title: Neurotrophins' Modulation by Olive Polyphenols.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyphenols are probably the most known and investigated molecules of nutritional interest as micronutrients present in abundance in our diet. Some of the most important food sources of polyphenols in the Mediterranean diet are olives and olive oil. A growing body of evidence from animal models to clinical studies indicates that polyphenol compounds may have neuroprotective effects in several pathologies of the nervous system through the control of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Based on the most recent scientific literature, dietary intake of polyphenols attenuates oxidative stress and reduces risk for related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Also at the peripheral level, they act as antioxidant, defending tissues against oxidative damage and scavenging free radicals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent findings in animal models and humans show that polyphenols may have a role in regulating neurotrophins levels, in particular nerve growth factor (NGF) and brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), suggesting that polyphenols may also induce their protective effects through the potentiation of neurotrophins action. NGF and BDNF, primarily known as biological mediators stimulating neuron growth, proliferation, survival and differentiation are recently studied also as metabotrophic factors, acting on glucose and energy metabolism, pancreatic beta cells and cardiovascular homeostasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this context, a better understanding of the effects of polyphenols on neurotrophins and their receptors (TrkA, TrkB, p75NTR) could certainly generate interest for drug discovery and also for the potential dietary prevention of several neurological and cardiometabolic diseases.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carito
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ceccanti
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tarani
authors.forename: Giampiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferraguti
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Chaldakov
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia Cellulare e Neurobiologia. CNR, Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology. CNR, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Roma, Italy. marco.fiore@cnr.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiore
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D031658:Olea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D059808:Polyphenols