Nimbolide: promising agent for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (recent update)

Peramaiyan Rajendran; Kaviyarasi Renu; Basem M Abdallah; Enas M Ali; Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan; Kalaiselvi Sivalingam; Yashika Rustagi; Salaheldin Abdelraouf Abdelsalam; Rashid Ismael Hag Ibrahim; Saeed Yaseen Al-Ramadan

doi:10.29219/fnr.v68.9650

Nimbolide: promising agent for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases (recent update)

Food Nutr Res. 2024 Mar 18:68. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v68.9650. eCollection 2024.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
² Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College & Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
³ Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Centre for Cancer Genomics, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
⁶ Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
⁷ Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum, Sudan.
⁸ Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Nimbolide, a bioactive compound derived from the neem tree, has garnered attention as a potential breakthrough in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases. Recent updates in research highlight its multifaceted pharmacological properties, demonstrating anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. With a rich history in traditional medicine, nimbolide efficacy in addressing the molecular complexities of conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer positions it as a promising candidate for further exploration. As studies progress, the recent update underscores the growing optimism surrounding nimbolide as a valuable tool in the ongoing pursuit of innovative therapeutic strategies for chronic diseases.

Methods: The comprehensive search of the literature was done until September 2020 on the MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Web of Knowledge databases.

Results: Most studies have shown the Nimbolide is one of the most potent limonoids derived from the flowers and leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica), which is widely used to treat a variety of human diseases. In chronic diseases, nimbolide reported to modulate the key signaling pathways, such as Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), Wingless-related integration site-β (Wnt-β)/catenin, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, and signaling molecules, such as transforming growth factor (TGF-β), Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), inflammatory cytokines, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins. Nimbolide has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-cancer properties, which make it an intriguing compound for research. Nimbolide demonstrated therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular, inflammation and cancer.

Conclusion: The current review mainly focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapecutic effects of nimbolide in chronic diseases.

Keywords: Azadirachta indica; EMT; Wnt-β/catenin; chronic diseases; limonoids; nimbolide.