Polyphenols from food and natural products : neuroprotection and safety

Silva, Rui F. M. (author), Pogačnik da Silva, Lea (author)

Polyphenols are naturally occurring micronutrients that are present in many food sources. Besides being potent antioxidants, these molecules may also possess anti-inflammatory properties. Many studies have highlighted their potential role in the prevention and treatment of various pathological conditions connected to oxidative stress and inflammation (e.g., cancer, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders). Neurodegenerative diseases are globally one of the main causes of death and represent an enormous burden in terms of human suffering, social distress, and economic costs. Recent data expanded on the initial antioxidant-based mechanism of polyphenols’ action by showing that they are also able to modulate several cell-signaling pathways and mediators. The proposed benefits of polyphenols, either as protective/prophylactic substances or as therapeutic molecules, may be achieved by the consumption of a natural polyphenol-enriched diet, by their use as food supplements, or with formulations as pharmaceutical drugs/nutraceuticals. It has also been proved that the health effects of polyphenols depend on the consumed amount and their bioavailability. However, their overconsumption may raise safety concerns due to the accumulation of high levels of these molecules in the organism, particularly if we consider the loose regulatory legislation regarding the commercialization and use of food supplements. This review addresses the main beneficial effects of food polyphenols, and focuses on neuroprotection and the safety issues related to overconsumption.

• Language: English
• Keywords: bioavailability, in vitro models, neuroprotection, neurotoxicity, polyphenols, toxicity
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2020
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 9, iss. 1, art. 61
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-128260
• UDC: 547.9:641.1:547.56:616.8
• ISSN on article: 2076-3921
• DOI: 10.3390/antiox9010061
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5147512
• Publication date in RUL: 07.07.2021

SILVA, Rui F. M. and POGAČNIK DA SILVA, Lea, 2020, Polyphenols from food and natural products : neuroprotection and safety. Antioxidants [online]. 2020. Vol. 9, no. 1,  61. [Accessed 28 March 2025]. DOI 10.3390/antiox9010061. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=128260

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Antioxidants
• Shortened title: Antioxidants
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2076-3921
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522976025

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 10.01.2020

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: živila, fenolne spojine, polifenoli, bioaktivne snovi, nevroprotektivne snovi