Summary
This systematic review synthesises evidence on natural products and dietary supplements as adjunctive or alternative treatments for major depressive disorder. The authors identify multiple bioactive compound classes—polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and essential fatty acids—and describe their mechanistic pathways including neurotransmitter augmentation, neuroendocrine modulation, and neuroinflammatory regulation. The review concludes that natural interventions may usefully supplement conventional pharmacotherapy, particularly given limitations in efficacy and tolerability of standard antidepressants.
Regional applicability
The review is international in scope and does not report country-specific studies. The findings are potentially applicable to United Kingdom clinical practice as an evidence synthesis on complementary approaches to depression treatment, though implementation would require validation within UK healthcare pathways and regulatory frameworks for herbal medicines and supplements.
Key measures
Mechanisms of antidepressant action including neurotransmitter modulation, HPA axis function, neuroinflammation markers, oxidative damage, gut-brain axis signalling, and immune homeostasis
Outcomes reported
The review evaluated the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of natural products and dietary supplements in treating major depressive disorder, including their effects on neurotransmitter regulation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis modulation, neuroinflammation reduction, and oxidative stress inhibition.
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