Molecular and Cellular Studies of Natural Compounds as Potential Therapeutics in Basal Ganglia Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Basal ganglia disorders are characterized by the presence of abnormal movements, psychiatric symptoms and different degrees of cognitive impairment. Scientific evidence demonstrates that increased output of the basal ganglia inhibits thalamocortical projection neurons, leading to increased inhibition of the ventral anterior and ventral lateral thalamocortical projection neurons, with the subsequent inability to initiate voluntary movement. These disorders are known as hypokinetic disorders and include Parkinson’s disease. In parallel, abnormally low output of the basal ganglia leads to reduced inhibition, and thus excitation, of the thalamocortical projection neurons which synapse onto the cortex. This situation leads to an inability to suppress unwanted movements. These disorders are known as hyperkinetic disorders and include Huntington’s disease. The molecular and cellular mechanisms for abnormal increases or decreases in basal ganglia output are not yet well understood. However, a variety of molecular alterations have been reported in the pathogenesis of basal ganglia disorders including toxic aggregate formation, transcriptional dysregulation, altered protein homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, altered synaptic plasticity, axonal transport defects and neuroinflammation. Currently, there are no therapies that meaningfully control or prevent the development of basal ganglia disorders. In this regard, recent studies have identified numerous natural compounds found in plants and marine organisms as potential therapeutics for the treatment of diseases affecting the central nervous system. This Special Issue has the aim to summarize the state of the art and the latest findings published in the field of basal ganglia disorders, as well as elucidating future directions to discover novel natural compounds as potential therapeutics for the treatment of these disorders. 

Dr. Letizia Pruccoli
Prof. Dr. Andrea Tarozzi
Guest Editors

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• Basal Ganglia Disorders
• neurodegenerative diseases
• Huntington’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• mitochondrial dysfunction
• oxidative stress
• neuroinflammation
• neuronal dysfunction
• neuronal death
• natural compounds
• neuroprotective mechanisms
• molecular and cellular neuroprotection
• antioxidant activity
• anti-inflammatory activity