Evidence mapPaperPMID 41868184Full record

ReviewDrug design, development and therapy2026

Advances and Therapeutic Potential of Anthraquinone Compounds in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Comprehensive Review.

Zheng Liu, Huize Zhang, Bin Wan, Sili Yin, Rensong Yue

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drug design, development and therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Zheng LiuDepartment of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0009-0009-4094-814X
Huize ZhangSchool of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.ORCID 0000-0003-4758-6638
Bin WanDepartment of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Sili YinDepartment of Gynecology, Leshan City Central Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Leshan, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Rensong YueDepartment of Endocrinology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Rhubarb, traditionally used in China for neurological disorders, has recently attracted considerable scientific attention for its neuroprotective and cerebrovascular benefits. The main therapeutic components of rhubarb are anthraquinones, including emodin, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, rhein, and physcion. Accumulating experimental evidence indicates that anthraquinones are of importance in neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and multiple sclerosis. However, as a promising candidate for drug development, the mechanisms by which anthraquinones treat NDDs have not been systematically reviewed. Therefore, this article outlines the anti-neurodegenerative effects of anthraquinones, focusing on their molecular mechanisms. Objective: This article reviews recent research progress of anthraquinones in NDDs, focusing on their potential targets and pathways to provide new ideas for the intervention and treatment of NDDs. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for articles on the intervention of anthraquinones in NDDs in the past 20 years. The collected information was then summarized and analyzed. Results: Anthraquinones ameliorate NDDs through multiple mechanisms. They exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, protect mitochondria, and regulate microglial polarization. Furthermore, anthraquinones inhibit pyroptosis, apoptosis, tau phosphorylation, Aβ/α-synuclein aggregation, and acetylcholinesterase activity, while restoring metal homeostasis, activating estrogen receptors, modulating gut microbiota, increasing BDNF levels, and preserving blood-brain barrier permeability. More notably, these compounds play a neuroprotective role by mediating multiple signaling pathways and targets, including Nrf2, ERK1/2, PI3K/mTOR, ROS/TXNIP, SIRT1/PCG-1α, NLRP3, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, TLR4-NFκB, CaM/CaMKIV, and Ca Conclusion: The pleiotropic actions of anthraquinones highlight their potential as therapeutic candidates for NDDs, yet clinical validation remains essential. Future studies should emphasize rigorously designed clinical trials and optimized brain-targeted delivery platforms. This review consolidates current evidence to support their translational development.

Indexed as

AnthraquinonesNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeuroprotective AgentsAnimalsHumansRheumAnthraquinonesNeuroprotective Agentsanthraquinonescognitionneurodegenerationneurodegenerative diseasesneuroprotection

Identifiers

PMID41868184
PMCPMC13003984

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.