Fraxinus rhynchophylla Extract for Depression Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for depression and anxiety disorders often rely on antidepressants that may have side effects and do not effectively address the underlying neurotransmitter imbalances, particularly serotonin levels, and lack compositions using Fraxinus rhynchophylla extract as an active ingredient.

Innovation Solution

A pharmaceutical and functional health food composition utilizing Fraxinus rhynchophylla extract, which is extracted using solvents like ethanol and processed to enhance serotonin levels, reduce cortisol, and increase expression of pCERB, BDNF, and mBDNF proteins in hippocampal tissues, thereby improving depressive behavior and anxiety symptoms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional antidepressants are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders, then depression symptoms can be improved by increasing serotonin levels, but side effects occur and underlying neurotransmitter imbalances are not effectively addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of treatmentVSAvoidside effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes specific natural compounds from Fraxinus rhynchophylla (including aescin and other triterpenoid saponins) to create a treatment composition. This extraction approach isolates beneficial compounds from the plant material to address neurotransmitter imbalances without introducing the harmful side effects associated with conventional synthetic antidepressants

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The Fraxinus rhynchophylla extract acts as an intermediary substance that naturally modulates neurotransmitter systems. Rather than directly forcing serotonin increase like conventional drugs, the extract provides bioactive compounds that indirectly regulate neurotransmitter balance through natural physiological pathways, reducing harmful effects while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional antidepressants are used to increase serotonin levels, then depression symptoms improve, but the underlying neurotransmitter imbalances are not effectively addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesymptom improvementVSAvoidneurotransmitter balance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of treatment by using natural triterpenoid saponins and other bioactive compounds from Fraxinus rhynchophylla instead of conventional antidepressant molecules. These natural compounds modify neurotransmitter systems through different chemical mechanisms, achieving both symptom improvement and restoration of underlying neurotransmitter balances

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment composition comprises a composite mixture of multiple bioactive compounds extracted from Fraxinus rhynchophylla, including aescin, fraxin, and other triterpenoid saponins. This composite approach provides synergistic effects that simultaneously address multiple neurotransmitter imbalances (serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine) rather than targeting a single neurotransmitter system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The composition demonstrates significant anti-depressive effects in animal models by increasing serotonin levels, reducing cortisol, and enhancing protein expressions associated with neuronal health, thereby improving depressive and anxiety-related behaviors without notable side effects.

Implementation Method 1

the recently-developed anti-depressants can improve the depression symptoms by increasing the low serotonin in brain

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNeurotransmitter modulation:

Implementation Method 2

a decrease in blood cortisol level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHormone regulation:

Implementation Method 3

an increase in expression amount of pCERB, BDNF, and mBDNF proteins in hippocampal tissues

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProtein expression modulation:

Data Source

PatentUS11253566B2Composition for ameliorating, or treating depression and anxiety disorder comprising <i>Fraxinus rhynchophylla </i>extract as effective ingredient

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 KOREA INST OF ORIENTAL MEDICINE

AI summary

A method for preventing or treating at least one of depression and anxiety disorder according to an embodiment of the present invention includes administering to a subject in need thereof a composition having an extract of Fraxinus rhynchophylla as an effective ingredient. By having an effect of improving depressive behavior and low physical activity shown in an animal model with induced anxiety and depression, reducing the level of cortisol, increasing the level of serotonin, and also increasing the expression amount of pCERB, BDNF, and mBDNF proteins in hippocampal tissues, the compositions can be advantageously used for developing a functional health food product or a pharmaceutical product for ameliorating or treating the depression and anxiety disorder.