NATURAL BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS AS MULTI-TARGET MODULATORS OF NEUROINFLAMMATION AND NEURODEGENERATION: A SHORT REVIEW

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders are multifactorial conditions characterized by progressive neuronal loss, cognitive decline and functional impairment, driven by interconnected processes such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, protein aggregation, impaired autophagy and DNA damage. Owing to the limited success of single-target therapies, increasing attention has been directed toward natural bioactive compounds with multi-target therapeutic potential. This short review highlights the neuroprotective significance of Bacopa monnieri, curcumin, quercetin and asiatic acid, with emphasis on their modulatory effects on key molecular pathways involved in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Available evidence indicates that these compounds influence important targets including NLRP3, Nrf2, GSK-3β, HDAC6, PARP1 and mTOR through both direct and indirect mechanisms. Their actions are associated with suppression of inflammatory signaling, attenuation of oxidative stress, reduction of protein aggregation, regulation of autophagy and enhancement of neuronal survival. Among these compounds, curcumin and quercetin appear to have relatively broader mechanistic evidence, whereas Bacopa monnieri and asiatic acid show promising neuroprotective effects mainly through upstream signaling modulation and antioxidant activity. Despite these encouraging findings, challenges such as poor bioavailability, limited structural validation and insufficient clinical evidence continue to hinder their translational application. Overall, these natural compounds represent promising multi-target agents for the management of neurodegenerative disorders, although further mechanistic and clinical studies are required to establish their therapeutic utility.