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Applied Sciences
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Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Their Neuroprotective Potential
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Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Their Neuroprotective Potential

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 3047

Editors

Dr. Małgorzata Komar (Matysek)

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Anatomy and Histology, University of Life Sciences, Akademicka Str. 12, 20-033 Lublin, Poland
Interests: neuroprotection; hippocampus; bioactive compounds; memory and cognitive function; natural antioxidants; obesity and diabetes models; neuropeptides
Dr. Edyta Kowalczuk-Vasilev

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Nutrition and Bromatology, Faculty of Animal Science and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences, 13 Akademicka St., 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Interests: nutrition; physiology; metabolism; meat quality; milk quality; feedstuffs; herbs; feed additives; oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Bioactive compounds—naturally occurring, non-nutrient constituents found in a wide variety of plant- and marine-based foods—have seen increased scientific interest due to their remarkable neuroprotective potential. These compounds, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, carotenoids, and omega-3 fatty acids, are capable of modulating critical cellular pathways involved in brain health. Their pleiotropic actions encompass antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and neurogenic effects, all of which are highly relevant in the context of neurodegeneration and age-related cognitive decline.

This Special Issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research on the role of dietary bioactive compounds in protecting the nervous system. We invite contributions that explore their mechanisms of action, structure–activity relationships, bioavailability, gut–brain interactions, and potential for translation into functional foods or nutraceutical interventions. Particular interest will be given to studies targeting neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other chronic neurological conditions, where bioactive compounds may offer promising preventive or therapeutic benefits.

Dr. Małgorzata Komar (Matysek)
Dr. Edyta Kowalczuk-Vasilev
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • bioactive compounds
  • neuroprotection
  • dietary bioactives
  • polyphenols
  • flavonoids
  • brain health
  • oxidative stress
  • neuroinflammation
  • neurodegeneration
  • functional foods
  • nutraceuticals
  • cognitive decline
  • gut–brain axis

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 9875 KB  
Article
Astrocytes in the CA1 Field of the Hippocampus as Targets of Magnoflorine Action: The Relevance to Astrogial Structural and Functional Modulation After Acute and Chronic Administration—A Preliminary Study
by Aleksandra Krawczyk, Radosław Szalak, Małgorzata Komar, Dorota Nieoczym, Wirginia Kukula-Koch, Wojciech Koch, Ömer Gürkan Dilek and Marcin B. Arciszewski
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(10), 4960; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16104960 - 15 May 2026
Viewed by 250
Abstract
Astrocytes play a crucial role in maintaining neuronal microenvironment homeostasis and regulating synaptic plasticity within the hippocampus. Magnoflorine (MGN), a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid, has demonstrated biological activity in the central nervous system. However, its effects on astroglial cells remain poorly understood. The [...] Read more.
Astrocytes play a crucial role in maintaining neuronal microenvironment homeostasis and regulating synaptic plasticity within the hippocampus. Magnoflorine (MGN), a naturally occurring isoquinoline alkaloid, has demonstrated biological activity in the central nervous system. However, its effects on astroglial cells remain poorly understood. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of acute and chronic administration of MGN (10 and 20 mg/kg body weight) on the morphology and morphometric parameters of GFAP-positive astrocytes in the CA1 field of the mouse hippocampus. Immunohistochemical and morphometric analyses were performed in the oriens layer (SO), pyramidal layer (SP), radiate layer (SR), and lacunose-molecular layer (SLM). MGN significantly modulated astrocyte density, cell size, and the number of processes in a dose-, time-, and layer-dependent manner. A heterogeneous and layer-specific astroglial response was particularly evident following chronic administration of the tested compound. Together with the observed lack of significant differences in analysed parameters, decreases were mainly detected after administration of the low MGN dose, whereas the 20 mg/kg dose induced primarily increased structural complexity. Thus, the direction of changes was not uniform across all layers. The most prominent changes were detected in the SLM layer. Overall, MGN modulated astrocyte morphology and reactivity in a context-dependent manner. These findings indicate a modulatory influence of MGN on astroglial structural plasticity rather than a uniform directional effect. Although the observed changes may be associated with alterations in astroglia-mediated mechanisms involved in maintaining neuronal homeostasis and responses to stress, their functional significance requires further investigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Their Neuroprotective Potential)
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13 pages, 1081 KB  
Article
Hispidulin Protects C6 Astroglial Cells Against H2O2-Induced Injury by Attenuating Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Apoptosis
by Ji-Hyun Kim, Qiqi Pang, Bohkyung Kim and Eun Ju Cho
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(20), 11069; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011069 - 15 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 906
Abstract
Oxidative stress occurs when excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupts the redox balance between oxidants and antioxidants. The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its high metabolic rate. Astrocytes, the key homeostatic cells in the brain, play a [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress occurs when excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) disrupts the redox balance between oxidants and antioxidants. The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to its high metabolic rate. Astrocytes, the key homeostatic cells in the brain, play a crucial role in maintaining physiological function, including the regulation of oxidative stress. In the present study, we investigated whether hispidulin can mitigate oxidative damage by regulating redox imbalance, inflammatory signaling and apoptotic response in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-treated C6 astroglial cells. The cells were exposed to hispidulin at various concentrations for 24 h and then challenged with H2O2 for another 24 h. Hispidulin treatment significantly increased the viability in all concentrations and attenuated H2O2-induced increases in ROS production, lactate dehydrogenase release, and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, it significantly downregulated proinflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β. Western blot analysis exhibited that hispidulin significantly increased the antioxidant defense system-related proteins such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, glutathione peroxidase 1, and superoxide dismutase. In addition, hispidulin decreased the pro-apoptotic Bax and cytochrome C, while increasing the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. In conclusion, hispidulin showed a protective effect against H2O2-induced injury in C6 astroglial cells by suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Their Neuroprotective Potential)
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Review

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36 pages, 2047 KB  
Review
Oleanolic Acid and Alzheimer’s Disease: Mechanistic Hypothesis of Therapeutic Potential
by Juan M. Espinosa-Cabello, Ángel Fernández-Aparicio, Emilio González-Jiménez, Gisela Perez-Muñoz, José María Castellano and Javier S. Perona
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(1), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16010494 - 4 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1307
Abstract
Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that currently has no curative treatment. These hypotheses include the abnormal accumulation of β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated Tau, degeneration of cholinergic neurons associated with chronic neuroinflammation and [...] Read more.
Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the origin of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that currently has no curative treatment. These hypotheses include the abnormal accumulation of β-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated Tau, degeneration of cholinergic neurons associated with chronic neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and dysregulation of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. oleanolic acid (OA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid widely distributed across plant species, has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, anti-aggregation properties, together with regulatory effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Given the diversity of hypotheses proposed for AD and its multifactorial nature, the pleiotropic actions of OA positions it as a promising candidate for preventive and therapeutic strategies. This review compiles evidence on OA and selected synthetic derivatives, analyzing their impact across the major mechanistic hypotheses of AD pathogenesis. Collectively, these findings support OA as a promising candidate to address protein aggregation, metabolic imbalance, and neuroinflammation in AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactive Compounds and Their Neuroprotective Potential)
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