Chapter Five - Future road map in neurodegenerative disease management with natural product: Roadmap 2024

Abstract

The search for neuroprotective natural products is now becoming an extremely important, albeit challenging, endeavor in trying to alleviate the burden of neurodegenerative diseases. This chapter addresses the high need for novel therapeutic strategies and the potential power of natural products for rational neuroprotection is discussed. The incorporation of omics technologies, for instance genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, sheds light on the complex biological pathways, together with interactions modulated by natural compounds, in the process of neurodegeneration. The current concept involves the precise hunting for new targets and mechanisms of action for neuroprotection interventions. We start with the use of natural remedies for neurological health, likely neuroprotective agents, and their mechanisms of action. Again, emphasis has been placed on preclinical studies unfolding therapeutic potential of natural compounds with significant neuroprotective effects in in vitro or in vivo models. Such studies underline the promise of natural compounds to prevent damage to neurons and promote neuroregeneration. This chapter explores major neuroprotective nutraceuticals in the realm of preclinical efficacy and the molecular pathways through which these effects are realized. The safety profiles of the compounds are also evaluated in silico toxicity analyses concerning possible associated adverse effects and their use as therapeutic agents. One of the major challenges of developing neuroprotective natural products is compositional variability, followed by bioavailability problems, and finally, standardization issues. The implementation of the combined advanced omics technologies with high-throughput preclinical studies in combination with computational analyses demands a multidisciplinary approach toward these problems, which would be discussed in this chapter.