Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a key contributor to the development of numerous non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders. Conventional anti-inflammatory drugs, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids, often present safety concerns with prolonged use, highlighting the need for safer, multi-targeted therapeutic options. Iridoids, a class of monoterpenoid compounds abundant in several medicinal plants, have emerged as promising bioactive agents with diverse pharmacological properties. They exert anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulatory effects by modulating key signaling pathways, including nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathways. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the major iridoid metabolites derived from ten Bulgarian medicinal plant species, along with mechanistic insights from in vitro and in vivo studies. Documented biological activities include anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antifibrotic, organoprotective, antibacterial, antiviral, analgesic, and metabolic effects. By exploring their phytochemical profiles and pharmacodynamics, we underscore the therapeutic potential of iridoid-rich Bulgarian flora in managing inflammation-related and metabolic diseases. These findings support the relevance of iridoids as complementary or alternative agents to conventional therapies and highlight the need for further translational and clinical research.
Mihaylova et al. (Fri,) studied this question.