Integrative perspective on pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and its
management through African traditional medicinal plants
Abstract
The majority of physiologic activities in the brain and associated
illnesses include multiple neurotransmitter systems and their
dysfunctional consequences, which entails elucidation of the interaction
among distinct pathways. In light of recent revaluations in
schizophrenia research, this review focuses on the interplay between
dysregulations of neurotransmitter systems, including the effects of
systemic neuroinflammation and a disruption of Wnt-pathways. This
includes a detailed network-circuit illustration centered on
dysregulated glutamatergic transmission and NMDA receptor hypofunction
explaining the role of dopamine and glutamate, their receptors like D2R,
NMDAR, AMPAR, and their agonist/co-agonist, antagonist, along with a
synergism of downstream effector molecules like Akt/GSK-3,
Wnt/β-catenin, Cytokines, CRP, NF-κB, while simultaneously illuminating
involvement of inflammatory, oxidative, and Kyunurenic mechanisms, and
their implications towards the progression of schizophrenia. We are for
the first time producing a comprehensive list of associated biomarkers
with their key roles and features. Schizophrenia is becoming more
prevalent in African countries, and existing antipsychotic therapeutic
regime provides little assistance, other from being inaccessible,
ineffective, and laden with complications. It is critical to focus on
traditional knowledge; thus, in the second section, we present a
detailed list of 27 African plant species across 23 families, replete
with phytocomponents proven effective in in-vivo models and their likely
mechanism of action. In essence, the first section of the review
presents the underlying mechanism of schizophrenia development via an
interactive signaling pathways approach and a list of identified
biomarker components, while the second section presents a comprehensive
list of African ethnomedicinal plants used in disease management.