Mitochondria are the primary source of energy production in the brain thereby supporting most of its activity. However, mitochondria become inefficient and dysfunctional with age and to a greater extent in neurological disorders. Thus, mitochondria represent an emerging drug target for many age-associated neurological disorders. This review summarizes recent advances (covering from 2010 to May 2020) in the use of natural products from plant, animal, and microbial sources as potential neuroprotective agents to restore mitochondrial function. Natural products from diverse classes of chemical structures are discussed and organized according to their mechanism of action on mitochondria in terms of modulation of biogenesis, dynamics, bioenergetics, calcium homeostasis, and membrane potential, as well as inhibition of the oxytosis/ferroptosis pathway. This analysis emphasizes the significant value of natural products for mitochondrial pharmacology as well as the opportunities and challenges for the discovery and development of future neurotherapeutics.

线粒体是大脑能量产生的主要来源，从而支持其大部分活动。然而，随着年龄的增长，线粒体变得低效和功能失调，在神经系统疾病中更是如此。因此，线粒体代表了许多与年龄相关的神经系统疾病的新兴药物靶点。这篇综述总结了使用植物、动物和微生物来源的天然产物作为潜在的神经保护剂来恢复线粒体功能的最新进展（涵盖从 2010 年到 2020 年 5 月）。根据其对线粒体的作用机制，在生物发生、动力学、生物能量学、钙稳态和膜电位的调节以及催眠/铁死亡途径的抑制方面，讨论和组织了不同类别化学结构的天然产物。该分析强调了天然产物对线粒体药理学的重要价值，以及未来神经治疗药物发现和开发的机遇和挑战。