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Review

Scoping Review: The Role of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction as a Potent Neuroprotective Agent

by
Elvira Yunita
1,2,
Muhammad Luqman Nasaruddin
1,*,
Nur Zuliani Ramli
3,
Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya
4 and
Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri
1
1
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKM-MC), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
2
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Bengkulu, Bengkulu 38371, Indonesia
3
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sungai Buloh 47000, Selangor, Malaysia
4
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKM-MC), Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7691; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167691
Submission received: 22 May 2025 / Revised: 24 July 2025 / Accepted: 29 July 2025 / Published: 8 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for Neuroprotection and Neurodegeneration)

Abstract

Tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF), a subtype of vitamin E, has recently been reported to demonstrate promising neuroprotective properties. However, it remains to be fully determined how it confers protection in the brain. This scoping review aimed to explore and understand the intricate role of TRF in promoting and preserving neuronal well-being. A systematic literature search, based on the framework by Arksey and O’Malley and adhering to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, was conducted across several databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WOS), using the following phrases and Boolean operators: (“tocotrienol-rich fraction”) AND ((“neuroprotect”) OR (“cognit”) OR (“brain”)). The search yielded a total of 24 eligible articles, shortlisted based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria established at the outset of the study. The findings highlight a diverse array of TRF-related studies, both in vivo and in vitro, that revealed functional mechanisms through which TRF confers neuroprotection. These include, but are not limited to, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects via attenuation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and pro-inflammatory mediators; regulation of metabolic pathways; regulation of neuronal genes, proteins, and maintenance of cellular functions; and subsequent improvements in memory and cognitive performance in animal models following TRF treatment. The convergence of these neuroprotective effects suggests that TRF holds potential as a supplement to support healthy ageing or, at the very least, slow neurodegeneration by mitigating pathological changes that often begin insidiously before the onset of symptoms associated with cognitive decline.
Keywords: antioxidant; brain; tocotrienol-rich fraction; neuroprotection antioxidant; brain; tocotrienol-rich fraction; neuroprotection

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Yunita, E.; Nasaruddin, M.L.; Ramli, N.Z.; Yahaya, M.F.; Ahmad Damanhuri, H. Scoping Review: The Role of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction as a Potent Neuroprotective Agent. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 7691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167691

AMA Style

Yunita E, Nasaruddin ML, Ramli NZ, Yahaya MF, Ahmad Damanhuri H. Scoping Review: The Role of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction as a Potent Neuroprotective Agent. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(16):7691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167691

Chicago/Turabian Style

Yunita, Elvira, Muhammad Luqman Nasaruddin, Nur Zuliani Ramli, Mohamad Fairuz Yahaya, and Hanafi Ahmad Damanhuri. 2025. "Scoping Review: The Role of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction as a Potent Neuroprotective Agent" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 16: 7691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167691

APA Style

Yunita, E., Nasaruddin, M. L., Ramli, N. Z., Yahaya, M. F., & Ahmad Damanhuri, H. (2025). Scoping Review: The Role of Tocotrienol-Rich Fraction as a Potent Neuroprotective Agent. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(16), 7691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167691

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