New Insights on Dietary Polyphenols for the Management of Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation in Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a neurodegenerative and vascular pathology that is considered one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, resulting from complications of advanced diabetes mellitus (DM). Current therapies consist of protocols aiming to alleviate the existing clinical signs associated with microvascular alterations limited to the advanced disease stages. In response to the low resolution and limitations of the DR treatment, there is an urgent need to develop more effective alternative therapies to optimize glycemic, vascular, and neuronal parameters, including the reduction in the cellular damage promoted by inflammation and oxidative stress. Recent evidence has shown that dietary polyphenols reduce oxidative and inflammatory parameters of various diseases by modulating multiple cell signaling pathways and gene expression, contributing to the improvement of several chronic diseases, including metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite the growing evidence for the bioactivities of phenolic compounds, there is still a lack of data, especially from human studies, on the therapeutic potential of these substances. This review aims to comprehensively describe and clarify the effects of dietary phenolic compounds on the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in DR, especially those of oxidative and inflammatory nature, through evidence from experimental studies. Finally, the review highlights the potential of dietary phenolic compounds as a prophylactic and therapeutic strategy and the need for further clinical studies approaching the efficacy of these substances in DR management.

The Protective Role of Dietary Polyphenols in Urolithiasis: Insights into Antioxidant Effects and Mechanisms of Action

“…Dietary polyphenols exert a wide range of bioactivity, such as antioxidant activity, antiinflammatory effects, anti-cancer properties, cardiovascular and neuroprotective benefits, and others, holding health-protecting effects for human wellness [17,73]. The bioactivity of polyphenols is contingent on their activity levels and the extent of their distribution, metabolism, absorption, and elimination from the body [74].…”

Management of the Brain: Essential Oils as Promising Neuroinflammation Modulator in Neurodegenerative Diseases

“…While pharmacological treatments are available, there is an ongoing requirement for the development and discovery of new effective biomolecules that can enhance the quality of life for individuals afflicted by these diseases. Regarding this matter, a substantial body of research has been published on the advantageous neuroprotective effects of natural compounds that target this innate immune process [6,7]. Among all, phytocompounds within essential oils have demonstrated a promising capacity to counteract neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in preclinical models of neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative diseases, along with a significant improvement in cognitive processes such as learning and memory in these experimental systems [8,9].…”