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Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2026) | Viewed by 21774

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Edyta Mądry

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Department of Physiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Fredry 10, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
Interests: natural products; cannabis; wasabi; high-fat diet; physiology of the vagus nerve
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Dear Colleagues,

There are a number of epidemics currently affecting people worldwide. However, three of them—cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, and obesity—are global and constitute some of the most significant burdens on healthcare.

Cancers are currently responsible for about 20% of deaths worldwide, and this figure is expected to almost double by 2050. The increase is due to an aging population, population growth, and exposure to risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, obesity, and air pollution.

According to a 2023 WHO report, approximately 39% of the world's adult population is overweight, and 13% are obese. This means that more than half of the world's adult population is affected by excessive adipose tissue accumulation, making obesity one of the most significant epidemics in human history.

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and various forms of dementia, are devastating conditions that lead to progressive neuronal loss and cognitive decline. Caring for individuals with dementia often results in caregiver burnout and devastates family systems, ultimately resulting in two to three additional people being "affected" by the disease for every person with dementia. The WHO estimates that by 2050, around 120 million people will be directly affected by various forms of dementia, with most living in developing countries where access to healthcare is limited.

Two thousand five hundred years ago, Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”. These words remain relevant today. Nearly 20% of modern medicines are derived from substances originating from plants, fungi, bacteria, and microorganisms. The search for new compounds to treat or prevent obesity and neurodegenerative diseases is both a challenge and an obligation for scientists. The history of pharmacy and medicine, along with current research, demonstrates that nature is an inexhaustible source of medicinal substances. We only need to find them.

Dear friends, scientists, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's get to work. The world is waiting impatiently and can only count on us.

Dr. Edyta Mądry
Guest Editor

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Keywords

obesity
cancer
lung cancer
breast cancer
colon cancer
ovarian cancer
liver cancer
apoptosis
neurodegeneration
metabolic health
bioactive compounds
antioxidant
anti-inflammatory
neuroprotection
dyslipidemia
Alzheimer's
Parkinson’s
dementia
superfoods
supplements
healthy fats
dietary fiber
probiotics

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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26 pages, 6657 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Cannabis sativa Extracts via Possible Modulation of mRNA Levels of Inflammatory Cytokines and Cannabinoid Receptors

by Joanna Bartkowiak-Wieczorek, Radosław Kujawski, Michał Szulc, Kamila Czora-Poczwardowska, Joanna Szymczak, Julia Gierszewska, Maria Miotk, Przemysław Mikołajczak, Edyta Mądry and Teresa Grzelak

Nutrients 2026, 18(7), 1106; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071106 - 30 Mar 2026

Viewed by 351

Abstract

Background: Low-THC Cannabis sativa L. extracts are commonly believed to offer potential alternatives to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for inflammatory pain management. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of two C. sativa extracts (Tygra, Dora) and pure cannabidiol (CBD) compared with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in a carrageenan-induced rat paw inflammation model. Materials and Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: control, ASA (200 mg/kg), CBD (20 mg/kg), Extract B (Tygra), and Extract D (Dora). Treatments were administered intragastrically 30 min after carrageenan injection. Paw volume was measured at 0, 1, 3, 6, and 10 h, and mRNA levels of COX-1, COX-2, TNFα, NFκB, CB1, and CB2 were quantified by qPCR. Results: Unlike ASA, which reduced paw edema and NFκB expression at 10 h, CBD and both extracts increased edema compared to control. Specifically, Extract D induced greater edema than ASA, upregulated CB1 and CB2 (surpassing ASA CB2 levels), decreased TNFα, and reduced right-paw COX-2. Extract B increased edema (3 h vs. ASA), increased TNFα, and showed a positive COX-2/paw volume correlation. Furthermore, paw volume correlated negatively with CB2 under CBD treatment (which also lowered right-paw COX-2) and positively with COX-1 under ASA treatment. Conclusions: The results indicate that ASA has a clear anti-inflammatory effect, whereas CBD and the hemp extracts fail to inhibit—and may even exacerbate—the inflammatory response. Differences in endocannabinoid and inflammatory gene expression suggest extract composition–dependent modulation mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits)

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20 pages, 21546 KB

Open AccessArticle

Network Pharmacology-Based Characterization of Mecasin (KCHO-1) as a Multi-Target Modulator of Neuroinflammatory Pathways in Alzheimer’s Disease

by Hyein Jo, Joonyoung Shin, Hyorin Lee, Gi-Sang Bae and Sungchul Kim

Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010008 - 19 Dec 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Mecasin (KCHO-1) is a standardized multi-herb formulation containing diverse bioactive compounds predicted to engage multiple molecular targets. This study applied an integrative network pharmacology approach to explore how Mecasin may interact with Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related molecular networks. Methods: Bioactive constituents from 9 herbs were screened through OASIS and PubChem, and their predicted targets were cross-referenced with 8886 AD-associated genes from GeneCards. Overlapping genes were analyzed using protein–protein interaction mapping, Gene Ontology, and KEGG to identify potential Mecasin–AD core nodes and pathways. Co-expression, co-regulation, and molecular docking analyses were performed to further characterize mechanistic relevance. Results: Network integration identified 6 core genes—AKT1, STAT3, IL6, TNF, EGFR, and IL1B—positioned within signaling pathways related to neuronal survival, inflammatory regulation, and cellular stress responses, including FoxO, JAK–STAT, MAPK, and TNF pathways. Molecular docking suggested that several Mecasin compounds may interact with targets such as AKT1 and TNF. Conclusions: These in silico findings indicate that Mecasin, a multi-component formulation containing numerous phytochemicals that generate broad compound–target associations, may interface with interconnected neuroimmune pathways relevant to AD. While exploratory, the results highlight potential multi-target mechanisms that merit further investigation and provide a systems-level framework to inform future experimental validation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits)

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13 pages, 917 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Fermented Soy on Cognition in Older Adults: Outcomes of a Randomized, Controlled Trial

by Laura M. West, Joan Sabaté, Ifeanyi D. Nwachukwu, Grace J. Lee, Rawiwan Sirirat, Amandeep Wright and Sujatha Rajaram

Nutrients 2025, 17(18), 2936; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17182936 - 12 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4153

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Soy foods and isoflavones are inversely associated with cognitive decline; however, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) show mixed results. Fermented soy contains bioactive compounds not found in unfermented soybeans, such as peptides and aglycone isoflavones, which may support cognition by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Fermented soy RCTs on older adults with mild cognitive impairment show cognitive benefits; however, the effects of fermented soy on cognitively healthy older adults are not known. Methods: We investigated the effects of a non-probiotic fermented soy powder, added to the usual diet, compared to a placebo matched for energy on global cognition, memory, verbal fluency, processing speed, and executive function in a 12-week RCT on 61 adults aged 65 years and older (74 ± 5 y; 47 completers). Results: The fermented soy group showed significant improvement (p = 0.041) in memory scores (1.81%, 95% CI: −2.10, 5.72) vs. placebo (1.16%, 95% CI: −3.64, 5.97) using analysis of variance, adjusted for sex and baseline scores. Post hoc analyses on women 70 years and older (n = 29) found significant improvement in global cognition (p = 0.028) and memory (p = 0.049) in the fermented soy group. Global cognition mean change adjusted for baseline scores was 2.86% (95% CI: 1.52, 4.21) for fermented soy and 0.06% (95% CI: −1.43, 1.55) for placebo. Memory mean change adjusted for baseline scores was 8.47% (95% CI: 5.05, 11.89) in the fermented soy group, compared to 2.05% (95% CI: −1.75, 5.84) for placebo. Conclusions: These outcomes suggest that fermented soy has the potential to slow age-related cognitive decline, especially memory for women 70 and older. Further research to confirm these findings in older women, and in males and other age categories is warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits)

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Review

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22 pages, 627 KB

Open AccessReview

Current Utilization and Research Status of the Herbal Medicine Guibi-Tang and Its Variants for Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review

by Gyeongmuk Kim, Han-Gyul Lee and Seungwon Kwon

Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3365; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213365 - 26 Oct 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Guibi-tang (GBT) and its variant Kami-guibi-tang (KGBT) are traditional East Asian multi-herb formulas prescribed for memory loss, insomnia, and fatigue. Preclinical data suggest multimodal neuroprotective actions, including cholinergic signaling modulation and activation of the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway; however, clinical evidence for cognitive disorders remains scattered. This scoping review aimed to map the breadth, design characteristics, efficacy signals, and safety profile of GBT and KGBT across the full spectrum of cognitive impairment. Methods: Following the Arksey–O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, seven databases were searched (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, ScienceON, Scopus, Citation Information by the National Institute of Informatics) from inception to 31 January 2025, for human studies evaluating GBT or KGBT in subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia, or post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI). Two reviewers independently screened, extracted, and charted data on study design, participants, interventions, outcomes, and adverse events. Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria—nine randomized controlled trials, one crossover trial, and five observational reports—enrolling 555 participants (age range, 59–87 years). All were conducted in the Republic of Korea, Japan, or China. GBT or KGBT, given as monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for 4 weeks to 9 months, produced modest but consistent improvements in global cognition (Mini-Mental State Examination/Montreal Cognitive Assessment), memory domains, activities of daily living, and neuropsychiatric symptoms across MCI, Alzheimer’s disease, and PSCI cohorts. Reported adverse event rates were comparable to or lower than those of placebo, usual care, or conventional drugs, and no serious treatment-related toxicity was identified. Conclusions: Current evidence—although limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous formulations, short follow-up durations, and regional concentration—indicates that GBT and KGBT are well tolerated and confer clinically meaningful cognitive and functional benefits. Standardized, multicenter, placebo-controlled trials with biomarker end points are warranted to confirm long-term efficacy, clarify mechanisms, and guide integrative clinical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits)

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29 pages, 1269 KB

Open AccessReview

Astragalus Membranaceus—Can It Delay Cellular Aging?

by Kinga K. Borowicz and Monika E. Jach

Nutrients 2025, 17(8), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17081299 - 8 Apr 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 12925

Abstract

Astragalus membranaceus, a plant that has been utilized in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries, is widely regarded as one of the most valuable herbs in this medicinal tradition. It is commonly referred to as the “yellow leader”, a designation that stems from the yellow hue of its most significant organ, the root, and its adaptogenic properties. The plant Astragalus is renowned for its abundance of active components, including polysaccharides, flavonoids, saponins, and an array of trace elements. It has been demonstrated that the administration of Astragalus can prevent cellular aging, owing to its diverse range of actions that provide protection to the body from both external and internal factors. The antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties of this plant contribute to the maintenance of good skin condition, preventing atrophy of subcutaneous tissue and degeneration of facial bones. Systemic actions encompass the maintenance of function and protection of the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, excretory, immune, and endocrine systems. This article reviews the composition of Astragalus membranaceus and the beneficial effects of its root extract and its active substances on the whole body, with a particular focus on the anti-aging effects on the skin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Obesity and Cancer—New Insights into Mechanisms and Health Benefits)

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