Phytosterols constitute a class of natural products that are an important component of diet and have vast applications in foods, cosmetics, and herbal medicines. With many and diverse isolated structures in nature, they exhibit a broad range of biological and pharmacological activities. Among over 200 types of phytosterols, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were ubiquitous in many plant species, exhibiting important aspects of activities related to neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, this mini-review presented an overview of the reported studies on selected phytosterols related to neurodegenerative diseases. It covered the major phytosterols based on biosynthetic considerations, including other phytosterols with significant in vitro and in vivo biological activities.

Plant-derived (phyto) carbazole alkaloids are an important class of compounds, presented in the family of Rutaceae (Genera Murraya, Clausena, Glycosmis, Micromelum and Zanthoxylum). Due to several significant biological activities, such as antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, anti-HIV and neuroprotective activities of the parent skeleton (3-methylcarbazole), carbazole alkaloids are recognized as an important class of potential therapeutic agents. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) may exhibit a vast range of conditions, affecting neurons primarily and leading ultimately to the progressive losses of normal motor and cognitive functions. The main pathophysiological indicators of NDs comprise increasing atypical protein folding, oxidative stresses, mitochondrial dysfunctions, deranged neurotransmissions and neuronal losses. Phyto-carbazole alkaloids can be investigated for exerting multitarget approaches to ameliorating NDs. This review presents a comprehensive evaluation of the available scientific literature on the neuroprotective mechanisms of phyto-carbazole alkaloids from the Rutaceae family in ameliorating NDs.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) mainly affect neurons and gradually lead to a loss of normal motor and cognitive functions. Atypical protein homeostasis—misfolding, aggregations and accumulations, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis—are common features in most NDs. To date, due to the complex etiology and pathogenesis of NDs, no defined treatment is available. There has been increasing interest in plant extracts as potential alternative medicines as the presence of various active components may exert synergistic and multi-pharmacological effects. Murraya koenigii (Rutaceae) is utilized in Ayurvedic medicine for various ailments. Pharmacological studies evidenced its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities, among others. In line with our interest in exploring natural agents for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, this review presents an overview of literature concerning the mechanisms of action and the safety profile of significant bioactive components present in M. koenigii leaves to support further investigations into their neuroprotective therapeutic potential.