A mechanistic review of the pharmacological aspects of Kaempferide as a natural compound

Abstract

Background: Kaempferide exhibits a range of pharmacological effects, including anti-tumor activity, kidney protection, oxidative stress relief, gastroprotection, and endocrine regulation. The increasing attention surrounding kaempferide, a promising therapeutic agent, has sparked considerable debate, making it a topic of significant interest in recent research.

Purpose: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the clinical applications, pharmacological properties, and underlying molecular mechanisms of kaempferide, while also examining its potential for future therapeutic applications in the field of pharmacology.

Methodology: We used the keywords "kaempferide" and "kaempferide derivatives" to search for relevant articles in Science Direct, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases.

Results: Kaempferide possesses anti-inflammatory, stomach-protective, antioxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-adipogenic activities, and thus has great potential in different systemic therapies. These interactions involve a multitude of pathways that directly or indirectly affect upstream and downstream key molecules.

Conclusions: Although kaempferide has shown promising potential, its practical applications still require further in-depth investigation. Future research should prioritize elucidating its mechanisms of action, identifying specific therapeutic targets, and optimizing the compound to facilitate its translation into drug development.

Keywords: Flavonoid; Integrative medicine; Kaempferide; Medicinal herbs; Pharmacology.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Chemical structure of kaempferide.

Fig. 2

Network analysis of keywords related to kaempferide bioactivity studies collected from the ScienceDirect database. Irrelevant literature was manually removed.

Fig. 3

The potential role of kaempferide in different diseases.