anybody tried chinese herb called fo ti or he shou wu .heard some clinical trials are conducted in china and results are good
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Is it good for negative symptoms…
well yes generllay tcm and ayurveda have better outcomes for negatives .this herb is supposed to be a sex
enhancer as per tcm(traditional chinese medicine) the kidney gives us energy and sex drive.this is upposed to strentghen those organs and i heard it can in some cases make greay hair black possibly beacuse it is supposed to be the highest source of zinc after oysters or maybe even higher
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Speaking of herbs, I read about a naturally occurring alkaloid, known as l-stepholidine, produced by Stephania plants., with dual dopamine receptor D1 agonist and D2 antagonist activity. To my knowledge, no clinical trials have been performed to determine toxicity in human subjects, and current data is limited to animal research. For more information, visit Dopamine D1 Receptor Agonist and D2 Receptor Antagonist Effects of the Natural Product (−)–Stepholidine: Molecular Modeling and Dynamics Simulations - PMC
Maybe a pharmaceutical company will chemically modify the active ingredient and develop a drug for medical use (as illustrated by several successful medicines that originated from natural products). The following is a quote from an abstract:
The antipsychotic potential of l-stepholidine–a naturally occurring dopamine receptor D1 agonist and D2 antagonist.
Natesan S1, Reckless GE, Barlow KB, Odontiadis J, Nobrega JN, Baker GB, George SR, Mamo D, Kapur S.
Author information
Abstract
RATIONALE:
l-Stepholidine, a dopamine D(2) antagonist with D(1) agonist activity, should in theory control psychosis and treat cognitive symptoms by enhancing cortical dopamine transmission. Though several articles describe its impact on the dopamine system, it has not been systematically evaluated and compared to available antipsychotics.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
We examined its in vitro interaction with dopamine D(2) and D(1) receptors and compared its in vivo pharmacokinetic profile to haloperidol (typical) and clozapine (atypical) in animal models predictive of antipsychotic activity.
RESULTS:
In vitro, l-stepholidine showed significant activity on dopamine receptors, and in vivo, l-stepholidine demonstrated a dose-dependent striatal receptor occupancy (RO) at D(1) and D(2) receptors (D(1) 9-77%, 0.3-30 mg/kg; D(2) 44-94%, 1-30 mg/kg), though it showed a rather rapid decline of D(2) occupancy related to its quick elimination. In tests of antipsychotic efficacy, it was effective in reducing amphetamine- and phencyclidine-induced locomotion as well as conditioned avoidance response, whereas catalepsy and prolactin elevation, the main side effects, appeared only at high D(2)RO (>80%). This preferential therapeutic profile was supported by a preferential immediate early gene (Fos) induction in the nucleus accumbens over dorsolateral striatum. We confirmed its D(1) agonism in vitro, and then using D(2) receptor, knockout mice showed that l-stepholidine shows D(1) agonism in the therapeutic dose range.
CONCLUSIONS:
Thus, l-stepholidine shows efficacy like an “atypical” antipsychotic in traditional animal models predictive of antipsychotic activity and shows in vitro and in vivo D(1) agonism, and, if its rapid elimination does not limit its actions, it could provide a unique therapeutic approach to schizophrenia.
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Stephania plant has a different species. Can you tell me which species is useful for schizophrenia?