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Application of Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 511

Special Issue Editor

Department of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom 999077, Hong Kong, China
Interests: pharmacology; toxicology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Neurovascular and Neurodegenerative Disorders constitute a significant global health challenge with limited treatment options. This special issue examines the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring compounds in addressing chronic neurological disorders pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Stroke. Contributions encompass the complete pharmaceutical development continuum: from the isolation and characterization of novel neuroprotective agents derived from terrestrial flora, marine ecosystems, and microbial sources to innovative methodologies for preclinical evaluation, mechanistic investigation, and clinical implementation. Central investigations focus on the role of phytochemicals including but not limited to alkaloids, polyphenols, and terpenoids in mitigating oxidative stress, protein misfolding, neuroinflammatory responses, and mitochondrial dysregulation. The collection also examines advanced strategies for improving bioavailability, developing site-specific delivery mechanisms, and designing combinatorial treatment regimens. Through bridging ethnopharmacological knowledge with multi-omics technologies and translational research frameworks, this compilation seeks to accelerate the creation of effective multitarget neuroprotective interventions while emphasizing the complementary relationship between ancestral wisdom and contemporary pharmacological science.

Dr. Guiyi Gong
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases
  • neuroprotection
  • bioactive compounds
  • drug discovery
  • molecular mechanisms
  • multi-target therapy
  • neuroinflammation

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

23 pages, 5999 KB  
Article
The Neuroprotective Effects of Cyanidin Derivatives on AlCl3-Induced Zebrafish Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
by Yun Wu, Yidan Gao, Fangfang Tie, Ruinan Wang, Na Hu, Qi Dong, Chunxiang Fu and Honglun Wang
Molecules 2025, 30(18), 3686; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30183686 - 10 Sep 2025
Viewed by 341
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cholinergic deficits and neuronal damage, making acetylcholinesterase (AChE) a crucial therapeutic target. Cyanidin derivatives, sourced from the diet as anthocyanins, exhibit neuroprotective properties, yet comparative investigations are scarce. This research explored the neuroprotective impacts of five cyanidin [...] Read more.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cholinergic deficits and neuronal damage, making acetylcholinesterase (AChE) a crucial therapeutic target. Cyanidin derivatives, sourced from the diet as anthocyanins, exhibit neuroprotective properties, yet comparative investigations are scarce. This research explored the neuroprotective impacts of five cyanidin derivatives, namely cyanidin-3-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-diglycoside (C3GG), cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside (C3R), cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside (C3A), cyanidin-3-O-sophoroside (C3S), and cyanidin-3-O-xyloside (C3X), utilizing an aluminum-chloride (AlCl3)-induced zebrafish model of AD. The administration of these compounds ameliorated zebrafish locomotor impairments, suppressed AChE activity, decreased brain oxidative stress levels, upregulated AD-related gene expression, and mitigated brain tissue pathological changes. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations indicated that cyanidin derivatives exhibit robust binding affinity and stable binding to AChE. Particularly, C3R demonstrated the most potent multi-faceted neuroprotective effects among the tested derivatives, suggesting its potential as a promising lead compound for AD therapy. Full article
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