Shark-Derived Neuroprotective Agents for Neurodegenerative Diseases: From Molecular Pathways to Clinical Evidence

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as (but not limited to) Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, are a serious global health problem. Considering that the current treatments are primarily focused on symptom relief, it is necessary to find novel therapeutic approaches, including target therapies. Sharks have a special biochemical potential, and various neuroprotective agents can be derived from these animals. This review aims to evaluate and summarize the data available on shark-derived compounds in the case of neurodegeneration, explaining the molecular signatures and insights for novel therapies. Squalamine, trodusquemine, and single domain antibodies are the major products discussed in this paper. This review study further provides molecular pathways and clinical and animal data due to date, suggesting promising insights into more investigations in this field.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Shark-derived agents, Squalamine, trodusquemine