Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is considered a bladder disorder due to localized chronic inflammation. This study investigated the nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in serum and urine in patients with IC/BPS. Thirty patients with IC/BPS and 28 normal subjects without lower urinary tract symptoms were recruited from an outpatient clinic. IC/BPS was diagnosed by frequency, bladder pain, and the presence of glomerulations during cystoscopic hydrodistention. Serum and urine were collected before any treatment was given. Serum NGF and urinary NGF/Cr levels were compared between IC/BPS and the controls. Urinary NGF levels were significantly higher in patients with IC/PBS (26.3±11.2 pg/ml) than in controls (1.40±0.63 pg) (p = 0.014). After normalization, the urinary NGF/Cr levels were significantly greater in IC/BPS (0.69±0.38 pg/mg) than controls (0.20±0.01, p = 0.011). Relative to the levels in control subjects (1.90±0.38 pg/mL), the mean serum NGF levels were higher in patients IC/BPS patients (3.48±0.55 pg/mL) (p = 0.015). No significant correlation was found between the serum and urinary NGF levels in IC/BPS patients. However, the clinical characteristics and medical co-morbidities did not show significant difference between IC/BPS patients with a higher and lower serum NGF level. Increased urinary NGF levels in IC/BPS patients suggest that chronic inflammation is involved in this bladder disorder. Increased circulating serum NGF levels were noted in over half of patients with IC/BPS, however, the urinary and serum NGF were not inter-correlated and elevated serum NGF did not relate with clinical features.

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of depression. This study aims to elucidate the antidepressant effect of baicalein, an anti-inflammatory component of a traditional Chinese herbal medicine (Scutellaria baicalensis), on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression-like behavior in mice, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. In vitro, baicalein exhibited antioxidant activity and protected macrophages from LPS-induced damage. The results of the tail suspension test and forced swimming test (tests for despair potential in mice) showed the antidepressant effect of baicalein on LPS-treated mice. It also substantially decreased the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1, and eotaxin, elicited by LPS in the plasma. Baicalein downregulated NF-κB-p65 and iNOS protein levels in the hippocampus, demonstrated its ability to mitigate neuroinflammation. Additionally, baicalein increased the levels of the mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) in the hippocampus of LPS-treated mice, and elevated the ratio of mBDNF/proBDNF, which regulates neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. Baicalein also promoted the expression of CREB, which plays a role in a variety of signaling pathways. In summary, the findings of this study demonstrate that the administration of baicalein can attenuate LPS-induced depression-like behavior by suppressing neuroinflammation and inflammation induced by the peripheral immune response.

Flavonoids exert antioxidant activity by scavenging free radicals, chelating metals, and modulating antioxidant enzymes. The root extract of Glycine tomentella Hayata (GTE), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb contains flavonoids, particularly, isoflavones. However, its neuroprotective effects against anxiety remain unclear. In this study, the effects of GTE on anxiety-like behavior and oxidative stress in male Balb/c mice were investigated. The mice were administered GTE orally once daily for 14 d and subsequently, the anxiolytic-like effects of the extract were observed via elevated plus maze and open field tests. Oxidative stress levels in the treated mice were also measured. The results obtained identified daidzein (9.19 mg/g dry extract) and daidzin (2.95 mg/g dry extract) as the key isoflavones in GTE. Furthermore, free radical scavenging assays confirmed that GTE shows strong antioxidant activity, with an IC50 value of 8.82 μg/mL. It also showed pronounced anxiolytic effects, attenuating reactive oxygen species production in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistic studies attributed these effects to the estrogenic activity of daidzein, which possibly modulates emotional state via estrogen receptor activation and systemic oxidative stress mitigation. These findings suggest that isoflavone-enriched GTE is a natural resource with potential for use as an antioxidant for mitigating anxiety.