Current Research on Neuroprotective Phytochemicals and Their Multi-Target Mechanisms
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 10
Special Issue Editors
Interests: food analysis; metabolomics; functional ingredients; food by-products; extraction processes; natural products; chromatographic analysis; mass spectrometry; colon cancer; Alzheimer
Interests: foodomics; metabolomics; molecular mechanisms; neuroprotection; sustainable biomass; advanced chemical characterization
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Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The global rise in life expectancy has been paralleled by a dramatic increase in the prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) being the most common cause of dementia worldwide. Despite extensive research efforts, effective pharmacological treatments capable of halting or reversing the progression of AD remain elusive, largely due to the multifactorial nature of the disease. Its pathogenesis involves amyloid-β deposition, tau aggregation, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, cholinergic dysfunction, and mitochondrial impairment, among other factors, all contributing to synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death.
Diet and lifestyle have emerged as modifiable risk factors, with increasing evidence pointing to the beneficial role of natural bioactive compounds, particularly phytochemicals, in neuroprotection. Phytochemicals from plants, foods, algae, and other natural sources have shown promise in targeting multiple pathways simultaneously, exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticholinesterase, and blood–brain barrier (BBB)-permeability-enhancing effects. Recent advances in green and sustainable extraction techniques, coupled with the use of modern analytical platforms and -omics approaches, are significantly expanding our understanding of these compounds’ mechanisms of action and translational potential.
This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on the role of neuroprotective phytochemicals and their multi-targeted mechanisms in combating neurodegeneration. By focusing on molecular, cellular, and systemic insights, this collection will highlight how bioactive compounds can provide innovative therapeutic strategies and complement conventional pharmacological interventions. The scope aligns with the journal’s mission to promote interdisciplinary approaches in molecular sciences, bridging the fields of food chemistry, analytical chemistry, neuroscience, pharmacology, and biotechnology.
Contributions that expand current knowledge on the extraction, characterization, bioavailability, and mechanistic evaluation of phytochemicals, as well as their effects across in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, are welcome. Special attention will be given to the following research themes:
- Green and sustainable extraction methods for phytochemicals with neuroprotective potential.
- Characterization and bioavailability studies of natural compounds and metabolites.
- In vitro and in vivo models for evaluating antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticholinergic, and multi-target neuroprotective effects.
- Studies on blood–brain barrier permeability of natural bioactive compounds.
- Application of advanced -omics and analytical tools to elucidate mechanisms of neuroprotection.
- Nanodelivery and smart encapsulation strategies to improve phytochemical bioavailability and efficacy.
- Clinical and preclinical studies assessing the role of phytochemicals in cognitive health and neurodegenerative disease prevention.
- Reviews summarizing current progress, challenges, and future directions in the field.
We invite you to submit original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and short communications that contribute to advancing this exciting research area.
Dr. Gerardo Álvarez-Rivera
Prof. Dr. Alejandro Cifuentes
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- Alzheimer’s disease
- neuroprotective phytochemicals
- green extraction
- technologies
- blood–brain barrier permeability
- bioavailability
- multi-target mechanisms
- omics approaches
- nanodelivery systems
- brain health
- neuroprotection
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