Natural Psychoplastogens As Antidepressant Agents
This review (2020) explored recent advances in natural psychoplastogens (psychedelics) as antidepressant agents. The study noted that these compounds are effective in rapid structural and functional rearrangement of neural systems by targeting mechanisms that were previously implicated in the development of depression. The study observed the evidence that they expend potent acute and long-term positive effects, beyond the treatment of psychiatric disorders with many of them being naturally occurring compounds, like psilocybin and DMT.
Abstract
Increasing prevalence and burden of major depressive disorder presents an unavoidable problem for psychiatry. Existing antidepressants exert their effect only after several weeks of continuous treatment. In addition, their serious side effects and ineffectiveness in one-third of patients call for urgent action. Recent advances have given rise to the concept of psychoplastogens. These compounds are capable of fast structural and functional rearrangement of neural networks by targeting mechanisms previously implicated in the development of depression. Furthermore, evidence shows that they exert a potent acute and long-term positive effects, reaching beyond the treatment of psychiatric diseases. Several of them are naturally occurring compounds, such as psilocybin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine, and 7,8-dihydroxyflavone. Their pharmacology and effects in animal and human studies were discussed in this article.
Research Summary of 'Natural Psychoplastogens As Antidepressant Agents'
Introduction
Depression is described as a common, disabling and rising global health problem for which existing antidepressants are imperfect: they typically require several weeks to produce benefit, have substantial side effects, and fail to help roughly one-third of patients. The extracted text frames multiple biological contributors to major depressive disorder (MDD), including monoamine dysregulation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivation, chronic low-grade inflammation and impaired neuroplasticity, and summarises how traditional antidepressants (TCAs, MAOIs, SSRIs) address some but not all of these mechanisms. Against this background, the paper introduces the concept of psychoplastogens — chemically diverse compounds that rapidly induce structural and functional neural plasticity and converge on downstream pathways such as TrkB and mTOR. Benko and colleagues set out to review naturally occurring psychoplastogens (notably serotonergic psychedelics such as psilocybin and DMT, and the flavone 7,8-dihydroxyflavone) with respect to their mechanisms, animal and human evidence, and potential therapeutic relevance for depression and related conditions.
Expert Research Summaries
Go Pro to access AI-powered section-by-section summaries, editorial takes, and the full research toolkit.
Full Text PDF
Full Paper PDF
Create a free account to open full-text PDFs.
Study Details
- Study Typemeta
- Journal
- Compounds
- Topics
- APA Citation
Benko, J., & Vranková, S. (2020). Natural Psychoplastogens As Antidepressant Agents. Molecules, 25(5), 1172. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules25051172
References (32)
Papers cited by this study that are also in Blossom
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Nutt, D. J. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2017)
Ly, C., Greb, A. C., Cameron, L. P. et al. · Cell Reports (2018)
Olson, J. A. · Neuroscience Insights (2018)
Nichols, D. E. · Pharmacological Reviews (2016)
Nutt, D. J. · Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience (2019)
Ray, T. S. · PLOS ONE (2010)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Erritzoe, D., Williams, T. et al. · PNAS (2012)
Cameron, L. P., Benson, C. J., Dunlap, L. E. · ACS Chemical Neuroscience (2018)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Haijen, E. C. H. M. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2018)
Jefsen, O., Højgaard, K., Christiansen, S. L. et al. · Acta Neuropsychiatrica (2019)
Show all 32 referencesShow fewer
Studerus, E., Kometer, M., Hasler, F. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2010)
Vollenweider, F. X., Vollenweider-Scherpenhuyzen, M. F. I., Bäbler, A. et al. · NeuroReport (1998)
Bogenschutz, M. P., Johnson, M. W. · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, M., Rucker, J. et al. · Lancet Psychiatry (2016)
Ross, S., Bossis, A. P., Guss, J. et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Bolstridge, &. M., Day, C. M. J. et al. · Psychopharmacology (2017)
Griffiths, R. R., Johnson, M. W. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2016)
Gasser, P., Holstein, D., Michel, Y. et al. · Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (2014)
Kirchner, K. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2014)
Santos, R. G., Landeira-Fernandez, J., Strassman, R. J. et al. · Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2007)
Sanches, R. F., Osório, F. L., Dos Santos, R. G. et al. · Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology (2016)
Palhano-Fontes, F., Barreto, D., Onias, H. et al. · Psychological Medicine (2018)
Tagliazucchi, E., Roseman, L., Kaelen, M. et al. · Current Biology (2016)
Carhart-Harris, R. L., Roseman, L., Bolstridge, M. et al. · Scientific Reports (2017)
Richards, W. A., Garcia-Romeu, A. · International Review of Psychiatry (2018)
Kraehenmann, R., Preller, K. H., Scheidegger, M. et al. · Biological Psychiatry (2015)
Grimm, O., Kraehenmann, R., Preller, K. H. et al. · European Neuropsychopharmacology (2018)
Davis, A. K., Barrett, F. S., Griffiths, R. R. · Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science (2020)
Rucker, J., Iliff, J., Nutt, D. J. · Neuropharmacology (2017)
Johansen, P. Ø., Krebs, T. S. · Journal of Psychopharmacology (2015)
Dos Santos, R. G., Osório, F. L., Crippa, J. A. et al. · Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology (2016)
Mithoefer, A. T., Mithoefer, M. C., Feduccia, A. A. et al. · Lancet Psychiatry (2018)
Cited By (1)
Papers in Blossom that reference this study
Ona, G., Bouso, J. C. · Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (2020)
Your Personal Research Library
Go Pro to save papers, add notes, rate studies, and organize your research into custom shelves.