Targeting PPAR Signaling for Neurovascular Protection: Advances in Natural Product-Based Therapeutics.
Xinyi Ouyang1,2, Yijing Xiang1, Longbiao Tan1
1The Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio-Cerebral Diseases, College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
Aging and Disease
|May 1, 2026
Summary
Natural products targeting peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) pathways offer a promising strategy for treating central nervous system diseases. These compounds exhibit multi-target benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, crucial for neuroprotection.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Central nervous system diseases like stroke and Alzheimer's share pathological mechanisms including neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and blood-brain barrier damage.
- Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), particularly PPAR-γ, are key regulators of lipid metabolism and inflammation, offering neurovascular protection via pathways like NF-κB and Nrf2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the potential of natural products in activating or regulating PPAR pathways for treating cerebrovascular diseases.
- To review the neuroprotective effects of natural products mediated through PPAR signaling.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies investigating natural products and their effects on PPAR pathways in the context of central nervous system diseases.
- Analysis of natural product components (e.g., flavonoids, phenolic acids) and their interactions with PPAR signaling axes.
Main Results:
- Natural products can activate PPAR pathways, exerting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurotrophic effects, thereby improving disease phenotypes.
- Specific compounds like Stevioside, Catalpol, and Morin show potential PPAR regulatory ability, warranting further investigation in relevant models.
Conclusions:
- Natural products targeting PPAR signaling present a multi-target, multi-pathway approach for cerebrovascular disease intervention.
- Future research should focus on validating "component-pathway-phenotype" associations and optimizing natural product modulators for clinical application.
