Neuroprotective Agents from Natural Sources: Potential and Limitations
Authors: Afroj Ayyaj Shaikh, Priyanka Dattatray Manmode, Jaydeep Babasaheb Pawar, Amarsingh Suresh Devadhe
Keywords: Neuroprotection, natural products, neurodegenerative diseases, polyphenols, antioxidants, clinical trials
Abstract:
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD) are major global health concerns marked by progressive neuronal loss and cognitive decline. Current pharmacotherapies primarily address symptoms and do not effectively halt neurodegeneration, emphasizing the urgent need for neuroprotective strategies. Natural products derived from plants, fungi, and marine organisms offer a rich source of bioactive compounds with diverse mechanisms of neuroprotection, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and mitochondrial protective effects. This review synthesizes recent advances in the identification, mechanism, and clinical potential of natural neuroprotective agents, highlighting key compounds such as polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids. While preclinical studies show promising neuroprotective effects through modulation of oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and neuroinflammation, their translation to clinical efficacy remains challenged by poor bioavailability, variability in composition, and limited rigorous human trials. Novel formulation strategies and rigorous standardized clinical studies are critical to overcoming these hurdles. Exploring synergistic combinations of natural compounds with existing pharmaceuticals also holds potential. This comprehensive review provides a critical appraisal of the neuroprotective potential and current limitations of natural agents and proposes future research directions aimed at harnessing their full therapeutic promise.
