Search Results (1,317)

Cirsium japonicum Fisch. ex DC. has long been used in traditional East Asian medicine and has attracted increasing attention because of its diverse pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, metabolic regulatory, and anticancer effects. Although numerous studies have investigated its phytochemical composition and biological activities, current evidence has largely been organized according to individual compounds or disease categories, providing limited insight into the shared molecular mechanisms underlying its pleiotropic actions. In this review, we critically re-evaluate the molecular pharmacology of C. japonicum using an evidence-oriented framework that distinguishes experimentally supported mechanisms from pharmacological associations and emerging hypotheses. Rather than accepting changes in signaling proteins or downstream biomarkers as sufficient evidence of mechanism, we assess the strength of evidence based on reproducibility, pathway-specific interventions, genetic or pharmacological validation, and direct target engagement. Current evidence indicates that nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant responses and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB)-associated inflammatory responses represent the most consistently observed pathway associations, although direct molecular targets and causal pathway dependency remain insufficiently established. Evidence for AMPK/PI3K-Akt-associated metabolic regulation and TGF-β/Smad-associated antifibrotic responses is comparatively more limited. In contrast, modulation of apoptosis and autophagy is currently supported primarily by indirect or context-dependent observations. We further discuss how multiple phytochemicals converge on interconnected signaling networks regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, metabolism, tissue remodeling, and cell fate, thereby providing a systems-level explanation for the broad therapeutic potential of C. japonicum. Finally, we highlight the need for standardized phytochemical characterization, rigorous target validation, multi-omics integration, and artificial intelligence-assisted systems biology to establish causal molecular mechanisms and accelerate the translational development of evidence-based phytopharmaceuticals. Full article

Fibromyalgia is a chronic nociplastic pain disorder characterized by widespread pain and affective disturbances, in which oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are now recognized as central pathogenic mechanisms. However, current therapies provide only limited symptomatic relief. This study compared the therapeutic and molecular effects of dimethyl fumarate (DMF), an activator of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and cobalt protoporphyrin IX (CoPP), an inducer of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), in a reserpine-induced mouse model of fibromyalgia-like pain. Male and female C57BL/6J mice received repeated reserpine administration to induce mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, cold allodynia, and depressive-like behaviors. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by behavioral testing and molecular analyses of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and spinal cord (SC). DMF produced a faster antinociceptive response than CoPP, although both compounds ultimately reversed nociceptive hypersensitivity and depressive-like behaviors in male and female mice. These behavioral alterations were associated with increased NLRP3 expression and activated AKT signaling, together with region-specific redox dysregulation involving differential regulation of NADPH oxidases and endogenous antioxidant defenses. Both treatments differentially modulated region-specific redox alterations, enhanced selected antioxidant defenses, and attenuated inflammatory and nociception-related signaling. These findings identify region-specific redox dysregulation as a prominent feature of fibromyalgia-like pathology, providing new mechanistic insight into the molecular basis of nociplastic pain. Collectively, these results demonstrate that DMF and CoPP treatments remodel region-specific redox networks while inhibiting both sensory and affective manifestations of fibromyalgia-like pain, supporting endogenous antioxidant pathways as promising mechanism-based therapeutic targets for fibromyalgia. Full article

Oxidative imbalance can accompany physiologically demanding and environmental transitions in sheep, but its magnitude varies with tissue, production stage, diet, health status, and the biomarkers used. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2; encoded by NFE2L2) coordinates inducible cytoprotective responses through Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), antioxidant response elements (AREs), and Keap1-independent regulatory routes. This structured narrative review evaluates whether dietary antioxidants engage Nrf2-related responses in sheep and whether such responses translate into health, productivity, or product-quality benefits. Evidence was classified by model and endpoint. Tier 1 comprised ovine dietary interventions with tissue-level Nrf2-pathway measurements; Tier 2 comprised ovine dietary studies with redox or phenotypic outcomes but no pathway assay; Tiers 3 and 4 comprised other-ruminant and non-ruminant or in vitro mechanistic evidence, respectively. Only rutin in transition-period ewes and a water extract of Artemisia annua in lambs met Tier 1 criteria. Both altered Nrf2-related gene expression, but neither used pathway perturbation, DNA-binding assays, or definitive target-engagement methods; the results therefore indicate association rather than causality. Evidence for tannins, essential oils, vitamins, selenium, carotenoid-rich feeds, and other phytochemicals in sheep is broader for oxidative status and product stability than for Nrf2 activation. Growth, fertility, milk yield, and survival outcomes are heterogeneous and strongly context-dependent. Dietary antioxidants may act through direct radical interception, microbial metabolites, metal chelation, membrane protection, mitochondrial effects, receptor signaling, inflammation control, and, in some settings, Nrf2-related adaptation. Future studies should combine dose–response designs, exposure measurements, multiple redox markers, tissue-specific pathway assays, and causal validation. Accordingly, Nrf2 is a plausible mechanistic framework for sheep nutrition, but current evidence does not support broad causal or productivity claims. Full article

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is highly expressed in keratinocytes and functions as an environmental sensor regulating xenobiotic metabolism, epidermal differentiation, and inflammatory responses. Particulate matter (PM), a major environmental pollutant containing reactive oxygen species (ROS), transition metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), induces oxidative stress and inflammation, leading to skin barrier dysfunction. Transition metals generate ROS via Fenton-type reactions, whereas PAHs undergo AhR-mediated metabolism that further amplifies oxidative stress. Excessive ROS promotes inflammatory cytokine expression and disrupts barrier-related protein expression. In response, activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway induces antioxidant enzymes, including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), to counteract oxidative damage. However, sustained PM exposure may overwhelm these defense mechanisms, resulting in impaired cellular homeostasis. Although the roles of AhR and Nrf2 have been extensively investigated individually, their coordinated regulation in PM-induced skin injury remains underexplored. This review summarizes current evidence on the functional interplay between AhR and Nrf2 and discusses how coordinated activation of these pathways integrates xenobiotic metabolism, antioxidant defense, and barrier-associated functions. Overall, the available evidence supports a dual-pathway framework for maintaining epidermal homeostasis under PM-induced environmental stress. Full article

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a growing global health concern characterized, in part, by progressive sympathetic overactivation, which exacerbates this condition. Accumulating evidence identifies oxidative stress as a key driver of sympatho-excitation, mediated by excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impaired antioxidant defenses. The redox-sensitive transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a central regulator of antioxidant gene expression, but its role in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, particularly in the stellate ganglia, remains unclear. We hypothesized that Nrf2 signaling is disrupted in the stellate ganglia in CHF and that modulation of Nrf2 alters ROS levels and sympathetic responses. In rats, six weeks post myocardial infarction (MI), the stellate ganglia exhibited increased ROS levels in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons along with reduced Nrf2 protein and mRNA expression; both changes were inversely associated with ejection fraction (EF). To determine the functional role of Nrf2, lentiviral vectors encoding GFP or GFP-Nrf2 were delivered to the stellate ganglia three weeks after MI. Nrf2 upregulation attenuated heart rate responses to stellate stimulation in sham rats but augmented responses in CHF rats. The increase in plasma norepinephrine levels was reduced following stellate stimulation in CHF rats that overexpressed Nrf2, while β1-adrenergic responsiveness to dobutamine was unchanged. This study demonstrates that CHF is associated with increased oxidative stress and reduced Nrf2 expression in the stellate ganglion. Nrf2 overexpression significantly modulated sympathetic regulation, altering heart rate responses and reducing plasma norepinephrine in CHF rats. These findings support the concept that impaired Nrf2 signaling contributes to ganglionic redox imbalance and dysregulated sympathetic nerve activity in CHF. Full article

Regular exercise mediates inter-tissue communication between skeletal muscle and the immune system through skeletal muscle-derived secretory factors, providing an important molecular basis for the beneficial effects of exercise on chronic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and impaired tissue repair. As key effector cells of the innate immune system, macrophages do not simply conform to a dichotomous classification of classically activated M1 macrophages and alternatively activated M2 macrophages; rather, their functional states constitute a dynamic spectrum shaped by exercise load, recovery time window, tissue microenvironment, and disease context. This review focuses on recent advances in exercise-induced skeletal muscle secretory factors involved in macrophage functional remodeling. Representative signals, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), irisin, meteorin-like protein (METRNL), fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), oncostatin M (OSM), decorin, myostatin, chemokines, and extracellular vesicles, are systematically summarized in terms of their exercise responsiveness, evidence for skeletal muscle origin, and evidence supporting macrophage regulation. Based on these dimensions, an evidence-strength grading framework is further proposed. Moreover, this review integrates key signaling axes, including glycoprotein 130 (gp130)/Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6)/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)/Smad, and chemokine receptor pathways, to explain how exercise-induced secretory networks participate in the dynamic regulation of the macrophage functional spectrum through immune cell recruitment, inflammatory clearance, immunometabolic reprogramming, matrix remodeling, and repair-niche formation. Current evidence indicates the translational potential of exercise-induced skeletal muscle secretory factors in skeletal muscle repair, metabolic inflammation, aging-related functional decline, and cancer rehabilitation. However, this field still faces several major challenges, including insufficient tracing of skeletal muscle-derived signals, limited direct causal validation, a lack of human tissue-level evidence, and unclear exercise dose–response relationships. Future studies should combine tissue-specific genetic interventions, receptor blockade, single-cell and spatial omics, metabolic flux analysis, and standardized human exercise interventions to further clarify the mechanistic basis and application boundaries of exercise-induced skeletal muscle–macrophage communication, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for precision exercise prescription and chronic inflammation intervention. Full article

Glutathione is an abundant intracellular low-molecular-weight thiol that contributes importantly to cellular redox homeostasis. Besides its well-established role in the antioxidant defense of the cell, glutathione regulates mitochondrial function, metabolism of toxicants, protein thiol oxidation/reduction, redox signaling, and immunity. Disturbances in glutathione metabolism have been shown to play a role in various diseases; however, it has become clear that changes in glutathione metabolism are a part of a complex, multifactorial process. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing glutathione synthesis, recycling, compartmentalization, and biological functions, with particular emphasis on redox signaling, the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Nrf2/Keap1) pathway, and reversible protein S-glutathionylation. We further examine how disturbances in glutathione homeostasis interact with mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, metabolic stress, and impaired cellular signaling in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Wilson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We also evaluate current translational interventions targeting restoration of glutathione balance through glutathione supplementation, precursor supplementation, pharmacological modulation of endogenous antioxidant mechanisms, dietary interventions, and changes in lifestyle. Despite the fact that many interventions have been promising at the mechanistic and experimental level, there are still insufficient clinical data because of the problems associated with glutathione availability, tissue specificity, disease variability, and a lack of sufficiently powered clinical trials. The conclusion of this review is that glutathione should not be viewed as a universal therapeutic target; instead, glutathione should be perceived as an important factor contributing to cellular resilience and able to help other disease-specific interventions. Future progress in glutathione-based interventions will likely depend on integrating redox biomarkers, patient stratification, and precision medicine strategies to identify individuals most likely to benefit from targeted modulation of glutathione homeostasis. Full article

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a clinical condition defined by the coexistence of interconnected cardiometabolic risk factors, including central obesity, dyslipidemia, elevated blood pressure, and impaired glucose regulation, which collectively increase the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Beyond these clinical diagnostic features, MetS is characterized by complex pathophysiological alterations involving systemic dysregulation of metabolic signaling across adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, liver, vascular endothelium, and the immune system. Key molecular alterations include impaired insulin receptor substrate (IRS)–Akt signaling, chronic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Physical exercise is recognized as a pleiotropic biomedical intervention capable of restoring metabolic homeostasis through coordinated modulation of intracellular signaling pathways and inter-organ communication. Exercise activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), enhances peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, and stimulates nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent antioxidant responses. These adaptations improve glucose uptake, enhance fatty acid oxidation, and reduce ectopic lipid accumulation across metabolically active tissues. At the systemic level, skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ by releasing myokines such as irisin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), which contribute to metabolic regulation across the liver, adipose tissue, and vasculature. These exercise-induced signals promote immune modulation, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and improve endothelial function. Different exercise modalities including aerobic, resistance, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) activate both common and modality-specific molecular pathways, supporting individualized exercise strategies. Collectively, exercise targets the multi-organ pathophysiology of MetS and provides a mechanistic foundation for precision exercise medicine in cardiometabolic disease management. Full article

Background: Oxidative stress is an important contributor to brain abnormalities in Down syndrome (DS), but the status of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) antioxidant pathway during early postnatal development remains poorly understood. The current study aimed to investigate whether an impairment of the NRF2 pathway is already present in the Ts65Dn mouse model of trisomy 21 at neonatal life stages and whether early treatment with astaxanthin-loaded stealth solid lipid nanoparticles (AST-SSLNs) positively impacts NRF2 signaling and reduces oxidative stress. Methods: Hippocampal NRF2 pathway components and oxidative stress markers were analyzed in neonate Ts65Dn and euploid mice. From postnatal day (P)3 to P15, mice received daily subcutaneous injections of AST-SSLNs or unloaded nanoparticles. NRF2 pathway activation, reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and safety parameters were evaluated. Results: Untreated Ts65Dn mice exhibited early impairment of the NRF2 pathway, characterized by increased BACH1, reduced NRF2 activation, and decreased HO-1 expression. Neonatal AST-SSLN treatment enhanced NRF2 activation, improved HO-1 levels, and normalized ROS accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonylation in the hippocampus, a brain region critically impaired in DS. Treatment had no adverse effects on survival, body weight, or brain weight. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that NRF2 pathway dysfunction is an early event in trisomy 21 and identify the neonatal period as a potential therapeutic window to counteract oxidative stress. AST-SSLNs represent a promising nanomedicine-based strategy to activate the impaired NRF2 pathway and reduce early hippocampal oxidative damage in DS. Full article

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, and dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism. Sustained hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia promote excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidant defense depletion, and chronic low-grade inflammation, thereby aggravating insulin signaling impairment, β-cell injury, and diabetes-related complications. Although current glucose-lowering therapies have improved glycemic control, weight management, and cardiorenal outcomes, oxidative stress and inflammation remain incompletely addressed in many individuals with T2DM. Curcumin, a natural polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa L., exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-regulating, insulin-sensitizing, and tissue-protective activities. Evidence suggests that curcumin may alleviate T2DM-associated oxidative stress by suppressing ROS generation, reducing nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, modulating the advanced glycation end-product/receptor for advanced glycation end-product (AGE/RAGE) axis, activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/antioxidant response element (Nrf2/ARE) signaling, preserving mitochondrial homeostasis, and protecting β-cells. It may also inhibit nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (MAPK/JNK) signaling, decrease pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP), improve metabolic tissue inflammation, and attenuate gut-derived inflammation by regulating gut microbiota and intestinal barrier function. However, current clinical evidence mainly supports modest improvements in metabolic, inflammatory, oxidative stress-related, and selected complication-related biomarkers rather than definitive disease-modifying outcomes. Moreover, formulation heterogeneity, low bioavailability, limited pharmacokinetic reporting, and insufficient long-term endpoint data remain major translational barriers. This review summarizes the molecular mechanisms, clinical evidence, formulation-dependent interpretation, safety considerations, and translational limitations of curcumin as a candidate adjunctive intervention for T2DM, rather than as a replacement for evidence-based antidiabetic therapy. Full article

Vascular calcification (VC) is a major complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality. While indoxyl sulfate (IS), a protein-bound uremic toxin, has been implicated in the progression of VC, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the procalcific effects of IS using a two-step nephrectomy-induced CKD mouse model and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. In vivo, progressive renal impairment was associated with elevated circulating IS levels and enhanced VC. In vitro, IS dose- and time-dependently induced calcium deposition, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and upregulated osteogenic markers, including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), and osteocalcin (OCN), whereas N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially attenuated IS-induced ROS accumulation and cell injury. Mechanistically, IS exposure activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling while suppressing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-related antioxidant responses, as reflected by reductions in the phosphorylated Nrf2 (pNrf2) to total Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling attenuated IS-induced osteogenic responses. These findings indicate that IS promotes VC in association with increased oxidative stress, activation of ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and impaired Nrf2-related antioxidant defense. These integrated findings provide mechanistic insight into IS-associated VC and highlight oxidative stress-related signaling networks as potential therapeutic targets in CKD. Full article

Impaired amyloid-β (Aβ) clearance across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a major contributor to Aβ accumulation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) has been identified as a key BBB efflux transporter involved in Aβ clearance, whereas emerging evidence suggests that organic anion transporting polypeptide 1A2 (OATP1A2) and its rodent counterparts, such as Oatp1a4, may participate in the influx component of Aβ transport. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) are important transcriptional regulators of oxidative stress responses, xenobiotic metabolism, and transporter expression and may therefore modulate OATP1A2 and P-gp expression at the BBB. However, the mechanisms by which Nrf2–PXR crosstalk may regulate OATP1A2/P-gp expression in BBB endothelial cells under AD-relevant pathological conditions, as well as the consequences of this regulation for Aβ transport homeostasis, remain incompletely understood. This review summarizes current evidence linking P-gp, OATP1A2/Oatp1a4, Nrf2, and PXR to BBB transporter homeostasis in AD. A “net-effect” model is further proposed, in which Nrf2–PXR crosstalk may shift the BBB transporter balance toward enhanced P-gp-mediated efflux and reduced OATP1A2-associated influx. Because several key components of this model, particularly OATP1A2-mediated Aβ influx and BBB-specific Nrf2–PXR regulation, remain insufficiently validated, this model should be regarded as a mechanistic framework for future experimental investigation rather than as an established pathogenic pathway. Clarifying this regulatory axis may provide new insights into BBB dysfunction and impaired Aβ clearance in AD and may help identify potential molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Full article

Oxidative stress plays an important role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To elucidate whether it is already present in early phases, we investigate oxidative stress-related genes in incomplete SLE (iSLE) and quiescent SLE (qSLE, inactive disease), as well as the effect of nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (NRF2) activators on NRF2-related genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and HaCaT keratinocytes. In total, 28 qSLE patients, 29 iSLE patients and 21 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs) were included. Serum free thiols, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and NRF2-related antioxidant gene expression were measured. Furthermore, PBMCs and HaCaT keratinocytes were treated with the NRF2 activators sulforaphane (SFN) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF) in vitro to assess expression of antioxidant genes. Finally, NRF2 and Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1) proteins in non-sun-exposed skin sections were assessed. Thiols were significantly lower in qSLE patients compared to HCs. In whole blood, Kelch-like ECH-associating protein 1 (KEAP1) and catalase (CAT) mRNA levels were significantly reduced in iSLE and qSLE. Treatment with SFN or DMF in PBMCs upregulated HMOX1 and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase-1 (NQO1) mRNA expression and downregulated CAT expression. In HaCaT cells, mRNA expression of HMOX1, NQO1 and thioredoxin was upregulated. There were no differences in protein expression of NRF2 and HMOX1 in skin tissues. In conclusion, in qSLE patients, oxidative stress is elevated, while antioxidant capacity is decreased. A similar trend, although not significant, is seen in iSLE patients, which indicates that redox imbalances are already present in early phases, but not as obvious as in established SLE. NRF2 activators upregulate antioxidant gene expression in PBMCs and HaCaT cells, highlighting their potential role to modulate oxidative stress pathways in SLE. Full article

Excessive dietary dextrose intake and its misuse in sports raise significant concerns about health outcomes across life stages. To investigate how biological maturity influences small intestinal responsiveness to dextrose overexposure, we subjected 1-month-old (young maturing) and 14-month-old (middle-aged) male Wistar rats to a 20% or 60% dextrose drinking regimen for 8 weeks. The middle-aged rats receiving the 60% dextrose solution exhibited the most pronounced alterations, including compromised barrier integrity, reduced crypt proliferation, and accelerated enterocyte apoptosis and necrosis. These structural changes coincided with weakened antioxidant defences, tissue iron accumulation, and elevated lipid peroxidation. Altered neuroendocrine and purinergic pathways, marked by increased serotonin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), cytosolic high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and ATP synthase, alongside downregulated P2X7 receptor expression and a reduced nuclear factor kappa B p65/nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NF-κB p65/Nrf2) ratio, indicate potential observational associations with metabolic exhaustion and impaired inflammatory responsiveness under a chronic high-dextrose regimen. In conclusion, while fasting homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values remained stable, a high-dextrose drinking regimen promotes maturity-dependent small intestinal changes and molecular signalling weakness, providing a preliminary pathophysiological framework for understanding potential health outcomes of dextrose overexposure across different life stages. Full article

Chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, and chronic bronchitis, are characterized by persistent airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, leading to airway remodeling and progressive pulmonary dysfunction. Although current therapies improve disease control, they often fail to adequately target the complex molecular mechanisms underlying chronic airway diseases and may cause adverse effects during long-term use. Natural products have therefore emerged as promising multitarget therapeutic agents because they simultaneously regulate oxidative stress, inflammatory signaling, epithelial dysfunction, and mucus production. Recent evidence demonstrates that marine-derived bioactive compounds and plant-derived phytochemicals modulate key signaling pathways, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), thereby suppressing airway inflammation, oxidative stress, goblet cell differentiation, and MUC5AC overexpression. Advances in nanoformulation, pulmonary drug delivery, multi-omics, artificial intelligence-assisted drug discovery, and network pharmacology are expected to accelerate clinical translation. Collectively, natural products represent promising candidates for the development of evidence-based functional foods, nutraceuticals, and novel therapeutic strategies for chronic respiratory diseases. Full article