Neuroprotective natural products: Promising candidates against neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Neurodegeneration is a progressive loss of neurons both structurally and functionally causing neuronal cell death ultimately leading to development of various neurodegenerative diseases. Due to poor pharmacokinetic profile of neurotrophins, there still remains a challenge in their neurotrophic therapy where plants, bacteria and fungi, as natural products, could act as promising candidates against various neurological disorders by modulating the neurotrophic activity. Therefore, these natural products that mimic neurotrophins, could develop novel therapeutic approaches to herbal drug that can ameliorate neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other associated neurological disorders. Taking into account the failure of strategies involving single neurotrophins for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, we propose a combination of small molecules of natural products that may work synergistically to restore neuronal functions, minimize side effects and target multiple pathways for a more effective treatment.