Therapeutic Insights into Natural Products for Modulating Neurodegenerative Disease Pathways
Anjali Sharma1, Vishnu Mittal2, Devkant Sharma3
1Guru Gobind Singh College of Pharmacy, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India.
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry
|May 15, 2026
Summary
Natural products offer promising neuroprotective potential for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) by targeting multiple pathways. Further research and innovative delivery systems are needed to overcome limitations and enable clinical application.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
Background:
- Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's involve progressive neuronal loss, leading to significant disability and healthcare burdens.
- Current treatments offer symptomatic relief but do not halt disease progression, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Natural products are explored for their potential to modify disease mechanisms underlying NDs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the therapeutic potential of natural products in targeting cellular and molecular mechanisms of NDs.
- To highlight the neuroprotective roles and disease-modifying capabilities of natural product-derived compounds.
- To identify key bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action in preclinical and clinical studies.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was performed using major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
- Analysis included peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials, and experimental studies focusing on natural products and NDs.
- Evaluated therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of natural products and their bioactive constituents.
Main Results:
- ND pathogenesis involves oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and protein aggregation.
- Natural products, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, exhibit potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects.
- Key compounds like curcumin and resveratrol modulate critical signaling pathways, reduce protein aggregation, and protect neurons in studies.
Conclusions:
- Natural products show promise for disease modification in NDs due to multi-target actions and lower toxicity.
- Challenges such as poor bioavailability and pharmacokinetic variability impede clinical translation.
- Advanced drug delivery systems and synergistic formulations are crucial for overcoming limitations and advancing clinical application.
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