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Review
. 2020 Sep 24;25(19):4382.
doi: 10.3390/molecules25194382.

The Pathology of Parkinson's Disease and Potential Benefit of Dietary Polyphenols

Sunisha Aryal  1 , Taylor Skinner  1 , Bronwyn Bridges  1 , John T Weber  1
Affiliations
Review

The Pathology of Parkinson's Disease and Potential Benefit of Dietary Polyphenols

Sunisha Aryal et al. Molecules. .

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by a loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to bradykinesia, rigidity, tremor at rest, and postural instability, as well as non-motor symptoms such as olfactory impairment, pain, autonomic dysfunction, impaired sleep, fatigue, and behavioral changes. The pathogenesis of PD is believed to involve oxidative stress, disruption to mitochondria, alterations to the protein α-synuclein, and neuroinflammatory processes. There is currently no cure for the disease. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants, which have shown benefit in several experimental models of PD. Intake of polyphenols through diet is also associated with lower PD risk in humans. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathology of PD and the data supporting the potential neuroprotective capacity of increased polyphenols in the diet. Evidence suggests that the intake of dietary polyphenols may inhibit neurodegeneration and the progression of PD. Polyphenols appear to have a positive effect on the gut microbiome, which may decrease inflammation that contributes to the disease. Therefore, a diet rich in polyphenols may decrease the symptoms and increase quality of life in PD patients.

Keywords: antioxidants; bioavailability; flavonoids; microbiome; natural products; neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; nutraceuticals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic diagram of the human brain. Several areas of the brain are adversely affected in Parkinson’s disease (PD). For example, the substantia nigra exhibits a profound loss of dopaminergic neurons and altered levels of reduced iron, likely as a result of increased oxidative stress. As the disease progresses, other areas of the brain develop lesions, including the dorsal motor nucleus, neocortex, prefrontal cortex, locus coeruleus, amygdala, and more (see text for further details).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Overview of the pathology of Parkinson’s disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Basic structures of Polyphenols.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Structures of major dietary polyphenols.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Structures of major dietary polyphenols.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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