AUTHOR=Liu Yue , Yang Guang , Cui Wenqiang , Zhang Yunling , Liang Xiao 

TITLE=Regulatory mechanisms of tetramethylpyrazine on central nervous system diseases: A review

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.948600

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.948600

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p>Central nervous system (CNS) diseases can lead to motor, sensory, speech, cognitive dysfunction, and sometimes even death. These diseases are recognized to cause a substantial socio-economic impact on a global scale. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is one of the main active ingredients extracted from the Chinese herbal medicine <italic>Ligusticum striatum</italic> DC<italic>.</italic> (Chuan Xiong). Many <italic>in vivo</italic> and <italic>in vitro</italic> studies have demonstrated that TMP has a certain role in the treatment of CNS diseases through inhibiting calcium ion overload and glutamate excitotoxicity, anti-oxidative/nitrification stress, mitigating inflammatory response, anti-apoptosis, protecting the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and facilitating synaptic plasticity. In this review, we summarize the roles and mechanisms of action of TMP on ischemic cerebrovascular disease, spinal cord injury, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive impairments, migraine, and depression. Our review will provide new insights into the clinical applications of TMP and the development of novel therapeutics.</p>