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Nutrients
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The Effect of Natural Extracts on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
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The Effect of Natural Extracts on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Neuro Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2025 | Viewed by 2799

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Carla Masala

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Physiology, University of Cagliari, 09100 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: olfactory function; gustatory function; neurodegenerative diseases; cognitive function; COVID-19; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Antonella Rosa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
Interests: natural extracts; food components; nutraceuticals; antioxidants; lipids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Aging, a progressive physiological degeneration of all physiological functions, is associated with cognitive decline and deficits in the sensory system. The causes of aging include oxidative damage, mitochondrial genome damage, and telomere shortening. In aging, an increase in reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species can be observed, and, consequently, a decrease in endogenous defense mechanisms, which are considered potential causes of many neurodegenerative diseases. 

The effects of aging make healthy older adults more vulnerable to disability and illness conditions, representing a serious global health problem and increasing healthcare spending. Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders caused by the degradation and subsequent loss of neurons.

Natural extracts are amply used for nutritional, nutraceutical, and pharmacological applications. Studies have shown that natural extracts and bioactive compounds (such as anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, and terpenes, among others) may exert anti-aging, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, with positive impacts on human health. Moreover, natural extracts have been proposed as a strategy to compensate chemosensory deficits in older adults.

The aim of this Special Issue is to extend the current knowledge on the potential health benefits of natural extracts on aging and neurodegenerative diseases and to develop new natural strategies to promote a better quality of life.

For this purpose, we invite colleagues to share their recent research on this topic. Original research articles, review articles, and short communications are invited.

Dr. Carla Masala
Dr. Antonella Rosa
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients 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 2900 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

  • natural extracts
  • aging
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • medicinal plants
  • human health
  • chemosensory perception

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 4071 KB  
Article
Nutritional Modulation of the Endogenous Antioxidant System in the Brain–Gut Axis Following Traumatic Brain Injury
by Nicla Tranchida, Francesca Inferrera, Rosalba Siracusa, Daniela Impellizzeri, Ramona D’Amico, Rosanna Di Paola, Marika Cordaro and Roberta Fusco
Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3404; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213404 - 29 Oct 2025
Viewed by 278
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts both the intestinal epithelium and blood–brain barrier (BBB), contributing to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and behavioral impairments. Vitis vinifera leaf (VVL) extract possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its protective effects on the brain–gut axis following TBI remain [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) disrupts both the intestinal epithelium and blood–brain barrier (BBB), contributing to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and behavioral impairments. Vitis vinifera leaf (VVL) extract possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its protective effects on the brain–gut axis following TBI remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate whether VVL supplementation preserves barrier integrity and improves neurobehavioral outcomes after TBI. Methods: A murine model of TBI was used, with animals receiving daily oral supplementation of the VVL extract. Neurobehavioral performance was assessed through behavioral testing, while histopathological examinations, biochemical assays, and gene expression profiling were performed to evaluate neuronal and intestinal integrity, antioxidant defense, and inflammatory responses. Results: VVL supplementation significantly alleviated anxiety- and depression-like behaviors and preserved the structural integrity of neuronal and intestinal tissues. Antioxidant defense mechanisms were strengthened, as shown by increased catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, together with upregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. Tight junction proteins, including ZO-1 and occludin, were upregulated in both brain and gut tissues, reflecting improved barrier integrity. Furthermore, VVL markedly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusions: VVL extract confers dual protection of the gut and brain barriers after TBI by enhancing endogenous antioxidant defenses, maintaining tight junction integrity, and suppressing inflammation. These findings suggest that VVL may represent a natural therapeutic strategy to mitigate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and behavioral dysfunctions associated with TBI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Natural Extracts on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases)
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15 pages, 992 KB  
Article
Triterpene and Caffeoylquinic Acid Constituents Contribute to the Cognitive-Enhancing, but Not Anxiolytic, Effects of a Water Extract of Centella asiatica in Aged Mice
by Wyatt Hack, Lucas Kuhnau, Jesus Martinez, Luke C. Marney, Jaewoo Choi, Arshia R. Sohal, Seiji Koike, Thuan Nguyen, Claudia S. Maier, Amala Soumyanath and Nora E. Gray
Nutrients 2025, 17(19), 3171; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17193171 - 8 Oct 2025
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Background/objectives: A water extract of the plant Centella asiatica (CAW) has been shown to improve cognitive deficits in aged mice when administered for 5 weeks in drinking water. However, the contribution of the constituent compounds within CAW to the beneficial effects of the [...] Read more.
Background/objectives: A water extract of the plant Centella asiatica (CAW) has been shown to improve cognitive deficits in aged mice when administered for 5 weeks in drinking water. However, the contribution of the constituent compounds within CAW to the beneficial effects of the extract remains unelucidated. This study evaluated the effects of triterpene (TT) and caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) found within CAW, on learning, cognitive flexibility, memory, and anxiety-like behaviors in aged C57BL6 mice. Methods: Eighteen-month-old male and female C57BL6 mice were administered either TT, CQA, or the combination (TT+CQA) in their drinking water for a total of 5 weeks, at concentrations corresponding to their presence in CAW. During the final two weeks of treatment learning, executive function, memory, and anxiety were assessed. Results: Aged mice of both sexes showed significant improvement in learning when treated with TT and CQA separately and in combination. Treatment with TT also improved cognitive flexibility in aged mice of both sexes, but CQA and the combination of TT+CQA did not alter cognitive flexibility in aged male mice. There was no effect on recognition memory or anxiety in any of the treatment groups (TT, CQA, TT+CQA) relative to mice treated with the vehicle control although there was a trend towards improved recognition memory with TT treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that the TT and CQA present in CAW likely contribute to its previously reported amelioration of age-related cognitive changes, especially in learning and cognitive flexibility, while other constituents may be responsible for CAW’s anxiolytic effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Natural Extracts on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases)
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20 pages, 5502 KB  
Article
Investigating the Impact of Sorghum on Tau Protein Phosphorylation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction Modulation in Alzheimer’s Disease: An In Vitro Study
by Nasim Rezaee, Eugene Hone, Hamid Sohrabi, Rasheed Abdulraheem, Stuart K. Johnson, Stuart Gunzburg, Ralph N. Martins and W. M. A. D. Binosha Fernando
Nutrients 2025, 17(3), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17030516 - 30 Jan 2025
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1479
Abstract
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with poorly understood pathology. Elevated tau, phospho-tau and mitochondrial dysfunction are significantly correlated with an increased risk of AD and are therefore targets for disease-modifying therapy. In this study, we examined the effects of [...] Read more.
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with poorly understood pathology. Elevated tau, phospho-tau and mitochondrial dysfunction are significantly correlated with an increased risk of AD and are therefore targets for disease-modifying therapy. In this study, we examined the effects of polyphenolic extracts from six different varieties of sorghum: Shawaya short black-1 (Black), IS1311C (Brown), QL33/QL36 (Red), B923296 (Red), QL12 (White), and QL33 (Red) on the attenuation of beta amyloid-induced phospho-tau levels, total tau levels, and mitochondrial dysfunction in neuronal cells. Method: Tau proteins (231 (pT231), Serine- 199 (pS199), and total tau proteins (T-tau)) were detected and quantified using sandwich ELISA kits, while mitochondrial dysfunction was measured in terms of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels. Results: Almost all varieties of the sorghum extracts reduced the beta amyloid-induced pS199 and pT231 levels (p ≤ 0.05). The optimum concentration of QL33/QL36 (1000 µg/mL), QL12 (2000 µg/mL), and QL33 (2000 µg/mL) strongly attenuated the phospho-tau level. Sorghum IS1311C (750 µg/mL) showed the highest Δψm reduction (39.8%), whereas QL33 (2000 µg/mL) most strongly improved the ATP level (37.7%) (p ≤ 0.01). For both Δψm and ATP assays, the least activity was observed in sorghum B923296 at 21% and 25.5%, respectively (p ≤ 0.01). Conclusions: The polyphenol extracts from sorghum attenuated the tau toxicity and Aβ-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in a variety- and dose-dependent manner and made a promising disease-modifying agent against AD. However, extensive research is needed to validate the efficacy of the sorghum extracts prior to animal and clinical studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Natural Extracts on Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases)
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