Plant-derived bioactive compounds attenuate acute lung injury by regulating cellular autophagy and inflammation: A...

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a pulmonary disorder characterized by acute and severe inflammatory responses in the lungs. It can be triggered by various pathogenic factors and involves inflammatory reactions in alveolar macrophages, pulmonary epithelial cells, pulmonary fibroblasts, and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells. Studies have shown that autophagy is critically involved in the pathogenesis of ALI, mainly exerting regulatory effects on the disease by modulating processes like oxidative stress and inflammatory responses. Currently, there is a lack of effective, specific drugs for ALI. Multiple studies indicate that plant-derived bioactive compounds offer both therapeutic efficacy and safety advantages in alleviating ALI. This study has reviewed the latest advances in 19 plant-derived bioactive compounds (anthraquinones, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, and saponins) for attenuating ALI. These compounds primarily exert their effects by modulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway or regulating mitophagy. Notably, certain alkaloids and saponins alleviate ALI by inhibiting excessive autophagy. Existing studies consistently indicate that these plant-derived bioactive compounds demonstrate significant potential in improving ALI through the regulation of cellular autophagy. In summary, elucidating the molecular mechanisms of natural products' therapeutic effects provides a solid theoretical foundation and new research directions for developing autophagy-targeted therapies to alleviate ALI.