Neuroprotection induced by coumarins in central nervous system disease models

Coumarins are a class of biologically active natural products with a 1-benzopyran core skeleton found in roots, stems, seeds, bark, flowers, vegetables, and fruits of a large variety of plant families. A diverse panel of structural modifications lead to the formation of derivatives classified as simple, prenylated, geranylated, furano, pyrano, mono and sesquiterpenyl, and oligomeric coumarins, representing one of the most important classes and diversified natural products investigated in recent decades. Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are among the most serious faced by modern society and are characterized by neuronal cell loss in the brain and spinal cord leading to functional and sensory impairment. In particular, neurodegenerative diseases (NDD), such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, trauma, malignant tumors, and many other conditions, have become more common with aging of the population. In this chapter, we present the chemistry and the main knowledge about the targets and signaling of coumarins in preclinical in vitro and in vivo models of NDD and other CNS pathologies, highlighting the antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antiapoptotic actions as the major neuroprotective mechanisms in this class of molecules.