{
  "abstract": "Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system characterized by inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration. MS is a heterogeneous disease with varying presentations, disease courses, and prognosis. Although current disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) have been reported to reduce the frequency and severity of inflammatory demyelinating hallmarks of MS, improve relapse rate and long-term outcomes, they do not fully prevent disease progression, nor do they reverse existing neurological damage. This ongoing gap has driven growing interest in natural products as complementary or adjunctive strategies for MS management. Naturally occurring phytochemicals have been proposed as a potentially safe and effective therapeutic and complementary option for MS. Natural compounds have been reported to demonstrate anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective activities in experimental models of MS. Together, these multifunctional properties target key mechanistic pathways implicated in disease pathogenesis, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. However, despite promising preclinical data, clinical translation remains limited by variability in dosing, bioavailability challenges, and insufficient large-scale trials. In this context, this review explores the scientific rationale for natural products in MS, provides an overview of disease mechanisms relevant to such interventions, and highlights future research needs to advance these compounds toward evidence-based integration.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza 12566, Egypt",
    "Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt",
    "Biochemistry Department Faculty of Pharmacy Heliopolis University, Cairo, Egypt",
    "Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Giza, Egypt",
    "Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt",
    "Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Badr, Cairo 11829, Egypt",
    "Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt",
    "Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt",
    "Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates; United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) Center for Public Policy and Leadership, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Electronic address: hazimkhalifa@uaeu.ac.ae"
  ],
  "article_type": "review",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Ahmed M. El‐Dessouki",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4371-6810"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Heba Nasr Shalaby",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3879-7022"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Samar S. Khalaf",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4986-8567"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Mai A. Abd‐Elmawla",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-7582-7617"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Heba R. Ghaiad",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-4765-0353"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Sherif S. Abdel Mageed",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0702-5035"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        6
      ],
      "name": "Riham A. El‐Shiekh",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-3179-3352"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Sadek Ahmed",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0190-9502"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        8
      ],
      "name": "Hazim O. Khalifa",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9861-9693"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88qadnkxqzx86.bib",
  "cited_by": 10,
  "doi": "10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119543",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "88qadnkxqzx86",
  "issns": [
    "0753-3322",
    "1950-6007"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119543",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2734|Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7162286958",
  "pdf_url": null,
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": "42184760",
  "published": "2026-05-25",
  "publisher": "Elsevier BV",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88qadnkxqzx86.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:26:56Z",
      "native_id": "W7162286958",
      "source": "openalex",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2026.119543"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2734|Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Signaling pathways driving multiple sclerosis: From mechanisms to natural‑product interventions",
  "title_text": "Signaling pathways driving multiple sclerosis: From mechanisms to natural‑product interventions",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T13:20:39Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/88qadnkxqzx86",
  "venue": "Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy",
  "versions": []
}