天然化合物針對老化與神經退化之作用與機制

Roles and Mechanisms of Natural Compounds Targeting Ageing and Neurodegeneration

老化在神經退化性疾病的發展中扮演著關鍵角色，目前的治療瓶頸則在於缺乏特效藥物。從細胞層面觀察，老化的標誌性特徵，例如：氧化壓力、慢性發炎、線粒體功能異常、蛋白質恆定失調、基因組不穩定及細胞死亡機制紊亂，都顯著惡化了疾病的病理發展。近年研究指出，一些天然化合物（如黃酮類、多酚類與多醣類）能有效調節這些機理，在降低毒性的同時發揮神經保護功效。由於這些路徑涉及多種老化疾病，了解其分子機制將極具開發成為治療手段的潛力。本篇綜述旨在總結這類化合物對老化指標的調節作用，並探討其臨床轉化的前景。深入理解這些路徑，將有助於指引未來在轉化醫學及多種老化疾病治療上的研究方向。

Ageing plays a major role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases and a major challenge is the lack of effective therapies. At the cellular level, hallmark processes of ageing like oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis, genomic instability, and dysregulated cell death mechanisms, contribute significantly to this disease pathology. Natural compounds, such as flavonoids, polyphenolics, polysaccharides, and so on, have shown the ability to modulate these mechanisms, providing neuroprotection with reduced toxicity. Many of these pathways are not only relevant in neuroprotection but also in other ageing-related diseases, which highlights that the molecular mechanisms are of great importance and that they could be exploited for therapy. In this mini-review, the modifying role of natural compounds on key ageing hallmarks in neurodegeneration context are summarized, and the mechanistic insights with potential translational applications are also emphasized. Understanding these pathways may guide future translational and therapeutic research across multiple ageing-associated diseases.