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Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Xiufen Zhong
    • Jingtao Gui
  • View Affiliations / Copyright

    Affiliations: Fifth Psychogeriatric Ward, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing 401147, P.R. China
    Copyright: © Zhong et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.
  • Article Number: 291
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    Published online on: August 28, 2026
       https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.14002
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Abstract

Major depressive disorder (MDD) remains a leading cause of disability, with a substantial proportion of patients failing to achieve adequate remission following conventional monoaminergic antidepressant treatment. The present narrative review examines evidence primarily published between 2015 and 2025 concerning natural medicines, including phytochemicals, traditional formulations, marine‑derived products and dietary polyphenols, that may modulate neurogenesis relevant to depression. Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is regarded as one mechanistic framework rather than the sole explanation for depressive pathology. Priority was given to clinical and human‑derived evidence, while preclinical studies are employed to elucidate underlying mechanisms. Natural products appear to converge on pathways involving brain‑derived neurotrophic factor/tropomyosin receptor kinase B, Wnt/β‑catenin, NF‑κB/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3‑mediated immune regulation, autophagy, mitochondrial bioenergetics and the gut microbiota. Nevertheless, current clinical evidence remains insufficient to support the use of natural medicines as substitutes for established antidepressant therapies. Their most plausible near‑term application lies in standardized adjunctive or investigational interventions, pending larger biomarker‑stratified trials, rigorous safety assessment and optimized formulation strategies.
View Figures

Figure 1

Integrated mechanism network linking
natural medicines to neurogenesis-related antidepressant effects.
Natural products and formulations may converge on BDNF/TrkB,
Wnt/β-catenin, NF-κB/NLRP3-mediated immune regulation, autophagy,
mitochondrial bioenergetics and gut microbiota signaling; these
pathways support synaptic plasticity and hippocampal neurogenesis
but require clinical validation. BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic
factor; TrkB, tropomyosin receptor kinase B, NLRP3, NLR family
pyrin domain containing 3.
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Spandidos Publications style
Zhong X and Gui J: Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review). Mol Med Rep 34: 291, 2026.
APA
Zhong, X., & Gui, J. (2026). Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 34, 291. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.14002
MLA
Zhong, X., Gui, J."Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 34.4 (2026): 291.
Chicago
Zhong, X., Gui, J."Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 34, no. 4 (2026): 291. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.14002
Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhong X and Gui J: Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review). Mol Med Rep 34: 291, 2026.
APA
Zhong, X., & Gui, J. (2026). Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 34, 291. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.14002
MLA
Zhong, X., Gui, J."Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 34.4 (2026): 291.
Chicago
Zhong, X., Gui, J."Natural medicine‑empowered treatment of depression via restoring neurogenesis (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 34, no. 4 (2026): 291. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2026.14002
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