title: Polyphenols in cerebral ischemia: novel targets for neuroprotection.
abstract: Plant polyphenols are dietary components that exert a variety of biochemical and pharmacological effects. Recently, considerable interest has been focused on polyphenols because of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities. Oxidative stress is thought to be a key event in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species during ischemia/reperfusion could cause an imbalance between oxidative and antioxidative processes. Reactive oxygen species can damage lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, thereby inducing apoptosis or necrosis. There is increasing evidence supporting the hypothesis that plant polyphenols can provide protection against neurodegenerative changes associated with cerebral ischemia. This article reviews the neuroprotective effects of plant extracts and their constituents that have been used in animal models of cerebral ischemia. The use of polyphenols as therapeutic agents in stroke has been suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Pathology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA. simonyia@missouri.edu
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simonyi
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mozow
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: Phullara B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Shelat
authors.forename: Albert Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Grace Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010636:Phenols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification; D059808:Polyphenols
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols