use of cognition-enhancing supplements by healthy individuals in the absence of a medical indication spans numerous controversial issues, including the ethics and fairness of their use, concerns over adverse effects, and the diversion of prescription drugs for non-medical uses. Nonetheless, the international sales of cognitive- or mood-enhancing supplements have continued to grow over time and in 2012 reached 0.69 billion. With sales supported by global health trends, the market is expected to reach US$33.85 billion by the year 2030, at a CAGR of 14.8%. While most nootropics are not regulated, there are ot ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Phenibut
Phenibut, sold under the brand names Anvifen, Fenibut, and Noofen among others, is a central nervous system depressant with anxiolytic effects, and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and for a variety of other indications. It is usually taken by mouth as a tablet, but may be given intravenously. Side effects of phenibut include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, and headache, among others. Overdose of phenibut can produce marked central nervous system depression including unconsciousness. The medication is structurally related to the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and hence is a GABA analogue. Phenibut is thought to act as a GABAB receptor agonist, similarly to baclofen and γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). However, at low concentrations, phenibut mildly increases the concentration of dopamine in the brain, providing stimulatory effects in addition to the anxiolysis. Phenibut was developed in the Soviet Union and was introduced for ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Guvacine
Guvacine is an pyridine alkaloid in areca nuts. It is the ''N''-demethylated derivative of arecaidine and the product of ester hydrolysis of guvacoline, both of which are also found in areca nuts as well. It is also an inhibitor of gamma-aminobutyric acid uptake. Lime is said to hydrolyse guvacoline Guvacoline is a compound with the chemical formula C7H11NO2. It is a component of Areca nut and a precursor of guvacine. It agonizes musacarinic receptors just like arecoline but unlike arecoline it lacks nicotinic activity. See also *Guvacine * ... to guvacine. References {{GABA metabolism and transport modulators Alkaloids Carboxylic acids GABA reuptake inhibitors ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toxicological Sciences
''Toxicological Sciences'' is a monthly peer-reviewed scientific journal which covers all aspects of research on toxicology. It is published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. It was established in 1981 as ''Fundamental and Applied Toxicology'' and obtained its current name in 1998. The current editor-in-chief is Jeffrey M. Peters, a professor of molecular toxicology and carcinogenesis at The Pennsylvania State University, and the Managing Editor is Virginia F. Hawkins. The editorial staff also includes Associate Editors in subject areas and an editorial board of topic experts. While its ISO 4 abbreviation is ''Toxicol. Sci.'' it is commonly referred to as ''ToxSci''. Abstracting and indexing The journal is abstracted and indexed in Biological Abstracts, BIOSIS, CAB International, Chemical Abstracts Service, Current Contents, EMBASE, Health & Safety Science Abstracts, Science Citation Index, and Toxicology Abstracts. According to the ''Journal ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Toxicology Letters
''Toxicology Letters'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal for the rapid publication of short reports on all aspects of toxicology, especially mechanisms of toxicity. Toxicology Letters is the official journal of Eurotox.Website of Toxicology Letters at Elsevier accessed on March, 9th, 2013. ''(Eurotox exists as a Society within the meaning of Art. 60 et seq. of the . The registered address of Eurotox is in .)'' Editors-in-chief are Wolfgang Dek ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, informally known as a seizure, is a period of symptoms due to abnormally excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. Outward effects vary from uncontrolled shaking movements involving much of the body with loss of consciousness ( tonic-clonic seizure), to shaking movements involving only part of the body with variable levels of consciousness (focal seizure), to a subtle momentary loss of awareness ( absence seizure). Most of the time these episodes last less than two minutes and it takes some time to return to normal. Loss of bladder control may occur. Seizures may be provoked and unprovoked. Provoked seizures are due to a temporary event such as low blood sugar, alcohol withdrawal, abusing alcohol together with prescription medication, low blood sodium, fever, brain infection, or concussion. Unprovoked seizures occur without a known or fixable cause such that ongoing seizures are likely. Unprovoked seizures may be exacerbated by stress or sl ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bicuculline
Bicuculline is a phthalide-isoquinoline compound that is a light-sensitive competitive antagonist of GABAA receptors. It was originally identified in 1932 in plant alkaloid extracts and has been isolated from ''Dicentra cucullaria'', '' Adlumia fungosa'', and several ''Corydalis'' species (all in subfamily Fumarioideae, previously known as family Fumariaceae). Since it blocks the inhibitory action of GABA receptors, the action of bicuculline mimics epilepsy; it also causes convulsions. This property is utilized in laboratories around the world in the ''in vitro'' study of epilepsy, generally in hippocampal or cortical neurons in prepared brain slices from rodents. This compound is also routinely used to isolate glutamatergic (excitatory amino acid) receptor function. The action of bicuculline is primarily on the ionotropic GABAA receptors, which are ligand-gated ion channels concerned chiefly with the passing of chloride ions across the cell membrane, thus promoting an inhibit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Picrotoxin
Picrotoxin, also known as cocculin, is a poisonous crystalline plant compound. It was first isolated by the French pharmacist and chemist Pierre François Guillaume Boullay (1777–1869) in 1812. The name "picrotoxin" is a combination of the Greek words "picros" (bitter) and "toxicon" (poison). A mixture of two different compounds, picrotoxin occurs naturally in the fruit of the ''Anamirta cocculus'' plant, although it can also be synthesized chemically. Due to its interactions with the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, picrotoxin acts as a stimulant and convulsant. It mainly impacts the central nervous system, causing seizures and respiratory paralysis in high enough doses. Chemical structure and synthesis Picrotoxin is an equi molar mixture of two compounds, picrotoxinin (C15H16O6; CAS# 17617-45-7) and picrotin (C15H18O7; CAS# 21416-53-5). Of the two compounds, picrotin is less active. Picrotoxin occurs naturally in the fruit of the ''Anamirta cocculus'', a climbing plant fr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Muscimol
Muscimol (also known as agarin or pantherine) is one of the principal psychoactive constituents of ''Amanita muscaria'' and related species of mushroom. Muscimol is a potent and selective orthosteric agonist for the GABAA receptors and displays sedative-hypnotic, depressant and hallucinogenic psychoactivity. This colorless or white solid is classified as an isoxazole. Muscimol went under clinical trial phase I for epilepsy, but the trial was discontinued. Biochemistry Muscimol is one of the psychoactive compounds responsible for the effects of ''Amanita muscaria'' intoxication. Ibotenic acid, a neurotoxic secondary metabolite of ''Amanita muscaria'', serves as a prodrug to muscimol when the mushroom is ingested or dried, converting to muscimol via decarboxylation. Muscimol is produced in the mushrooms ''Amanita muscaria'' (fly agaric) and ''Amanita pantherina'', along with muscarine (which is present in trace amounts and it is not active), muscazone, and ibotenic acid. ''A ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Amnesia
Amnesia is a deficit in memory caused by brain damage or disease,Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009) Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. but it can also be caused temporarily by the use of various sedatives and hypnotic drugs. The memory can be either wholly or partially lost due to the extent of damage that was caused. There are two main types of amnesia: retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. Retrograde amnesia is the inability to retrieve information that was acquired before a particular date, usually the date of an accident or operation. In some cases the memory loss can extend back decades, while in others the person may lose only a few months of memory. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to transfer new information from the short-term store into the long-term store. People with anterograde amnesia cannot remember things for long periods of time. These two types are not mutually exclusive; both can occur simu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
