The Role of Ruthenium Compounds in Neurological Diseases: A Minireview.

Ruthenium (Ru) compounds, nitric oxide donors in biological systems, have emerged as a promising therapeutical alternative to conventional drugs in anticancer chemotherapy and as a potential neuroprotective agent, with less cytotoxic effects. This minireview summarizes promising studies with ruthenium complexes and their roles in cancer, neuroinflammation, neurovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. The up-to-date evidence supports that ruthenium-based compounds have beneficial effects against gliomas, and other types of brain cancers, reduce motor symptoms in models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and may act in the control of nociceptive and inflammatory events, such as seen in early Alzheimer's disease. More studies are needed to fill many current knowledge gaps about the intricate and complex ruthenium biological effects and therapeutic-related mechanisms, stimulating further research. Significance Statement In our minireview, we summarize interesting studies addressing the role of ruthenium compounds on neurological illnesses, focusing on brain cancer, neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. No such review is available in the literature.