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Gene & Protein in Disease Chinese herbs and stem cells in neurology

3.2. Quercetin are known for their rapid, dose-dependent biological

Quercetin widely presents as a flavonoid in vegetables and effects, as well as their accessibility and ease of use. TCM
fruits, and several studies have associated it with various compounds can enhance stem cell functions, such as
neuroprotective processes, especially in connection with delaying aging or stimulating tissue regeneration. Small
molecules derived from TCM have shown potential in
the role of microglial cells and astrocytes. 59,60 It has been
shown that quercetin inhibits cell proliferation at high improving stem cell renewal, differentiation, proliferation,
72,73
doses but promotes the formation of new neurons at lower and survival in regenerative medicine. In the following
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doses. Specifically, 25 µM of quercetin enhanced exit from sections, we describe some of the most commonly used
cell-cycle and supported the survival and differentiation Chinese herbal medicine and their effect on stem cells
which are summarized in Table 1.
of adult hippocampal neural progenitor cells, both in
lab settings and in living organisms. It has also been 4.1. Curcumin
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demonstrated that quercetin effectively prevents the
impairments caused by high glucose and methylglyoxal, It has been shown that curcumin can protect stem cells
as well as the neurogenic-mediated relaxations of mouse from oxidative stress and improve stem cell proliferation
corpora cavernosa. 63 and survival in a dose-dependent manner. For example,
low concentrations of curcumin promote the proliferation
3.3. Resveratrol of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)
and promoting osteogenic differentiation. 55,74,75 In addition,
Resveratrol, found in plants like red grapes, is known for its curcumin has also been shown to regulate inflammatory
ability to protect against neurodegenerative diseases. 64,65 It has signaling pathways, lending credence to its potential in
been demonstrated to promote the growth of new neurons regenerative medicine. However, high concentrations
and the formation of new mitochondria by enhancing may have toxic effects, underscoring the importance
AMPK activity, without relying on SIRT activation. In of appropriate dosing in regenerative medicine. 76,77 In
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a C57B1/6 mouse model with streptozotocin-induced addition to its effects on BMSCs, curcumin has been shown
diabetes, resveratrol administration restored normal levels of to promote the differentiation of NSCs into neurons,
neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. This effect was mediated while reducing oxidative stress, which is a critical factor
by SIRT1 and AMPK. Furthermore, a comprehensive gene in neuroprotection. These properties make curcumin a
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expression analysis showed that resveratrol normalized valuable compound in regenerative medicine, especially
the expression of genes associated with hippocampal for neurodegenerative conditions where enhanced
neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, such as Hdac4, Hat1, neurogenesis and neuroprotection are needed.
Wnt7a, and ApoE. In addition, animals treated with
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resveratrol showed enhancements in neurogenesis and in the 4.2. Quercetin
hippocampus affected by microvascular culture. In addition, Quercetin has shown significant effects on stem cell biology,
resveratrol reduced the enlargement of astrocytes and the particularly in BMSCs. Studies indicate that quercetin
activation of microglia in this brain region. 68
promotes the differentiation and proliferation of BMSCs by
3.4. Ginsenoside activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and estrogen receptor-
mediated mechanisms. In addition, the stimulative effects of
Ginsenosides enhance neurogenic vasodilation in quercetin on mineralization of the extracellular matrix and
the corpus cavernosum. The relaxation of the corpus osteogenic markers expression such as BMP-2, Runx2, and
cavernosum by ginsenosides is primarily mediated by nitric osterix have been approved. Given these effects, quercetin
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oxide (NO) and may partly explain the aphrodisiac effects can be utilized as a particularly effective therapeutic approach
of Panax ginseng. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rb1, a major to increase stem cell efficacy and proliferation for clinical
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component of Panax ginseng, has been demonstrated to applications. 79-81 Beyond its effects on BMSCs, quercetin
alleviate depressive-like behaviors in male mice subjected enhances NSC survival and differentiation, particularly
to chronic mild stress primarily by activating microglia by reducing neuroinflammation. This effect supports its
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through PPARγ and enhancing neurogenesis in the adult potential use in regenerative therapies for brain injuries and
hippocampus. 70 neurodegenerative diseases, where neuroinflammation is a
4. Combination of stem cell and herbal major concern.
ingredients 4.3. Aucubin

In TCM, the primary active substances are small molecules, Aucubin, an iridoid glycoside, influences NSCs by
which can effectively target stem cells. These molecules promoting neurite outgrowth and differentiation, which
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Volume 4 Issue 2 (2025) 4 doi: 10.36922/gpd.4835