Celastrol as a neuroprotective drug: current status and challenges

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Pharmacology
• Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background:

• Neurological disorders present a growing global health challenge.
• There is a critical need for novel therapeutic strategies to manage neurodegenerative conditions.
• Celastrol, a compound from Tripterygium wilfordii, demonstrates potential neuroprotective properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively review the molecular mechanisms of celastrol's neuroprotective effects.
• To summarize findings from in vivo and in vitro studies on celastrol's efficacy.
• To explore celastrol's therapeutic potential for neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of in vivo animal models (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease models).
• Evaluation of in vitro cell models (e.g., neuronal cell lines, primary neurons).
• Review of studies investigating celastrol's molecular targets and pathways.

Main Results:

• Celastrol reduces neuroinflammation.
• Celastrol activates the autophagy-lysosome pathway for cellular cleanup.
• Celastrol inhibits ferroptosis, a form of programmed cell death.

Conclusions:

• Celastrol exhibits multifaceted neuroprotective effects via distinct molecular pathways.
• Celastrol is a potential therapeutic candidate for neurological disorders.
• Further research is needed for pharmacokinetic optimization and clinical validation of celastrol.