title: Inhibitors of microglial neurotoxicity: focus on natural products.
abstract: Microglial cells play a dual role in the central nervous system as they have both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects. Uncontrolled and excessive activation of microglia often contributes to inflammation-mediated neurodegeneration. Recently, much attention has been paid to therapeutic strategies aimed at inhibiting neurotoxic microglial activation. Pharmacological inhibitors of microglial activation are emerging as a result of such endeavors. In this review, natural products-based inhibitors of microglial activation will be reviewed. Potential neuroprotective activity of these compounds will also be discussed. Future works should focus on the discovery of novel drug targets that specifically mediate microglial neurotoxicity rather than neuroprotection. Development of new drugs based on these targets may require a better understanding of microglial biology and neuroinflammation at the molecular, cellular, and systems levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Chungju 380-701, Korea. choidk@kku.ac.kr
authors.forename: Dong Kug
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sushruta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koppula
authors.forename: Kyoungho
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suk
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D005233:Fatty Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005960:Glucosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010647:Phenyl Ethers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D001688:Biological Products; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002396:Catechols; D005233:Fatty Alcohols; D036145:Ginsenosides; D005960:Glucosides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010647:Phenyl Ethers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013267:Stilbenes; C045345:gastrodin; C036795:obovatol; D002392:Catechin; C007845:gingerol; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D003474:Curcumin; D000077185:Resveratrol