Nonpeptide neurotrophic agents useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.
Developed regions, including Japan, have become "aged societies," and the number of adults with senile dementias, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, has also increased in such regions. Neurotrophins (NTs) may play a role in the treatment of AD because endogenous neurotrophic factors (NFs) prevent neuronal death. However, peptidyl compounds have been unable to cross the blood-brain barrier in clinical studies. Thus, small molecules, which can mimic the functions of NFs, might be promising alternatives for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Natural products, such as or nutraceuticals or those used in traditional medicine, can potentially be used to develop new therapeutic agents against neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we introduced the neurotrophic activities of polyphenols honokiol and magnolol, which are the main constituents of Magnolia obovata Thunb, and methanol extracts from Zingiber purpureum (BANGLE), which may have potential therapeutic applications in various neurodegenerative disorders.
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan. Electronic address: akagi@ph.bunri-u.ac.jp.
Masaaki
M
Akagi
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
Nobuaki
N
Matsui
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
Haruka
H
Akae
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
Nana
N
Hirashima
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
Nobuyuki
N
Fukuishi
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tukushima Bunri University, Yamashiro-cho, Tokushima 770-8514, Japan.
Yoshiyasu
Y
Fukuyama
Faculty of Pharmacy, Yasuda Women's University, Yasuhigashi, Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima 731-0153, Japan.
Reiko
R
Akagi
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017705:Lignans / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031566:Magnolia / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D019862:Zingiberales / Q000737:chemistry; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols
D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D017705:Lignans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D059808:Polyphenols; C005498:magnolol; C005499:honokiol; D000498:Allyl Compounds; D010636:Phenols
Natural products; Nonpeptide neurotrophic agents; Rat cortical neurons; Senescence-accelerated mice