The mechanism of neuroprotective action of natural compounds

• Published in: Pharmacological reports Vol. 69; no. 5; p. 851
• Main Authors: Wąsik, Agnieszka, Antkiewicz-Michaluk, Lucyna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland 01-10-2017
• Subjects: Animals; Biological Products - pharmacology; Humans; Medicine, Traditional; Neurodegenerative Diseases - drug therapy; Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology; Plants, Medicinal; Oxidative stress; Curcumin; Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid); Gingko biloba (Egb 761); Resveratrol; 1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1MeTIQ)
• ISSN: 1734-1140
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2017.03.018

Disturbance of cerebral redox homeostasis is the primary cause of human neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. Well known experimental research demonstrates that oxidative stress is a main cause of cell death. A high concentration of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species leads to damage of a lot of proteins, lipids and also DNA. Synthetic compounds used for the treatment in the neurodegenerative diseases failed to meet the hopes they had raised and often exhibit a number of side effects. Therefore, in recent years interest in natural compounds derived from plants appears to be on the rise. This review describes a few natural compounds (1MeTIQ, resveratrol, curcumin, vitamin C and Gingko biloba) which revealed neuroprotective potential both in experimental studies and clinical trials. 1MeTIQ has a privileged position because, as opposed to the remaining compounds, it is an endogenous amine synthesized in human and animal brain. Based on evidence from research, it seems that a common protective mechanism for all the above-mentioned natural compounds relies on their ability to inhibit or even scavenge the excess of free radicals generated in oxidative and neurotoxin-induced processes in nerve cells of the brain. However, it was demonstrated that further different molecular processes connected with neurotoxicity (e.g. the inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, activation of caspase-3, apoptosis) follow later and are initiated by the reactive oxygen species. What is more, these natural compounds are able to inhibit further stages of apoptosis triggered by neurotoxins in the brain.