Therapeutic Insights into Natural Products for Modulating Neurodegenerative Disease Pathways.
Therapeutic Insights into Natural Products for Modulating Neurodegenerative Disease Pathways.
Where did the research take place?
The study site has not been established. Author addresses may differ from where the research occurred.
Yamuna Nagar, IN · Author affiliation
Guru Gobind Singh College of Pharmacy, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India.Location evidence
Bathinda, IN · Author affiliation
Adesh Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Adesh University, Bathinda, Punjab, India.Location evidence
Jagādhri, IN · Author affiliation
Ch. Devi Lal College of Pharmacy, Jagadhri, Yamuna Nagar, Haryana, India.Location evidence
Ghāziābād, IN · Author affiliation
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (NCR Campus) Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Ghaziabad, India.Location evidence
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Original abstract
IntroductionNeurodegenerative Disorders (NDs), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), are chronic and progressive conditions marked by the gradual loss of neuronal structure and function. These disorders lead to cognitive, motor, and sensory decline, significantly reducing quality of life and posing a major global health burden due to rising healthcare costs and the absence of curative therapies. This review aims to comprehensively explore the therapeutic potential of natural products in targeting cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying NDs, highlighting their neuroprotective roles and potential for disease modification.MethodsA comprehensive literature review was conducted using databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Peer-reviewed articles, clinical trials, and experimental studies were analyzed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of natural products and their bioactive compounds in the management of NDs.ResultsND pathogenesis involves oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and abnormal protein aggregation, ultimately leading to neuronal death. Current therapies largely provide symptomatic relief without altering disease progression. Natural products from plants, fungi, and marine sources demonstrate strong neuroprotective potential through multitargeted mechanisms. Bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and polyphenols exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective activities. Key molecules, including curcumin, resveratrol, luteolin, quercetin, and catechins, modulate signaling pathways such as NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/AKT, Nrf2, apoptosis, and autophagy, thereby reducing amyloid-beta aggregation, protecting dopaminergic neurons, improving mitochondrial function, and enhancing cognition in preclinical and clinical studies.DiscussionNatural products represent promising candidates for disease modification in NDs due to their multi-pathway actions and relatively low toxicity. However, major limitations, such as poor bioavailability, pharmacokinetic variability, and the lack of standardized formulations, hinder clinical translation. Innovative strategies, including advanced drug-delivery systems, structural modifications, and synergistic formulations, are needed to overcome these barriers.ConclusionNatural products hold significant therapeutic potential in managing neurodegenerative diseases by targeting multiple pathological mechanisms. Their integration into ND treatment could provide safer and more effective alternatives, but further well-designed clinical trials are essential to establish their efficacy and facilitate clinical application.