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Review
. 2018 Sep 27;23(10):2485.
doi: 10.3390/molecules23102485.

Neuroprotective Role of Phytochemicals

Bharath Kumar Velmurugan  1 , Baskaran Rathinasamy  2 , Bharathi Priya Lohanathan  3 , Varadharajan Thiyagarajan  4 , Ching-Feng Weng  5
Affiliations
Review

Neuroprotective Role of Phytochemicals

Bharath Kumar Velmurugan et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are normally distinguished as disorders with loss of neurons. Various compounds are being tested to treat neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) but they possess solitary symptomatic advantages with numerous side effects. Accumulative studies have been conducted to validate the benefit of phytochemicals to treat neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). In this present review we explored the potential efficacy of phytochemicals such as epigallocatechin-3-galate, berberin, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin and limonoids against the most common NDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The beneficial potentials of these phytochemicals have been demonstrated by evidence-based but more extensive investigation needs to be conducted for reducing the progression of AD and PD.

Keywords: EGCG; curcumin; limonoids; neurogenerative disease; phytochemicals; resveratrol.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Various factors involved in progression of neurodegenerative disease.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Two sites action of phytochemicals on alleviating progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Activation of TrkB receptor by BDNF or Phytochemicals induces PI3K/Akt kinase signalling and Ras, Raf and ERK pathways resulting in protecting neurons from degeneration. BDNF activates transcription factor-CREB which further induces the expression of Arc (synaptic plasticity), PGC-1α (cellular energy metabolism) and APE1 (DNA repair enzyme).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structures of representative phytochemicals (epigallocatechin-3-galate, berberin, curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, limonoids).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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