Mushroom Natural Products in Neurodegenerative Disease Drug Discovery

Abstract

The variety of drugs available to treat neurodegenerative diseases is limited. Most of these drug’s efficacy is restricted by individual genetics and disease stages and usually do not prevent neurodegeneration acting long after irreversible damage has already occurred. Thus, drugs targeting the molecular mechanisms underlying subsequent neurodegeneration have the potential to negate symptom manifestation and subsequent neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and multiple sclerosis, and is associated with the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, which in turn leads to neurodegeneration. Inflammasome activation and oligomerisation is suggested to be a major driver of disease progression occurring in microglia. With several natural products and natural product derivatives currently in clinical trials, mushrooms have been highlighted as a rich and largely untapped source of biologically active compounds in both in vitro and in vivo neurodegenerative disease models, partially supported by successful clinical trial evaluations. Additionally, novel high-throughput methods for the screening of natural product compound libraries are being developed to help accelerate the neurodegenerative disease drug discovery process, targeting neuroinflammation. However, the breadth of research relating to mushroom natural product high-throughput screening is limited, providing an exciting opportunity for further detailed investigations.

Therapeutic Applications of Ginseng Natural Compounds for Health Management

“…Natural products for the management of PD have also been reported [108]. Additionally, several other natural products have been reported for the management of AD and other NDs [109,110]. The anti-cancer effects of GRk3 were also checked in Eca109 and KYSE150 cell lines (both esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines), and it was observed that GRk3 suppressed proliferation and colony formation for both cell types.…”

Multiple Metabolites Derived from Mushrooms and Their Beneficial Effect on Alzheimer’s Diseases

“…[ 84 , 85 ]. The diverse metabolites of mushrooms also demonstrate potential neuroprotective properties [ 86 ]. In this section, we will briefly discuss recent investigations and the possible mechanisms of important mushroom bioactive constituents for the alleviation of the pathological manifestations of AD.…”

Tracing the Path between Mushrooms and Alzheimer’s Disease—A Literature Review

“…A sizable number of mushroom-isolated compounds display anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity; therefore, most extracts and compounds described in the previous tables display such activities, thus enhancing the potential of mushroom-derived compounds as possible anti-AD treatment or adjuvants [ 115 ]. A recent review by Abitbol et al [ 37 ] efficiently covers the relationship between neuro-inflammation and the potential use of mushroom-derived compounds in AD, for this reason, the topic was not discussed in the present review.…”

“…The application of natural compounds is among the new features for therapies against AD, as described in recent reviews [ 25 , 35 , 36 ]. In this field, the potential role of mushrooms for AD treatment or prevention, has been highlighted [ 37 ]. Studies using mushroom extracts and compounds have demonstrated neuroprotective, neuromodulatory, and immunomodulatory activities, as well as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in neurodegenerative diseases [ 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…In this field, the potential role of mushrooms for AD treatment or prevention, has been highlighted [ 37 ]. Studies using mushroom extracts and compounds have demonstrated neuroprotective, neuromodulatory, and immunomodulatory activities, as well as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in neurodegenerative diseases [ 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Well know mushroom species such as Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P.…”