Biomedicines, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(5), P. 1129 - 1129

Published: May 7, 2025

Background/Objectives: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a major global health concern that intimately linked to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and complicated metabolic abnormalities. Traditional antidepressants frequently fall short, highlighting the urgent need for new, safer, more acceptable therapeutic techniques. Phytochemicals, i.e., natural derived from plants, are emerging as powerful plant-based therapies capable of targeting many pathogenic pathways at same time. Summary: This narrative review synthesizes evidence preclinical clinical studies on efficacy phytochemicals such curcumin, polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids in lowering depressed symptoms. Consistent data show these substances have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties, altering neuroimmune interactions, reducing damage, improving resilience. Particularly, polyphenols flavonoids great potential because their capacity penetrate blood–brain barrier, inhibit cytokine activity, encourage neuroplasticity mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Despite promising results, heterogeneity study designs, phytochemical formulations, patient demographics highlights importance thorough, standardized studies. Conclusions: identifies compelling adjuvant or independent depression treatment, providing multimodal mechanisms enhanced tolerability. Additional research into improved dosage, pharmacokinetics, long-term safety, integrative therapy approaches essential. Using phytotherapeutics could considerably improve holistic customized care, encouraging new routes neuroscience psychiatry.

Language: Английский