NeuralCipher Research overview
The text below is the source article’s original abstract under a verified reuse license. cc by
BackgroundLigustilide (LIG), a natural phthalide compound mainly isolated from Angelica sinensis and Ligusticum chuanxiong, has attracted increasing attention because of its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, and neuroprotective effects. Emerging studies suggest that LIG may have therapeutic relevance in central nervous system (CNS) disorders.PurposeThis review systematically summarizes the pharmacological effects, molecular mechanisms, pharmacokinetic characteristics, metabolism, safety profile, and therapeutic potential of LIG in CNS disorders.MethodsRelevant studies published up to 26 October 2025 were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus using keywords related to ligustilide, central nervous system disorders, pharmacokinetics, metabolism, and toxicity. After removing duplicate records and excluding reviews, editorials, and irrelevant articles, 55 eligible original studies were included in this review.ResultsCurrent evidence indicates that LIG exerts neuroprotective effects in multiple CNS disorders, including ischemic stroke, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, and anxiety disorders. Its mechanisms mainly involve modulation of PI3K/Akt, MAPK, NF-κB, Nrf2/ARE, AMPK, and other signaling pathways, leading to reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, available studies suggest that LIG can cross the blood-brain barrier and shows relatively favorable safety in preclinical models.ConclusionLIG demonstrates broad neuroprotective potential in preclinical studies and may represent a promising candidate for CNS disease intervention. However, its poor chemical stability, low oral bioavailability, limited toxicity evaluation, and lack of clinical evidence remain major challenges for translational application. Further studies are required to optimize delivery strategies and validate its efficacy and safety in clinical settings.
Scientific assessment
Research question
Assess the question within the original study’s scope.
Methods & sample
Check the source article for study design and sample details.
Key findings
An editorially approved findings summary is not yet published for this record.
Limitations
Generalizability, bias and clinical meaning require separate assessment.
Methods, samples and clinical conclusions are not inferred from bibliographic metadata.