Alkaloid's undiscovered neuroprotective potential: a multi-target strategy to fight against neurodegenerative...

Neurodegeneration (ND) refers to the progressive decline of neurons, leading to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease. These conditions are marked by gradual neuronal loss and cognitive impairment, with limited treatment options currently available. The available strategies only provide symptomatic relief and having more side effects, however none of them able to halt the disease progression, so there is strong need to develop alternative therapeutic strategies with no or less toxicity. Alkaloids, a class of naturally occurring compounds, exhibit diverse biological activities, including antioxidant and neuroprotection. Emerging research suggests that these molecules can influence key signaling pathways associated with neurodegeneration, potentially offering therapeutic benefits. By targeting multiple aspects of disease progression and modulating neuroinflammatory responses, alkaloids interact with critical molecular components such as transcription factors, receptors, and enzymes essential for neuronal survival and homeostasis. This review underscores the therapeutic potential of alkaloids in ND treatment and emphasizes the need for further research to explore their clinical applications. Future studies should aim to identify neuroprotective alkaloids, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and assess their effectiveness in treating neurodegenerative diseases. A deeper understanding of their interactions with key disease pathways is crucial for the development of effective therapeutic strategies.