Abstract
Autophagy is a complex phenomenon that occurs constantly in cells for
maintaining the well-being of individuals. However, any dysregulation in the
mechanism or the proteins involved leads to detrimental effects on several diseases
including cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Autophagy
dysfunction is involved in the progression of NDs including Alzheimer’s disease (AD),
Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Huntington’s disease (HD). With the involvement being
identified, autophagy has become a prospective target in ameliorating NDs. Natural
products in the form of extracts and bioactive compounds were repeatedly reported for
targeting autophagy-related proteins and the mechanism making them promising drug
candidates against NDs. The current chapter briefly outlines the role of autophagy in
NDs and the effect of selected natural products in restoring pathological outcomes.
Keywords: Autophagy, mTOR, Neurodegenerative diseases, Oxidative stress, Polyphenols, Phytomedicine.