Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Curr Med Chem. 2012;19(12):1830-45. doi: 10.2174/092986712800099794.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a protective fence between the central nervous system and the systemic circulation, and is essential for maintaining the normal homeostasis of the central nervous system. BBB breakdown is instigated in many neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. Recent literature has advanced the knowledge on the physiology and pathophysiology of BBB breakdown, including the attribution of detrimental inducers and signalling transduction cascades. Natural products, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, terpenes, alkaloids, lipids and phthalides have been reported to attenuate many neurological diseases by modulating the signalling transduction cascades associated with BBB breakdown. Understanding the activities of these natural products through the molecular mechanisms associated with BBB breakdown will offer considerable scope in the discovery and development of novel agents for preventing BBB breakdown and thus, the progression of neurological disorders.
血脑屏障（BBB）是中枢神经系统和全身循环之间的一道保护屏障，对于维持中枢神经系统的正常内稳态至关重要。BBB 破坏发生在许多神经疾病中，如阿尔茨海默病和多发性硬化症。最近的文献已经提高了对 BBB 破坏的生理学和病理生理学的认识，包括有害诱导物和信号转导级联的归因。已报道黄酮类、酚类化合物、萜类、生物碱、脂质和苯酞等天然产物通过调节与 BBB 破坏相关的信号转导级联来减轻许多神经疾病。通过与 BBB 破坏相关的分子机制来了解这些天然产物的活性，将为发现和开发预防 BBB 破坏和因此预防神经疾病进展的新型药物提供广阔的前景。
