title: Neuroprotective Effects of Ellagitannins: A Brief Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neurodegenerative diseases are increasingly inevitable as the population gets older, with enormous socio-economic costs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that by 2040, neurodegenerative diseases will overtake cancer to become the second leading cause of death, after cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Herein, this review outlines the neuroprotective effects and clinical implications of ellagitannins, a class of hydrolysable tannins, for the management and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recent investigations suggest that the combination of genes and environmental toxins may contribute to the risk of developing neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, intervention strategies aimed at reducing exposure to risk factors such as life style, smoking, diet, vitamin deficiencies, chemical exposure and pollution are warranted. Modulation of dietary components including ellagitannins, as a therapeutic strategy to slow down or attenuate the progression of neuronal degeneration has become a focus of interest in the last few decades.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polyphenolic plant phytochemicals and ellagitannins in particular, contain an array of neuroprotective properties useful to improve human health and protect against neurodegeneration.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Laboratory, Research Unit, Son Llàtzer Hospital, IUNICS, Ctra. Manacor km 4, E-07198, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tejada
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Alabama 35899, United States.
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Setzer
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daglia
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Fazel
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Nabavi
authors.affiliation: Research Group on Community Nutrition and Oxidative Stress (NUCOX) and CIBEROBN (Physiopathology of Obesity and Nutrition CB12/03/30038), University of Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca E-07122, Balearic Islands. Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sureda
authors.affiliation: Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney. Australia.
authors.forename: Nady
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Braidy
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Technology, Technological Educational Institution of Thessaly Terma N. Temponera Str. Greece.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gortzi
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Mohammad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Nabavi
mesh_terms: D001682:Biological Availability; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008019:Life Style; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins
keywords: Antioxidant; ellagitannins; mental diseases; neurodegenerative; polyphenolic