Regulation of Vascular Dementia by Traditional Chinese Medicine Monomer through Antioxidant Stress Pathways
10.13471/j.cnki.j.sun.yat-sen.univ（med.sci）.2025.0205
- VernacularTitle:氧化应激途径下中药单体对血管性痴呆的调控机制研究
- Author:
Xinchao CHEN
1
;
Xingang DONG
2
Author Information
1. School of Rehabilitation Medicine， Hennan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450046， China
2. The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine， Zhengzhou 450046， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
oxidative stress;
inflammatory response;
mitochondria;
ferroptosis;
neuronal apoptosis
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2025;46(2):221-229
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Vascular dementia （VD） is a chronic progressive cognitive impairment caused by cerebrovascular diseases. Its pathogenesis is complex， primarily involving brain tissue damage due to factors such as neuronal apoptosis， oxidative stress response， inflammatory reaction， ferroptosis， and mitochondrial damage. Among these， oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the development of VD. It leads to the accumulation of free radicals， disrupts cellular structures， and is closely related to inflammatory reactions， mitochondrial damage， ferroptosis， and neuronal apoptosis， together forming a complex pathogenic network. In recent years， monomeric compounds from traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） have shown significant therapeutic effects on VD through the regulation of oxidative stress. This article reviews the relevant research progress and explores the mechanisms of oxidative stress in VD. Oxidative stress regulates inflammatory reactions through factors such as Nrf2， NLRP3， and NF-κB； mediates mitochondrial damage by disrupting mitochondrial function and dynamics through excessive reactive oxygen species （ROS）； induces ferroptosis through lipid peroxidation， iron metabolism， and glutathione metabolism； and activates apoptotic proteins via pathways such as protein denaturation， DNA modification， endoplasmic reticulum stress， and death receptors， thereby inducing neuronal apoptosis. Additionally， this article summarizes the therapeutic approaches of TCM monomers in treating VD through the regulation of oxidative stress and its related mechanisms. For example， curcumin reduces ROS levels and enhances antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities； gastrodin alleviates mitochondrial damage mediated by oxidative stress， improves energy metabolism， and inhibits ferroptosis； dendrobium polysaccharides mitigate oxidative stress and subsequently inhibit ferroptosis； and triptolide enhances antioxidant capacity， reduces cell apoptosis， and slows the progression of VD. It is hoped that this review will provide insights for future experimental mechanism studies and clinical applications of TCM monomers targeting oxidative stress in the treatment of VD.
