Recent Updates in Imperative Natural Compounds for Healthy Brain and Nerve Function: A Systematic Review of Implications for Multiple Sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The evolution of the Green movement in western society has changed attitudes in the general population who now perceive natural compounds as being inherently harmless and more desirable than artificial chemical products.


OBJECTIVE
Considering the growing interest towards introducing naturally emerged medicines, the purpose of this review was to overview the ongoing research into prevention and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions.


METHODS
This review was carried out by searching bibliographic databases such as PubMed and Scopus for studies reported between 1st January 2008 to 30th January 2016 on MS patients or animal models of MS, investigating the beneficial effects of natural compounds in MS treatment. In this updated systematic review, the search terms were "multiple sclerosis" or "neurodegeneration" and ("natural compounds" or "medicinal plants", "traditional medicine" or "native medicine").


RESULTS
Studies with vitamins (A, B12, D, H), minerals (selenium and lithium), n-3 PUFAs, lipoic acid, statins, resveratrol, marijuana, EGCG and some probiotics have shown significant helpful effects in MS by preventing or delaying the onset of disease. Other natural compounds such as xanthines, anthocyanins, glucosinolates, isoflavones, organosulfurs, steroid glycosides, and alkaloids have also shown protective effects in the treatment of MS in animal models. Adverse effects were also reported in some of the experiments.


CONCLUSIONS
Further studies with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of the protective natural compounds are needed to decrease possible side effects and to develop new medicines for MS. Apigenin, chrysin, baicalein, cyanidin, flavone glycoside, daidzein, coumestrol, sulforaphane, bee venom and huperzine A are the candidates for more prospective investigations.
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran.|Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Neurodegeneration Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Nima
N
Sanadgol
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran.
Shahram Shahraki
SS
Zahedani
Neurodegeneration Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Sharifzadeh
Department of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran.
Roghayeh
R
Khalseh
Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Gullam Reza
GR
Barbari
Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Department of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Abdollahi
D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001688:Biological Products; D064209:Phytochemicals
Alternative medicine; demyelination; multiple sclerosis; natural products; neurodegenerative diseases; remyelination; systematic review