Flavonoids and brain health: multiple effects underpinned by common mechanisms

Spencer, Jeremy P. E.

doi:10.1007/s12263-009-0136-3

Cited by 274 publications

(190 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(77 reference statements)

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“…It appears that these low-molecular-weight non-nutrient components are able to impact on memory through their ability to exert effects directly on the brain's innate architecture for memory (3,47,142,143) . The concentrations of flavonoids and their metabolites that reach the brain are thought to be sufficiently high to exert pharmacological activity at receptors, kinases and transcription factors.…”

Section: Modulation Of Synaptic Plasticity and Neuro-cognitive Performentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond antioxidants: the cellular and molecular interactions of flavonoids and how these underpin their actions on the brain

Spencer

2010

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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142

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The consumption of flavonoid-rich foods and beverages has been suggested to limit the neurodegeneration associated with a variety of neurological disorders and to prevent or reverse normal or abnormal deteriorations in cognitive performance. Flavonoids mediate these effects via a number of routes, including a potential to protect neurons against injury induced by neurotoxins, an ability to suppress neuroinflammation and a potential to promote memory, learning and cognitive function. Originally, it was thought that such actions were mediated by the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids. However, their limited absorption and their low bioavailability in the brain suggest that this explanation is unlikely. Instead, this multiplicity of effects appears to be underpinned by three separate processes: first, through their interactions with important neuronal and glial signalling cascades in the brain, most notably the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways that regulate prosurvival transcription factors and gene expression; second, through an ability to improve peripheral and cerebral blood flow and to trigger angiogenesis and neurogenesis in the hippocampus; third, by their capacity to directly react with and scavenge neurotoxic species and pro-inflammatory agents produced in the brain as a result of both normal and abnormal brain ageing. The present review explores the potential inhibitory or stimulatory actions of flavonoids within these three systems and describes how such interactions are likely to underlie neurological effects.

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Section: Modulation Of Synaptic Plasticity and Neuro-cognitive Performentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond antioxidants: the cellular and molecular interactions of flavonoids and how these underpin their actions on the brain

Spencer

2010

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

Self Cite

142

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“…It was also found that quercetin increases the activity of superoxide dismutase and reduces the malondialdehyde levels in the aging brain, thus indicating its role in decreasing oxidative stress with consequent improvements in cognition (Spencer, 2009). The quercetin supplementation reduced the loss of HuC/D neurons and enteric glial cells in the duodenum enteric plexus of diabetic rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Quercetin-Supplementation in NADH-Diaphorase Positive Neurons Subpopulations in the Ileum of Rats with Experimental Diabetes Mellitus

et al. 2017

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SUMMARY:The effects of quercetin supplementation in NADH-diaphorase positive (NADH-d) neurons of streptozotocininduced diabetic rats was carried in this study. Fifteen male rats were divided into three groups: normoglycemic (N), diabetic (D) and diabetic supplemented with quercetin (DQ). Whole mount preparations of the muscular layer of the ileum underwent NADH-d histochemistry for evidencing the NADH-d neuronal subpopulation. Quantitative analyzes were performed on 30 random fields, and morphometric analyzes in 100 neuronal bodies and nuclei per animal. The supplementation promoted a 44 % reduction in the neuronal density in D group when compared to N group (p <0.001); a 24.5 % reduction was observed in the DQ group when compared to N (p <0.01). Animals in D group presented an 18.7 % increase in the cell body areas of myenteric neurons when compared to N (p <0.001); DQ group showed a 14.2 % decrease in neuronal areas when compared to D (p <0.01); the nuclear area were similar among the three groups. We conclude that quercetin supplementation was positive for animals with diabetes mellitus.

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“…The most important group of polyphenols described for their advantageous benefits in promoting neuronal repairing and neuroplasticity are the flavonoids and curcuminoids. Flavonoids are found in many fruits and vegetables or their subproducts, such as berries [e.g., blueberries, strawberries], tea, and red wine [38]. For instance, the polyphenol resveratrol, a nonflavonoid polyphenol with 2 isomeric forms: the biologically inactive cis-resveratrol, and the biologically active transresveratrol [trans-3,4, 5-trihydroxystilbene], increases longevity while preserving memory and hippocampal microstructure.…”

Section: Dietary Polyphenolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain nutrition-orthomolecular aspects

Moya¹

2017

Integr Food Nutr Metab

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the "plastic" human and primate brain continue to make neurons in the cerebral cortex during lifespan [3,4]. The established "neurogenic" (originated active proliferative neural cells and growth factors) regions are the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, the subventricular zone (the source of neocortical neurons in development), and the olfactory lobe [5,6]. In summary, the number of new neurons produced, matches the number of neurons lost in each area, but as soon as the dying cells are being faster removing from the brain´s regions, the physiologic balance will be lost and the cognitive and neurologic function will decline. As a relative new concept in neurosciences, the neuronal plasticity refers to changes at the neuronal level, known to be stimulated by experience, e.g., neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, dendritic arborization, and network re-organization [5]. Cognitive plasticity refers to changed patterns of cognitive behavior, e.g., greater susceptibility to distractors, and dependence on executive control, both increased in aging. Manifestations of cognitive plasticity depend upon neural plasticity mechanisms and in the absence of disease; factors that enhance this interactive process can promote both cognitive integrity (preserved cognitive ability) and brain integrity (preserved brain structure) in healthy old age [5]. During lifespan, the brain may adapt to stress by triggering several regenerative mechanisms, such as DNA repair, neurotrophic releasing, enzymatic antioxidant defense and synaptic reconnections [7][8][9]. Since the discovery of the adult neurogenesis, much research effort has been devoted to study its mechanisms and implications in healthy and pathological conditions. Some elucidated neurogenic mechanisms involve neurotransmitters (such as dopamine, AbstractThe contemporary advances in neuroscience and anti-aging medicine show that the brain and nervous system can adapt to chronic stress, inflammation and damage mechanisms by increasing its neurogenic and neuroplasticity potential. Neuroplasticity is the key point response of adaptation and repairing of functional neurons throughout life, giving the opportunity, either by DNA restoration, releasing of neurotrophins, antioxidant defences, mitochondrial, inflammatory and apoptotic regulation to fight against the neurological aging typical decline. The perfect neuroplastic development will depend on a multi imperative factors and concepts, such as epigenetics, dietary anti-inflammatory/antioxidant nutrition, caloric restriction, mindfulness meditation ability, novelties experiences, sleep cycle quality, exercise, physiological and psychological stress coping, hormonal balance and cellular or tissues regenerative molecules. The orthomolecular medicine establishes the use of the correct molecules to keep the perfect physiological and biochemical function of the body and by using this wide-range Linus Pauling definition this mini-review aims to address the main issues related to the mechanisms of cognitive and neuroplasticity development and off...

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Flavonoids and brain health: multiple effects underpinned by common mechanisms

Cited by 274 publications

References 83 publications

Beyond antioxidants: the cellular and molecular interactions of flavonoids and how these underpin their actions on the brain

Beyond antioxidants: the cellular and molecular interactions of flavonoids and how these underpin their actions on the brain

Effects of Quercetin-Supplementation in NADH-Diaphorase Positive Neurons Subpopulations in the Ileum of Rats with Experimental Diabetes Mellitus

Brain nutrition-orthomolecular aspects

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