Role of Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: A Review of the Treatment Potential and Development Strategy

Natural products targeting cellular processes common in Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis

The hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD) include the loss of dopaminergic neurons and formation of Lewy bodies, whereas multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder with damaged myelin sheaths and axonal loss. Despite their distinct etiologies, mounting evidence in recent years suggests that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and infiltration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) all play crucial roles in both diseases. It is also recognized that therapeutic advances against one neurodegenerative disorder are likely useful in targeting the other. As current drugs in clinical settings exhibit low efficacy and toxic side effects with long-term usages, the use of natural products (NPs) as treatment modalities has attracted growing attention. This mini-review summarizes the applications of natural compounds to targeting diverse cellular processes inherent in PD and MS, with the emphasis placed on their neuroprotective and immune-regulating potentials in cellular and animal models. By reviewing the many similarities between PD and MS and NPs according to their functions, it becomes evident that some NPs studied for one disease are likely repurposable for the other. A review from this perspective can provide insights into the search for and utilization of NPs in treating the similar cellular processes common in major neurodegenerative diseases.

Pharmacological Features of 18β-Glycyrrhetinic Acid: A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid of Therapeutic Potential

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (belonging to the family Leguminosae), commonly known as Licorice, is a popular medicinal plant that has been used in traditional medicine worldwide for its ethnopharmacological efficacy in treating several ailments. Natural herbal substances with strong biological activity have recently received much attention. The main metabolite of glycyrrhizic acid is 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (18βGA), a pentacyclic triterpene. A major active plant component derived from licorice root, 18βGA has sparked a lot of attention due to its pharmacological properties. The current review thoroughly examines the literature on 18βGA, a major active plant component obtained from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. The current work provides insight into the pharmacological activities of 18βGA and the potential mechanisms of action involved. The plant contains a variety of phytoconstituents such as 18βGA, which has a variety of biological effects including antiasthmatic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, nephroprotective, antidiabetic, antileishmanial, antiviral, antibacterial, antipsoriasis, antiosteoporosis, antiepileptic, antiarrhythmic, and anti-inflammatory, and is also useful in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension, antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia, and cerebral ischemia. This review examines research on the pharmacological characteristics of 18βGA throughout recent decades to demonstrate its therapeutic potential and any gaps that may exist, presenting possibilities for future drug research and development.

Biotransformation, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacological Activities of Ginsenoside Rd Against Multiple Diseases

Panax ginseng C.A. Mey. has a history of more than 4000 years and is widely used in Asian countries. Modern pharmacological studies have proved that ginsenosides and their compounds have a variety of significant biological activities on specific diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, certain types of cancer, gastrointestinal disease, and metabolic diseases, in which most of the interest has focused on ginsenoside Rd. The evidentiary basis showed that ginsenoside Rd ameliorates ischemic stroke, nerve injury, cancer, and other diseases involved in apoptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, and autophagy. In this review, we summarized available reports on the molecular biological mechanisms of ginsenoside Rd in neurological diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases, and other diseases. We also discussed the main biotransformation pathways of ginsenoside Rd obtained by fermentation.

Naringenin as a natural immunomodulator against T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases: literature review and network-based pharmacology study

T cells, especially CD4+ T helper (Th) cells, play a vital role in the pathogenesis of specific autoimmune diseases. Naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and antitumor properties, which have been verified in animal autoimmune disease models. However, naringenin's possible effects and molecular mechanisms in T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases are unclear. This review summarizes the findings of previous studies and predicts the target of naringenin in T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and rheumatoid arthritis through network pharmacology analysis. We performed DAVID enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction analysis, and molecular docking to predict the positive effect of naringenin on T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders. Sixteen common genes were screened, among which the core genes were PTGS2, ESR1, CAT, CASP3, MAPK1, and AKT1. The possible molecular mechanism relates to HIF-1, estrogen, TNF, and NF-κB signaling pathways. Our findings have significance for future naringenin treatment of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases.