Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioral disturbance, largely associated with amyloid-β accumulation, tau protein pathology, synaptic dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Previous research emphasizes the critical roles of impaired neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative disorders, particularly AD. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of natural products in restoring these processes. It offers a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, with a focus on key regulatory pathways, such as BDNF/TrkB, ERK/CREB, PI3K/Akt and neurotransmitter signaling cascades. It also shows how the disruption of these regulatory pathways, caused by AD-associated pathological factors, results in reduced neuronal regeneration and synaptic connectivity. Furthermore, it summarizes preclinical data showing that various phytochemical compounds, such as ginsenosides, epigallocatechin gallate, curcumin, resveratrol, and flavonoids can improve neural stem cell proliferation, promote neuronal differentiation, and enhance synaptic function. Despite the promising pre-clinical studies results, clinical studies evaluating natural products remain limited due to poor bioavailability, inconsistent efficacy, and methodological constraints in human studies. To overcome these limitations, new strategies such as nanotechnology-based delivery systems and advanced brain targeting approaches are being developed. Overall, natural products represent promising candidates for managing neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in AD, although further clinical studies are required to validate their therapeutic efficacy.
A. Shaheen, Mou-Sa A. Mai, Merhan O. Hindam et al.· Frontiers in Pharmacology· 2 citations
The kidney plays a critical role in metabolite excretion, fluid regulation, and homeostasis, yet remains highly vulnerable to structural and functional disorders. Kidney diseases represent a major global health burden, often progressing to chronic complications due to the limited efficacy and poor selectivity of conventional therapies, which are frequently associated with systemic toxicity. Accordingly, the development of targeted drug delivery systems is essential to improve therapeutic outcomes. In this study, advanced quatsomes were developed as a kidney-targeted nanosystem to enhance the delivery of curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound with potent antioxidant and nephroprotective properties. The system was composed of di-dodecyl-dimethyl-ammonium bromide (DDAB), cholesterol, limonene, hyaluronic acid (HA) and surfactants, and was fabricated using the ethanol injection method. A 23 factorial design was employed to optimize formulation variables, including DDAB:cholesterol ratio, limonene:drug ratio, and surfactant concentration. The optimized formulation (desirability = 0.950) exhibited high entrapment efficiency (87.80%), nanosized vesicles (120.55 nm), and a positive surface charge (+38.30 mV). Transmission electron microscopy confirmed spherical morphology, while in-vitro release studies demonstrated a biphasic profile. The formulation also showed good physicochemical stability and enhanced antioxidant activity. Mechanistically, passive targeting via nanoscale size and cationic charge facilitated interaction with the glomerular filtration barrier and mesangial uptake, while limonene improved vesicle deformability. HA functionalization further enabled CD44-mediated active targeting. In vivo, the optimized system significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels in a cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity model, with histological evidence of renal protection. Overall, the developed quatsomes demonstrate promising potential as an efficient renal-targeted nanocarrier.
Sadek Ahmed, Rana M. ElBishbishy, Mohamed A. Sadek et al.· Journal of Pharmacy & Pharma...· 1 citation
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