title: Natural antioxidants and neurodegenerative diseases.
abstract: Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases are defined by a progressive neuronal dysfunction and an ensuing behavioral dysfunction. Although protein aggregation (i.e beta-amyloid and alpha-synuclein) plays a pivotal role in both AD and PD, there is increasing evidence that excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that occurs during normal and pathological brain aging contributes to neuronal losses and dysfunction. Based on these observations, it has been hypothesized that natural antioxidants derived from food, beverages and natural extracts may be beneficial to prevent or delay the occurrence of age-related cognitive deficits and neurodegenerative diseases. We will summarize in this review the role of oxidative stress in pathological brain aging, and provide evidence for a role for antioxidant molecules as therapeutic agents. We will also focus on the various mechanisms underlying their neuroprotective effects in in vivo and in vitro models of neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3 Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bastianetto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Quirion
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000378:metabolism; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D005502:Food; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
chemical_list: D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D008063:Thioctic Acid; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract