RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Role of Ruthenium Compounds in Neurological Diseases: A Minireview JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP JPET-MR-2021-000798 DO 10.1124/jpet.121.000798 A1 Fátima Virgínia Gama Justi A1 Gabriella Araújo Matos A1 Juan de Sá Roriz Caminha A1 Cássia Rodrigues Roque A1 Edinilton Muniz Carvalho A1 Márcio Wilker Soares Campelo A1 Ludmila Belayev A1 Luiz Gonzaga de França Lopes A1 Reinaldo B. Oria YR 2021 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/early/2021/11/02/jpet.121.000798.abstract AB 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.