Pharmaceuticals · Oct 26, 2026
Medicinal Plants and Natural Bioactives in Geroprotection: Integrating Neuroprotective, Metabolic, and Immuno-Modulatory Mechanisms with AI-Driven Nutriphenomics
By Namwongsa S, Phetcharaburanin J, Boonlue S et al.
Aging is a multifactorial biological process characterized by progressive alterations in cellular homeostasis, metabolic regulation, immune function, and neurological integrity, contributing to chronic disease, functional decline, and reduced healthspan. Natural bioactive compounds are increasingly investigated as potential geroprotective agents because of their ability to modulate multiple pathways associated with biological aging. Polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, peptides, and related phytochemicals have demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, metabolic, and immunomodulatory effects. However, modulation of aging-related pathways should be distinguished from direct evidence of lifespan extension. Medicinal plants, traditional medicine, and locally consumed functional foods represent important yet comparatively underexplored sources of bioactive compounds with potential relevance to healthy aging. This review synthesizes molecular, cellular, preclinical, and clinical evidence on medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents, with emphasis on neuroprotection, metabolic homeostasis, and immune regulation. Key mechanisms include modulation of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, nutrient-sensing pathways, autophagy, cellular senescence, neuroinflammation, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Advances in analytical chemistry, molecular docking, network pharmacology, and multi-omics approaches are also considered for their role in strengthening mechanistic characterization and identifying potential responder profiles. Overall, current evidence supports further investigation of medicinal plants as candidate modulators of biological aging and healthspan-related processes, while emphasizing the need for standardized preparations, robust clinical studies, and mechanistically informed translational research.