Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Natural Compounds Targeting Macro-Autophagy in OP Management: A Comprehensive Review

Osteoporosis (OP) is a major health problem among the elderly. It involves a loss of bone mass and deterioration of the structure of bone. Age, genetic factors, and hormonal changes are all contributing causes that increase the tendency to skeletal imbalance between osteoblast and osteoclast activity. Prolonged use and side effects are the problems with current medication therapies. As a result, nonpharmacological interventions especially those using natural products are attracting more attention due to their distinct structures, less toxicity, and side effects. Autophagy plays a role in maintaining cellular balance and is engaged in both normal and abnormal physiological processes. The development of OP is also characterized by the disruption of autophagy in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. This comprehensive review examines natural products that regulate autophagy and their consequent impacts on bone cells. These compounds may prove useful in strengthening osteoblastic differentiation, stimulating bone formation and inhibiting osteoclastic resorption. Uncovering the complex relationship between autophagy and OP may open up new avenues of treatment. Also, it can teach us how to design personalized medical interventions for those patients at greatest risk. The autophagy pathway is a recently discovered target for natural products in the prevention and treatment of OP. However, more research is needed to explore the action mechanisms, good clinical effects and possible adverse reactions of these compounds so as to find novel and safer treatment for the common bone disease OP.