catalpol

Catalpol is a naturally occurring iridoid glycoside primarily isolated from the roots of Rehmannia glutinosa and other plants in the order Lamiales. It is classified as an iridoid monoterpene glucoside. Catalpol exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities including neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic (anti-diabetic), anti-cancer, anti-apoptotic and pro-angiogenic effects. Mechanistically, its pharmacological actions are attributed to modulation of oxidative stress pathways (antioxidant), inhibition of inflammatory mediators (anti-inflammatory), reduction in apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways (anti-apoptotic), promotion of angiogenesis through upregulation of VEGF and erythropoietin expression in ischemic models (pro-angiogenic), and improvement in insulin resistance. Preclinical studies have demonstrated efficacy for conditions such as atherosclerosis by reducing plaque formation and vascular cell senescence; it also shows promise for neurologic disorders including depression, cognitive impairment/dementia/Alzheimer’s disease models, stroke recovery via neurogenesis/neuroplasticity promotion and Parkinson’s disease[2][3][9]. Toxicity studies indicate that catalpol has low toxicity with mild side effects observed at high doses or prolonged administration[3][7]. Despite promising preclinical data across multiple indications—including osteoporosis—well-controlled clinical trials are still needed to confirm its therapeutic potential.

Other names

catalpolCATAPOLCatalpol-RMcatalpinosideCatalnol