Na Han, Yuanyuan Wen, Zhihui Liu, Jianxiu Zhai, Sikai Li, Jun Yin*Development and Utilization Key Laboratory of Northeast Plant Materials, School of Traditional Chinese Materia, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, China
Synopsis
Background:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a serious neurodegenerative disease associated with memory and cognitive impairment. The occurrence of AD is due to the accumulation of amyloid β-protein (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in the brain tissue as well as the hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein in neurons, doing harm to human health and even leading people to death. The development of neuroprotective drugs with small side effects and good efficacy is focused by scientists all over the world. Natural drugs extracted from herbs or plants have become the preferred resources for new candidate drugs. Lignans were reported to effectively protect nerve cells and alleviate memory impairment, suggesting that they might be a prosperous class of compounds in treating AD.
Objective:
To explore the roles and mechanisms of lignans in the treatment of neurological diseases, providing proof for the development of lignans as novel anti-AD drugs.
Methods:
Relevant literature was extracted and retrieved from the databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Elsevier, Science Direct, PubMed, SpringerLink, and Web of Science, taking lignan, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, apoptosis, nerve regeneration, and nerve protection as keywords. The functions and mechanisms of lignans against AD were summarized.
Results:
Lignans were found to have the effects of regulating vascular disorders, anti-infection, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis, antagonizing NMDA receptors, suppressing AChE activity, and improving gut microbiota, to strengthen nerve protection. Among them, dibenzo cyclooctene lignans were the most widely reported and might be the most prosperous category in the development of anti-AD drugs.
Conclusion:
Lignans displayed versatile roles and mechanisms in preventing the progression of AD in vitro and in vivo models, supplying potential candidates for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Analysis:
Lignans positively impact this condition and provide some symptomatic improvement. While this needs further investigation, this helps provide those affected with autism with a positive dietary change that could potentially alleviate some of the symptoms that they experience.
