Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.1
4.3
Journals
Pharmaceuticals
Special Issues
Therapeutic Potential of Scopolamine and Its Adverse Effect
share announcement

Therapeutic Potential of Scopolamine and Its Adverse Effect

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2025 | Viewed by 505

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ion Brinza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sciences, “Lucian Blaga” University of Sibiu, 7–9 Ion Ratiu Street, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
Interests: neuropharmacology and neuromodulation; oxidative stress and neurotransmitter dynamics; cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases; bioactive compounds: flavonoids, polyphenols, and nutraceuticals; molecular docking and drug discovery; pharmacokinetics and drug delivery systems; laboratory animal behavior analysis using specialized software; environmental toxicology and ecotoxicological impact; zebrafish and other animal models in biomedical research; advanced laboratory techniques: western blot, PCR, HPLC, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, antioxidant activity evaluation; AI-powered tools for data analysis, behavioral tracking, and drug discovery; nutrition and the role of bioactive compounds in metabolic and cognitive health
Prof. Dr. Lucian Hritcu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Interests: neurobiology; molecular biology; neuropharmacology; behavioral neuropsychopharmacology; phytomedicine and ethnopharmacology; neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson, Alzheimer); brain aging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Scopolamine, a tropane alkaloid with strong anticholinergic properties, has been extensively used in medical practice for conditions such as motion sickness, postoperative nausea, and neurological disorders. However, its therapeutic potential is often counterbalanced by adverse effects, including cognitive impairment, neurotoxicity, and a risk of dependency. Ongoing research aims to optimize its clinical applications while minimizing unwanted side effects through innovative drug delivery systems, antioxidant therapies, and neuroprotective agents.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and short communications exploring the pharmacology of scopolamine, with a focus on mitigating its side effects and expanding its therapeutic applications. We also encourage studies investigating natural bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids and polyphenols, in counteracting scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive decline.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic and toxic effects of scopolamine.
  • Innovative drug delivery systems designed to reduce adverse effects.
  • Scopolamine as a model for studying cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration, and oxidative stress.
  • Synergistic effects of scopolamine with bioactive compounds (e.g., flavonoids, polyphenols, nutraceuticals) in modulating its neurotoxic impact.
  • Computational and molecular docking studies to identify potential interactions with pharmacological targets.
  • Alterations in neurotransmitter systems induced by scopolamine and potential avenues for restoration.
  • Behavioral and cognitive studies in animal models, including zebrafish, investigating scopolamine-induced deficits and neuroprotection.
  • Cell-based assays and in vitro studies exploring scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity and screening for potential neuroprotective compounds.
  • Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of scopolamine, particularly in combination with neuroprotective agents.
  • Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory strategies to mitigate scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity.
  • Environmental considerations, including the presence of scopolamine in ecosystems, its degradation pathways, and potential risks to wildlife.

We invite contributions from researchers in medicinal chemistry, neuropharmacology, molecular biology, toxicology, and behavioral neuroscience to advance our understanding of scopolamine’s multifaceted effects.

Dr. Ion Brinza
Prof. Dr. Lucian Hritcu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Pharmaceuticals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • scopolamine
  • neuropharmacology
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • drug delivery systems
  • neuromodulation and neurotransmitters
  • pharmacokinetics
  • therapeutic strategies
  • toxicology
  • neurodevelopmental disorders

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

26 pages, 6937 KiB  
Article
Solanum macrocarpon L. Ethanolic Leaf Extract Exhibits Neuroprotective and Anxiolytic Effects in Scopolamine-Induced Amnesic Zebrafish Model
by Ion Brinza, Corina Guliev, Ibukun Oluwabukola Oresanya, Hasya Nazli Gok, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan and Lucian Hritcu
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(5), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18050706 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 311
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Solanum macrocarpon L. has been studied for its neuroprotective potential and memory-enhancing properties. Research suggests that bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, contribute to its cognitive benefits. These compounds may help protect against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cholinergic dysfunction factors [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Solanum macrocarpon L. has been studied for its neuroprotective potential and memory-enhancing properties. Research suggests that bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics, contribute to its cognitive benefits. These compounds may help protect against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and cholinergic dysfunction factors in memory impairment. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of S. macrocarpon ethanolic leaf extract (SMEE) on the memory, anxiety-like behavior, and brain antioxidant status of scopolamine (SCOP, 100 μM)-induced amnesic zebrafish (Danio rerio) and thus to understand its possible mechanism of action. Methods: Adult zebrafish (n = 100) were divided into two cohorts (±SCOP) of five experimental groups: (I) control; (II) galantamine (GAL, 1 mg/L), serving as a positive control for both behavioral and biochemical assessments; (III–V) three groups treated with SMEE (1, 3, and 6 mg/L); (VI) scopolamine (SCOP, 100 μM); (VII) SCOP (100 μM) combined with GAL (1 mg/L); and (VIII–X) three groups treated with SCOP (100 μM) plus SMEE (1, 3, and 6 mg/L). The treatment lasted 23 days and amnesia was induced by a single dose of SCOP (100 μM) before testing. Results: The phenolic characterization from the samples was performed by using HPLC-PDA chromatography. Following HPLC analysis, an in silico pharmacokinetic evaluation was conducted using the ADMET model to investigate the pharmacological and toxicological profiles of the identified compounds. Spatial memory was evaluated through the Y-maze and novel object recognition (NOR) tests, while anxiety-like behavior was assessed using the novel tank diving test (NTT), novel approach test (NAT), and light–dark test (LDT). The zebrafish were euthanized, and homogenates of isolated brain samples were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and brain antioxidant markers. The HPLC analysis revealed that the main major compounds in the extract were chlorogenic acid and rutin, both recognized for their significant antioxidant properties. Conclusions: SMEE enhanced memory by inhibiting AChE, alleviated SCOP-induced anxiety-like behavior, and significantly decreased oxidative stress markers. These findings support the potential role of SMEE in counteracting SCOP-induced cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions, related to dementia conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Therapeutic Potential of Scopolamine and Its Adverse Effect)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-1
Back to TopTop