Plants-Derived Neuroprotective Agents: Cutting the Cycle of Cell Death through Multiple Mechanisms

Abstract

Neuroprotection is the preservation of the structure and function of neurons from insults arising from cellular injuries induced by a variety of agents or neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The various NDs including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases as well as amyotropic lateral sclerosis affect millions of people around the world with the main risk factor being advancing age. Each of these diseases affects specific neurons and/or regions in the brain and involves characteristic pathological and molecular features. Hence, several in vitro and in vivo study models specific to each disease have been employed to study NDs with the aim of understanding their underlying mechanisms and identifying new therapeutic strategies. Of the most prevalent drug development efforts employed in the past few decades, mechanisms implicated in the accumulation of protein-based deposits, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and certain neurotransmitter deficits such as acetylcholine and dopamine have been scrutinized in great detail. In this review, we presented classical examples of plant-derived neuroprotective agents by highlighting their structural class and specific mechanisms of action. Many of these natural products that have shown therapeutic efficacies appear to be working through the above-mentioned key multiple mechanisms of action.

In vitro neuroprotective activities of two distinct probiotic consortia

“…Indeed, probiotic organisms have shown beneficial effects on neurodegenerative disorders (Akbari et al, 2016;Bonfili et al, 2017Bonfili et al, , 2018Kobayashi et al, 2017;Nimgampalle and Kuna, 2017) and animal studies with probiotics have shown clear neuroprotective effects (Ait-Belgnaoui et al, 2014;Distrutti et al, 2014;Möhle et al, 2016;Park et al, 2017). The aetiology of neurodegeneration is complex and the functional diversity of probiotics may facilitate the simultaneous targeting of multiple disease-related mechanisms (Elufioye et al, 2017;Faden and Stoica, 2007). Of particular interest are the antioxidant properties of such bacteria (Mishra et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2017) that can target the susceptibility of neurones to oxidative damage, a key driver of neurodegeneration (Liu et al, 2017).…”

Pharmacological Potentials of Ginger

“…Neuroprotection refers to the way and manner the central nervous system (CNS) is shielded from neuronal damages resulting from acute and/or chronic neurodegenerative disorders (such as stroke, Alzheimer's, Huntington's, Parkinson's diseases) as a consequence of CNS neurons breakdown and/or worsening of the cognitive or intellectual reasoning of the patients [84]. Intriguingly, the emergence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) is age-related, i.e., as individual age, so the possibility of suffering from NDD [85].…”

Notes on the Recent History of Neuroscience in Africa

“…Neuropharmacognosy is an important component of basic neuroscience research in many countries in Africa, where native African traditional medicines are scientifically analyzed with a view to validating their benefits and thereby offer potential novel therapies (Amos et al, 2001 ; Ojewole and Amabeoku, 2006 ; Bum et al, 2009 ; Bisong et al, 2010 ; Ishola et al, 2013 ; Ogunniyi et al, 2015 ; Qulu et al, 2016 ; Adebesin et al, 2017 ; Elufioye et al, 2017 ; Ngoupaye et al, 2017 ).…”