8 papers in the library · 149 citations · publishing 2013-2026
Biomed Pharmacother March 19, 2026 Giulia Costa, Marcello Serra, Riccardo Maccioni et al. correction
Corrigendum "Withania somnifera influences MDMA-induced hyperthermic, cognitive, neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects in mice." [Biomed. Pharmacother. 161 (2023) 114475].
Current Neuropharmacology January 9, 2026 Maria Antonietta De Luca, Cristina Miliano, Amanda Roxburgh et al. 1 citation
Preclinical and clinical studies reported that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, 'ecstasy') can cause adverse effects in the central nervous system (CNS). Recently, preclinical studies have demonstrated that certain psychoactive substances may exacerbate the noxious central effects of MDMA when co-administered, including substances that are contained as adulterants in tablets sold as...
Neural Regeneration Research February 22, 2024 Marcello Serra, Nicola Simola, Alexia E Pollack et al. 19 citations
Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that psychostimulants, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit brain dysfunctions and/or neurotoxic effects. Central toxicity induced by psychostimulants may pose serious health risks since the recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young people and adults. The present review provides an overview of recent research,...
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie May 1, 2023 Giulia Costa, Marcello Serra, Riccardo Maccioni et al. 13 citations
Withania somnifera (WS) is utilized in Ayurvedic medicine owing to its central and peripheral beneficial properties. Several studies have accrued indicating that the recreational amphetamine-related drug (+/-)- 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; Ecstasy) targets the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system in mice, inducing neurodegeneration and gliosis, causing acute hyperthermia and cognitive...
Experimental Neurology October 1, 2021 Giulia Costa, Krystyna Gołembiowska 64 citations
Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; 'ecstasy'), in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit acute and persistent abnormalities of varying severity at the central level. Importantly, neurotoxic effects of MDMA have been demonstrated in experimental animals. Accordingly, central toxicity induced by MDMA may pose a serious harm for health,...
Neural Regeneration Research May 1, 2020 Giulia Costa, Maria Antonietta De Luca, Gessica Piras et al.
Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that synthetic psychoactive substances, in addition to having abuse potential, may elicit toxic effects of varying severity at the peripheral and central levels. Nowadays, toxicity induced by synthetic psychoactive substances poses a serious harm for health, since recreational use of these substances is on the rise among young and adult people. The...
Neuropharmacology 2019 Giulia Costa, Marcello Serra, Nicholas Pintori et al.
&NA; Methoxetamine (MXE) is a novel psychoactive substance that can induce several short‐term effects on emotional states and behavior. However, little is known about the persistent emotional and behavioral effects of MXE. Moreover, neurotoxic effects of MXE have been hypothesized, but never demonstrated in vivo. To clarify these issues, rats received repeated treatment with MXE every other day...
Movement Disorders September 20, 2013 Giulia Costa, Lucia Frau, Jadwiga Wardas et al. 52 citations
ABSTRACT Clinical observations report a greater propensity to develop Parkinson's disease (PD) in amphetamine users. 3,4‐Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA; “ecstasy”) is an amphetamine‐related drug that is largely consumed by adolescents and young adults, which may have neuroinflammatory and neurotoxic effects. Here, the objective was to evaluate in mice whether consumption of MDMA during...