Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications
Neurological disorders pose significant global public health challenges, with a rising prevalence and complex pathophysiological mechanisms that impose substantial social and economic burdens. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its holistic approach and multi-target effects, has gained increas...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Nutrition |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537363/full |
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| author | Wang Meng Wang Chao Zhao Kaiwei Ma Sijia Sang Jiajia Xu Shijie |
| author_facet | Wang Meng Wang Chao Zhao Kaiwei Ma Sijia Sang Jiajia Xu Shijie |
| author_sort | Wang Meng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Neurological disorders pose significant global public health challenges, with a rising prevalence and complex pathophysiological mechanisms that impose substantial social and economic burdens. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its holistic approach and multi-target effects, has gained increasing attention in the treatment of neurological diseases. This review explores bioactive compounds derived from Chinese herbal plants, focusing on their mechanisms of action, underlying pathways, and potential applications in functional food development. The review highlights the neuroprotective properties of flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, and polyphenols found in key TCM herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Gastrodia elata. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurogenic effects, making them promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and depression. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of TCM formulations targeting multiple signaling pathways offer advantages over single-target therapies, especially in combating neurodegenerative diseases. The review also discusses the challenges and future directions for integrating these bioactive compounds into functional foods and dietary supplements, aiming to improve neurological health and enhance clinical outcomes. Ultimately, this work aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of TCM-based interventions for promoting neurological well-being and addressing the global burden of neurological disorders. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dd7407a789ed47e2a9509f171c65bd6d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-861X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Nutrition |
| spelling | doaj-art-dd7407a789ed47e2a9509f171c65bd6d2025-01-31T05:10:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-01-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15373631537363Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applicationsWang Meng0Wang Chao1Zhao Kaiwei2Ma Sijia3Sang Jiajia4Xu Shijie5Institute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaInstitute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaJiangsu Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaInstitute of Basic Theory of Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, ChinaNeurological disorders pose significant global public health challenges, with a rising prevalence and complex pathophysiological mechanisms that impose substantial social and economic burdens. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its holistic approach and multi-target effects, has gained increasing attention in the treatment of neurological diseases. This review explores bioactive compounds derived from Chinese herbal plants, focusing on their mechanisms of action, underlying pathways, and potential applications in functional food development. The review highlights the neuroprotective properties of flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, and polyphenols found in key TCM herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Ligusticum chuanxiong, and Gastrodia elata. These compounds have demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neurogenic effects, making them promising candidates for the prevention and treatment of neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and depression. Furthermore, the synergistic effects of TCM formulations targeting multiple signaling pathways offer advantages over single-target therapies, especially in combating neurodegenerative diseases. The review also discusses the challenges and future directions for integrating these bioactive compounds into functional foods and dietary supplements, aiming to improve neurological health and enhance clinical outcomes. Ultimately, this work aims to provide valuable insights into the potential of TCM-based interventions for promoting neurological well-being and addressing the global burden of neurological disorders.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537363/fullbioactive compoundsChinese herbal plantstraditional Chinese medicinefunctional foodsneurological disorders |
| spellingShingle | Wang Meng Wang Chao Zhao Kaiwei Ma Sijia Sang Jiajia Xu Shijie Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications Frontiers in Nutrition bioactive compounds Chinese herbal plants traditional Chinese medicine functional foods neurological disorders |
| title | Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications |
| title_full | Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications |
| title_fullStr | Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications |
| title_short | Bioactive compounds from Chinese herbal plants for neurological health: mechanisms, pathways, and functional food applications |
| title_sort | bioactive compounds from chinese herbal plants for neurological health mechanisms pathways and functional food applications |
| topic | bioactive compounds Chinese herbal plants traditional Chinese medicine functional foods neurological disorders |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537363/full |
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