Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients

Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a traditional Chinese medicine clinically employed to treat neurological disorders, demonstrates therapeutic efficacy supported by robust clinical evidence. Nowadays, conventional pharmacotherapies for neurological conditions—such as cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheime...

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Main Authors: Dong Wang, Wei Liu, MeiJuan Lu, Qiang Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Neurology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1574277/full
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author Dong Wang
Dong Wang
Wei Liu
MeiJuan Lu
Qiang Xu
author_facet Dong Wang
Dong Wang
Wei Liu
MeiJuan Lu
Qiang Xu
author_sort Dong Wang
collection DOAJ
description Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a traditional Chinese medicine clinically employed to treat neurological disorders, demonstrates therapeutic efficacy supported by robust clinical evidence. Nowadays, conventional pharmacotherapies for neurological conditions—such as cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s or Ldopa for Parkinson’s—often provide limited symptom relief, exhibit side effects, and fail to halt disease w, underscoring the need for alternative strategies. The primary bioactive compounds of Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) include gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, Vanillyl alcohol, Polysaccharides, and β-sitosterol. Modern research has demonstrated that GE and its active components exhibit neuropharmacological effects, including neuron protection, reduction of neurotoxicity, and promotion of nerve regeneration and survival. For example, Gastrodin, exerts neuroprotection by scavenging reactive oxygen species, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhancing GABAergic transmission, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. Vanillin, potentiates GABA receptor activity, enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission and reducing seizure susceptibility.GE polysaccharides modulate the gut-brain axis and suppress microglial activation, mitigating neuroinflammation. Current studies primarily focus on GE and its active ingredients for the treatment of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, convulsions, depression, schizophrenia, as well as enhancing learning and memory, and preventing or treating cerebral ischemic injury. This review explores the neuropharmacological effects of GE and its active compounds, elucidates the underlying mechanisms, and suggests potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases using herbal remedies.
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spelling doaj-art-e5dff31651d34259bc41bee606f459472025-08-20T03:19:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neurology1664-22952025-04-011610.3389/fneur.2025.15742771574277Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredientsDong Wang0Dong Wang1Wei Liu2MeiJuan Lu3Qiang Xu4Department of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Cardiology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, ChinaGastrodia elata Blume (GE), a traditional Chinese medicine clinically employed to treat neurological disorders, demonstrates therapeutic efficacy supported by robust clinical evidence. Nowadays, conventional pharmacotherapies for neurological conditions—such as cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s or Ldopa for Parkinson’s—often provide limited symptom relief, exhibit side effects, and fail to halt disease w, underscoring the need for alternative strategies. The primary bioactive compounds of Gastrodia elata Blume (GE) include gastrodin, p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, Vanillyl alcohol, Polysaccharides, and β-sitosterol. Modern research has demonstrated that GE and its active components exhibit neuropharmacological effects, including neuron protection, reduction of neurotoxicity, and promotion of nerve regeneration and survival. For example, Gastrodin, exerts neuroprotection by scavenging reactive oxygen species, suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhancing GABAergic transmission, thereby alleviating oxidative stress and neuronal apoptosis. Vanillin, potentiates GABA receptor activity, enhancing inhibitory neurotransmission and reducing seizure susceptibility.GE polysaccharides modulate the gut-brain axis and suppress microglial activation, mitigating neuroinflammation. Current studies primarily focus on GE and its active ingredients for the treatment of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, convulsions, depression, schizophrenia, as well as enhancing learning and memory, and preventing or treating cerebral ischemic injury. This review explores the neuropharmacological effects of GE and its active compounds, elucidates the underlying mechanisms, and suggests potential preventive and therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases using herbal remedies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1574277/fullGastrodia elata Blumeneurological diseasespharmacological mechanismNeuropharmacologicalactive ingredients
spellingShingle Dong Wang
Dong Wang
Wei Liu
MeiJuan Lu
Qiang Xu
Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
Frontiers in Neurology
Gastrodia elata Blume
neurological diseases
pharmacological mechanism
Neuropharmacological
active ingredients
title Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
title_full Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
title_fullStr Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
title_full_unstemmed Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
title_short Neuropharmacological effects of Gastrodia elata Blume and its active ingredients
title_sort neuropharmacological effects of gastrodia elata blume and its active ingredients
topic Gastrodia elata Blume
neurological diseases
pharmacological mechanism
Neuropharmacological
active ingredients
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2025.1574277/full
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