Therapeutic potential of natural products in stress granules: Underlying molecular mechanisms and future perspectives
Huancai Fan, Chunhua Wang, Sijin Liu, Yong Li, Zhijie Xu
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) are non-membranous structures that form in response to various cellular stress conditions. Natural compounds, derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, and marine organisms, are chemical substances produced by living organisms in nature. Recent studies have shown that these natural compounds can modulate translation initiation, stress response signaling pathways, protein folding and aggregation, and antioxidant activity, thereby regulating the dynamic formation and dissolution of SGs. The review highlights the functional significance of SGs in cellular stress responses, including their roles in proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. Additionally, we discuss emerging evidence linking SGs dysregulation to diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, shedding light on SGs as novel therapeutic targets. This review provided a comprehensive overview of natural compounds that modulate the SGs formation, disassembly, and related processes such as translation initiation, stress signaling pathways, and protein folding. These findings suggest that natural compounds may offer promising therapeutic avenues for Degenerative neurological disease. We aim to provide a balanced perspective on the therapeutic implications of targeting SGs with natural compounds, ultimately advancing our understanding of their role in disease and potential for clinical applications.