Ambroxol, the cough expectorant with neuroprotective effects

Ambroxol hydrochloride(2-amino-3,5-dibromo-N-methylbenzylamine hydrochloride)has been used as a mucolytic agent in the treatment of respiratory diseases since the late 1970s.Its effects on mucus membranes such as mucus disruption,increased mucus production,and low toxicity profile were addressed in its original German patent in 1966.These first described properties have kept Ambroxol available worldwide and over the counter in the pharmaceutical market to this day.Since then,many mechanisms of action have been attributed to Ambroxol,including effects on autophagy,anti-inflammation,and neurotrophy.This brief work dives into the latest and most compelling evidence that establishes Ambroxol as a neuroprotective drug in neurodegenerative diseases and highlights its effects on acute neuronal injury.Ambroxol's ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier has provided a potential lifeline as recent studies highlight its ability to significantly improve outcomes in acute conditions such as ischemic stroke.These groundbreaking findings,which are yet to be explored in registered clinical trials,showcase Ambroxol as a potential neuroprotective agent that reduces acute injury and preserves brain function(Figure 1).