BIOACTIVE NATURAL COMPOUNDS TARGETING CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS AND NEUROPROTECTION STRATEGIES INSIGHTS

Abstract

Disorders that affect the central nervous system (CNS), including neurodegenerative diseases like dementia, stroke, epilepsy, various forms of depression, and neuroinflammatory conditions, represent a significant global healthcare challenge. They have complex pathophysiology (i.e., how these diseases affect brain and central nervous system function) and current clinical treatments are limited. New classes of bioactive natural compounds are considered to be very good candidates for use as prevention and treatment of CNS disorders because they have been found to have many different types of pharmacological activities, are relatively safe, and can act on multiple targets at once. Bioactive compounds from natural sources (e.g., plants) include polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and many other phytochemicals. They have shown effectiveness in promoting the survival of neurons by acting through multiple mechanisms, including the following: 1) Antioxidant activity; 2) Anti-inflammatory activity; 3) Anti-apoptotic activity; and 4) Neuroregeneration. In animals, dietary intake of high levels of bioactive compounds has been associated with reduced risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases and reduced risk of comorbidity with other chronic diseases. Major bioactive natural compounds are therapeutically beneficial for CNS disorders, and this review will highlight common bioactive compounds and mechanisms of action with respect to the treatment of different popular CNS disorders. Additionally, new strategies for neuroprotection will be presented. These strategies involve the modulation of different signaling pathways, enhancement of neurotrophic factors, regulation of neurotransmitter systems and ontologies, and improvement of BBB integrity. Furthermore, new drug delivery technologies and methods to improve bioavailability and specificity will also be presented as viable options for overcoming the challenges associated with using bioactive natural compounds for treating CNS disorders.

Keywords: Central nervous system disorders; Neuroprotection; Bioactive natural compounds; Neurodegenerative diseases; Oxidative stress; Neuroinflammation; Phytochemicals; Flavonoids; Polyphenols; Blood–brain barrier; Mitochondrial dysfunction; Drug delivery systems.