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Natural Bioactives in the Arsenal Against Neurological and Neurodegenerative Disorders Towards Healthy Ageing

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 1589

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
Interests: mitochondria; energy metabolism; neurodegeneration; Alzheimer’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; misfolded proteins; calcium homeostasis; calcium signaling; oxidative stress; ferroptosis; ROS signaling; epilepsy; ischemia; hypoxia; cancer; brain inorganic polyphosphate
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced ageing of our modern society is the primary risk factor for the development of most neurodegenerative diseases. A key factor in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's is oxidative stress. Excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) can damage cellular components like proteins, lipids, and DNA. This contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and the buildup of misfolded proteins, leading to cellular dysfunction and ultimately to neuronal cell death. Additionally, oxidative stress can trigger an inflammatory response in the brain, further damaging brain tissue.

This Special Issue aims at the in-depth exploration and the modern interpretation of millennial-old knowledge of natural bioactive compounds' effects on the human body and brain function, both from plant, animal, fungi, or microbial sources. It will serve as a platform for discussion of the latest cutting-edge technologies merging with ancient knowledge to address the challenges of modern medicine- increasing the life- and health-span of humanity. 

Original papers, reviews, and short communications that explore the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory potential of, but not limited to, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids in various neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, but also in healthy ageing, are invited.

Dr. Plamena R. Angelova
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • bioactive nutrients
  • functional foods
  • nutraceuticals
  • nutritional supplements
  • neuroprotection
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • neurological disorders
  • cognitive function
  • neuroinflammation
  • oxidative stress
  • nutrigenomics
  • dietary intervention
  • neurometabolic diseases
  • healthy ageing
  • longevity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

28 pages, 2718 KB  
Review
Mechanistic Modulation of Autophagy by Bioactive Natural Products: Implications for Human Aging and Longevity
by Maroua Jalouli, Abdel Halim Harrath, Mohammed Al-Zharani and Md Ataur Rahman
Nutrients 2026, 18(5), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18050863 - 7 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1233
Abstract
Autophagy is an evolutionarily preserved intracellular degradation process pivotal in maintaining proteostasis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and metabolic equilibrium, all of which are dysregulated with aging. Aberrant autophagy has been recognized as a hallmark of human aging and age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration, metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular [...] Read more.
Autophagy is an evolutionarily preserved intracellular degradation process pivotal in maintaining proteostasis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and metabolic equilibrium, all of which are dysregulated with aging. Aberrant autophagy has been recognized as a hallmark of human aging and age-related diseases, including neurodegeneration, metabolic dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Bioactive natural compounds derived from plants, foods, and marine organisms have emerged as potent modulators of autophagy, offering a promising strategy to counteract aging and promote healthy lifespan. Mechanistically, these compounds regulate autophagy by modulating key signaling pathways, such as AMPK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, SIRT1, and FOXO, while also alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Natural compounds like polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and carotenoids exhibit dual roles by restoring age-related suppressed autophagic flux and inhibiting excessive autophagy-induced cell death. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms through which bioactive natural compounds modulate autophagy and impact human aging and longevity. We discuss both experimental and clinical evidence supporting their geroprotective effects, limitations regarding bioavailability and dose-dependent effects, and prospects for the utilization of autophagy-targeting natural products in aging intervention strategies. Full article
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