Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple Sclerosis show marked heterogeneity in clinical profiles, though they share the common feature of cognitive decline. Cognitive abilities are also compromised during aging posing risk for transition to pathological states. Despite extensive research on pharmacological interventions to address this issue, they only seem to alleviate symptoms without really targeting the pathophysiology of cognitive decline. Further, adverse side effects, constraints of the blood-brain barrier, and bioavailability have compromised their clinical success. With the limitations of synthetic drugs, bioactive natural compounds could hold great promise as therapeutic lead owing to their prolonged holistic action, minimal toxicity, thus qualifying as preventive as well as recovery measures. Preclinical and clinical studies have reported an outstanding number of bioactive compounds with neurotrophic and neuroprotective potentials and targeting biological pathways integral to memory and cognition.
Although a substantial number of neuromodulating bioactive compounds with cognitive efficacy have been identified, there are challenges in their success in clinical trials. Several hurdles including lacunae in scientific validation, knowledge of pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and mechanism of action, limit the recommendation of these compounds in clinical studies. The little clinical research that is conducted with these compounds is primarily observational and epidemiological and thus requires extensive experimental and interventional approaches to justify their use as cognitive therapeutics. The majority of these bioactive compounds also have the limitations of rapid metabolism, non-specific targeting, poor solubility, lack of BBB permeability and reduced bioavailability. Strategies such as targeted modification of compound structure without interrupting biological activity can also improve bioavailability. Nanoparticle-guided drug delivery is also an emerging approach that can enhance bioavailability. Moreover, the current drug development strategy requires a reform with the inclusion of some modern approaches such as virtual screening and network pharmacology.
The Research Topic entitled ‘Neuromodulating Bioactive Compounds as Potential Cognitive Therapeutics’ will be a repository of literature that addresses the aforementioned issues. In addition, we aim to include expert opinions regarding the opportunities and challenges of the field. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that cover areas including but not limited to:
• Identification, characterization, and preclinical scientific validation of neuromodulatory and pro-cognitive properties of bioactive compounds
• Mechanistic insights of cognitive efficacy through experimental and bioinformatics approach
• Strategies to improve brain delivery of bioactive compounds including nanoparticles
• Understanding the mechanisms of action and combinatorial rules of herbal formulae through network pharmacology
• Clinical studies of neuroprotective and nootropic compounds
Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Multiple Sclerosis show marked heterogeneity in clinical profiles, though they share the common feature of cognitive decline. Cognitive abilities are also compromised during aging posing risk for transition to pathological states. Despite extensive research on pharmacological interventions to address this issue, they only seem to alleviate symptoms without really targeting the pathophysiology of cognitive decline. Further, adverse side effects, constraints of the blood-brain barrier, and bioavailability have compromised their clinical success. With the limitations of synthetic drugs, bioactive natural compounds could hold great promise as therapeutic lead owing to their prolonged holistic action, minimal toxicity, thus qualifying as preventive as well as recovery measures. Preclinical and clinical studies have reported an outstanding number of bioactive compounds with neurotrophic and neuroprotective potentials and targeting biological pathways integral to memory and cognition.
Although a substantial number of neuromodulating bioactive compounds with cognitive efficacy have been identified, there are challenges in their success in clinical trials. Several hurdles including lacunae in scientific validation, knowledge of pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and mechanism of action, limit the recommendation of these compounds in clinical studies. The little clinical research that is conducted with these compounds is primarily observational and epidemiological and thus requires extensive experimental and interventional approaches to justify their use as cognitive therapeutics. The majority of these bioactive compounds also have the limitations of rapid metabolism, non-specific targeting, poor solubility, lack of BBB permeability and reduced bioavailability. Strategies such as targeted modification of compound structure without interrupting biological activity can also improve bioavailability. Nanoparticle-guided drug delivery is also an emerging approach that can enhance bioavailability. Moreover, the current drug development strategy requires a reform with the inclusion of some modern approaches such as virtual screening and network pharmacology.
The Research Topic entitled ‘Neuromodulating Bioactive Compounds as Potential Cognitive Therapeutics’ will be a repository of literature that addresses the aforementioned issues. In addition, we aim to include expert opinions regarding the opportunities and challenges of the field. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that cover areas including but not limited to:
• Identification, characterization, and preclinical scientific validation of neuromodulatory and pro-cognitive properties of bioactive compounds
• Mechanistic insights of cognitive efficacy through experimental and bioinformatics approach
• Strategies to improve brain delivery of bioactive compounds including nanoparticles
• Understanding the mechanisms of action and combinatorial rules of herbal formulae through network pharmacology
• Clinical studies of neuroprotective and nootropic compounds
