Active ingredients derived from plants, animals, and fungi promote central nervous system regeneration: a narrative review

Chen, Sihan; Pei, Hongyan; Liang, Hailong; Geng, Jianan; Chen, Weijia; Zong, Ying; Zhao, Yan; Du, Rui; He, Zhongmei*

College of Chinese Materia Medical, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China

*Correspondence to: Zhongmei He, BD, heather78@126.com.

Abstract

Central nervous system (CNS) regeneration is a critical challenge in modern medicine, with significant implications for treating neurodegenerative diseases and nerve injuries. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered increasing attention for its potential to promote CNS regeneration through its diverse active ingredients derived from plants, animals, and fungi. Recent studies have demonstrated that TCM active ingredients, such as ginsenosides, astragalosides, and polysaccharides from Ganoderma lucidum, can improve the neural microenvironment by upregulating neurotrophic factors, reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, and promoting neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. For example, ginsenoside Rg1 has been shown to enhance axonal regeneration by promoting neurotrophin expression, whereas astragaloside IV can induce neural stem cell differentiation and improve nerve repair. Additionally, animal-derived peptides such as velvet antler polypeptides and VD11 have neuroprotective effects and the potential to promote CNS regeneration. Despite these promising findings, current research on TCM for CNS regeneration is still limited. Most studies focus on in vitro models or animal experiments, with insufficient clinical validation. The mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of TCM active ingredients are not fully understood, and their translation into clinical practice remains a significant challenge. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the active ingredients of TCMs that promote CNS regeneration, elucidate their mechanisms of action, and identify potential therapeutic targets. By integrating the latest research findings, this review highlights the potential of TCM in nerve regeneration and guides future research directions.

植物、动物和真菌活性成分促进中枢神经系统再生：叙述性综述

摘要

中枢神经系统再生是现代医学面临的重大挑战，对治疗神经退行性疾病和神经损伤具有重要意义。传统中药从植物、动物和真菌中提取多种有效成分，具有促进中枢神经系统再生的潜力，因而日益受到关注。最近的研究表明，人参皂苷、黄芪皂苷、灵芝多糖等中药活性成分可以通过上调神经营养因子、减少氧化应激和炎症反应、促进神经干细胞增殖和分化来改善神经微环境。例如，人参皂苷 Rg1 可通过促进神经营养素的表达来增强轴突再生，而黄芪皂苷 IV 则可诱导神经干细胞分化并改善神经修复。此外，鹿茸多肽和 VD11 等动物源性多肽也显示出神经保护作用和促进中枢神经系统再生的潜力。尽管这些研究结果前景广阔，但目前有关中药促进中枢神经系统再生的研究仍然有限。大多数研究侧重于体外模型或动物实验，临床验证不足。中药活性成分的治疗作用机制尚未完全明了，将其转化为临床实践仍是一项重大挑战。此综述旨在全面概述促进中枢神经系统再生的中药活性成分，阐明其作用机制，并确定潜在的治疗靶点。通过整合最新研究成果，旨在强调中药在神经再生方面的潜力，并指导未来的研究方向。