Epigenetic modulations induced by natural products

Abstract

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression through alterations in the chromosome rather than the DNA sequence. Among the changes, posttranslational modifications (i.e., acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and phosphorylation) are widely known to regulate gene transcription. In general, epigenetic mechanisms are based on the balance between enzymes or proteins classified as writers, readers, and erasers. For neurodegenerative diseases, pharmacological interventions targeting epigenetics are promising approaches to prevent and avoid the progress of such disorders. Several natural products have been described as epigenetic modifiers. In this chapter, we will discuss the potential of natural products acting by epigenetic mechanisms to be used in the neurodegenerative diseases.