Screening a library of oxygen-containing potential natural molecular drugs for mitigating hearing loss with mechanistic envision.

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) remains a major unmet clinical challenge due to the lack of effective strategies capable of protecting cochlear hair cells (HCs) from damage. Although aminoglycoside antibiotics are clinically indispensable, their ototoxicity can lead to irreversible HC loss. In this study, we established a mechanism-oriented screening platform for natural compounds and identified Morroniside (Mor) from a library of 20 oxygen-containing small molecules as the most potent otoprotective candidate. Distinct from conventional antioxidants, Mor exhibited a strong predicted binding affinity toward cochlear target proteins based on molecular docking, and in vivo fluorescence tracing further demonstrated its preferential accumulation within the cochlea. Functionally, Mor markedly preserved auditory thresholds in vivo, as confirmed by auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, and showed excellent biosafety in both histological and serum biochemical analyses. Mechanistically, Mor acted as a dual-pathway ferroptosis modulator, simultaneously: suppressing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) to maintain mitochondrial bioenergetic stability; stabilizing lysosomal membrane integrity to prevent lysosomal membrane permeability (LMP), thereby blocking iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. This dual-site regulation on mitochondria and lysosomes reveals an integrated ferroptosis-regulatory mechanism previously unrecognized in natural otoprotective agents. Altogether, our findings not only identify Mor as a promising and clinically approachable natural compound for preventing SNHL, but also provide a mechanistic framework for developing next-generation therapeutic interventions targeting organelle crosstalk-driven ferroptosis in the inner ear.