Mechanisms of natural compounds in treating inhalation anesthesia-induced cognitive dysfunction

Although some inhalation anesthetics have been widely used and improved surgical safety, their potential to cause cognitive decline and neurotoxicity has raised widespread concern. The pathological mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction induced by anesthesia are complex, involving multiple factors such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, neuronal apoptosis, microglial polarization, neurotransmitter imbalance, as well as miRNA and epigenetic regulation. However, current treatment options are limited, and there is a lack of targeted and safely effective intervention measures. Natural compounds demonstrated significant potential in the prevention and treatment of cognitive dysfunction induced by anesthesia due to their multi-target regulatory properties and good safety profiles. This review systematically explores the potential role of natural compounds in alleviating cognitive dysfunction induced by inhalational anesthetics. A total of 16 natural compounds were evaluated, including flavonoids; Saponins; Phenols/Polyphenols; Terpenes, and other compounds. The main mechanisms of action identified by the research include anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant effects, anti-apoptotic effects, regulation of microglial polarization, and epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, the current challenges and future research directions in this field were clarified.