Plant polyphenols as natural drugs for the management of Down syndrome and related disorders.
Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants largely found in fruits, vegetables, cereals and beverages, and therefore represent important constituents of the human diet. Increasing studies have demonstrated the potential beneficial effects of polyphenols on human health. Extensive reviews have discussed the protective effects of polyphenols against a series of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Limited studies have investigated the potential therapeutic effects of these natural compounds on neurodevelopmental disorders associated with intellectual disability, such as Down syndrome (DS), for which mitochondrial dysfunctions and oxidative stress are hallmarks and contribute to the deleterious symptoms and cognitive decline. This review, starting from the structure, source, bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of relevant polyphenols, highlights recent studies on the effect and potential molecular mechanism(s) of action of the phenolic compounds epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol and hydroxytyrosol in restoring mitochondrial energy deficit and in reversing phenotypical alteration in DS. The clinical implications of plant polyphenol dietary supplements as therapeutic tools in managing DS and other intellectual disability-related diseases, is also discussed.
Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics, Italian National Council of Research, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: r.vacca@ibbe.cnr.it.
Rosa Anna
RA
Vacca
Institute of Biomembranes and Bioenergetics, Italian National Council of Research, Bari, Italy.
Daniela
D
Valenti
Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
Salvatore
S
Caccamese
Department of Drug Sciences, Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology Section, University of Pavia, Italy.
Maria
M
Daglia
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Nady
N
Braidy
Applied Biotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 19395 5487, Tehran, Iran; Bioactive Natural Products, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Nabavi208@gmail.com.
Seyed Mohammad
SM
Nabavi
D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002392:Catechin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001688:Biological Products; D059808:Polyphenols; D002392:Catechin; C045651:epigallocatechin gallate
Down syndrome; EGCG; Hydroxytyrosol; Intellectual disability; Mitochondria; Neurodevelopment diseases; Neuroprotection; Oxidative stress; Polyphenols; Resveratrol