Study on the structure–activity relationships of natural γ-pyranone products and their derivatives with anti-AD activities focusing on metal chelation

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive memory loss and cognitive impairment. It seriously affects the health and quality of life of the elderly. It has a complex pathogenesis including β-amyloid (Aβ) deposition, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation, cholinergic neurotransmitter deficiency, metal ion dyshomeostasis, and oxidative stress, etc. Despite intensive research, there is still a lack of effective clinical drugs to treat or control AD progression. Natural products and their derivatives exhibit multi-target anti-AD effects, together with low toxicity and affordability, have emerged as promising lead compounds for drug discovery. This review summarizes the studies on anti-AD activities of natural products bearing γ-pyranone structure and their derivatives, and further discusses their structure–activity relationships (SARs), which provided a theoretical basis for the development of effective anti-AD drugs.