REVIEW article
Front. Chem.
Sec. Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Natural Extract–Derived Compounds for the Treatment of Hematological Diseases Through Modulation of the Bone Marrow Microenvironment
Ningrui Wang 1
Ningning Zhu 1
Nana Zhou 2
Nanxi Dong 1
Jingjing Xiang 2
Baodong Ye 2
Jingjing Liu 2
1. Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
2. The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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Abstract
The bone marrow microenvironment comprises a complex network of hematopoietic stem cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and non-cellular components such as the extracellular matrix and soluble factors, collectively maintaining the homeostasis of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. It is highly vulnerable to pathological perturbations induced by hematologic malignancies, solid tumors, inflammatory stress, and therapeutic exposure, which collectively destabilize microenvironmental homeostasis and promote hematopoietic failure, malignant progression, and immune dysregulation. Natural products exhibit unique advantages in modulating the blood microenvironment due to their structural diversity, multitarget effects, and low toxicity. Their biological activities span multiple mechanistic dimensions, including redox regulation, metal ion homeostasis, signaling inhibition, and microenvironment remodeling. However, the intrinsic relationships between their chemical structures and biological functions have not yet been systematically elucidated. Therefore, from a translational medicine perspective, this review focuses on elucidating the pharmacological mechanisms by which natural products regulate the hematopoietic microenvironment. We systematically summarize their chemical basis and structure– activity relationships, together with recent advances in extraction techniques, chemical modification, and targeted delivery strategies. The aim is to bridge the gap between chemical research on natural products and their clinical therapeutic applications, providing a framework and innovative directions for drug development targeting hematological diseases.
Summary
Keywords
Bone marrow microenvironment, drug design, Hematological diseases, Medicinal Chemistry, Natural extracts
Received
18 January 2026
Accepted
13 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wang, Zhu, Zhou, Dong, Xiang, Ye and Liu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Baodong Ye; Jingjing Liu
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.