Pleiotropic protective effects of phytochemicals in Alzheimer's disease.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the brain characterised by progressive impairment in memory and cognition. In the past years an intense research has aimed at dissecting the molecular events of AD. However, there is not an exhaustive knowledge about AD pathogenesis and a limited number of therapeutic options are available to treat this neurodegenerative disease. Consequently, considering the heterogeneity of AD, therapeutic agents acting on multiple levels of the pathology are needed. Recent findings suggest that phytochemicals compounds with neuroprotective features may be an important resources in the discovery of drug candidates against AD. In this paper we will describe some polyphenols and we will discuss their potential role as neuroprotective agents. Specifically, curcumin, catechins, and resveratrol beyond their antioxidant activity are also involved in antiamyloidogenic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. We will focus on specific molecular targets of these selected phytochemical compounds highlighting the correlations between their neuroprotective functions and their potential therapeutic value in AD.
Clinical Biochemistry and Clinical Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy.
Sergio
S
Davinelli
Nadia
N
Sapere
Davide
D
Zella
Renata
R
Bracale
Mariano
M
Intrieri
Giovanni
G
Scapagnini
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003474:Curcumin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077185:Resveratrol; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D059808:Polyphenols; D013267:Stilbenes; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate; D003474:Curcumin; D000077185:Resveratrol