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The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemicals and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 August 2023) | Viewed by 15838

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Francesca Fernandez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Nudgee, Australia
Interests: polyphenol; cognition; Alzheimer’s disease; animal model; human genetics; nutrigenomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

For thousand of years, evidence from ancient civilizations’ lifestyles has reported the use of medicinal plants as therapy for a large range of pathologies. Although technology has progressed significantly in recent decades, a strong emphasis on further understanding the potential pharmacotherapy effects of natural medicine has emerged recently in the fields of drug discovery. With the limitation of synthetic drug use in terms of their efficiency and side effects, pharmaceutical companies have recently shown an increase interest in researching medicinal plant extracts and their potential for multi-targeted effects, which are essential for treating complex disorders such as chronic inflammation and cognitive dysfunction. Since aging affects both inflammation and memory processes, it is critical to achieve a better understanding of the use of natural medicine, either as preventive measure in diet supplementation and/or as a therapy in the pathological context.

In this Special Issue, we welcome papers focusing on the links between natural medicine and/or natural supplements in the diet with chronic inflammation and/or memory processes. Original papers, reviews, and meta-analyses are welcomed, particularly on the role of specific natural compounds/extract in the physiology and pathophysiology of inflammation and aging (with a focus on cognitive functions).

Dr. Francesca Fernandez
Guest Editor

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

  • memory
  • inflammation
  • natural medicine
  • aging
  • cognition

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 7394 KiB  
Article
Investigating the Therapeutic Potential of Plants and Plant-Based Medicines: Relevance to Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effects
by Naomi May, Julianna Lys de Sousa Alves Neri, Helen Clunas, Jiahua Shi, Ella Parkes, Anjila Dongol, Zhizhen Wang, Carlos Jimenez Naranjo, Yinghua Yu, Xu-Feng Huang, Karen Charlton and Katrina Weston-Green
Nutrients 2023, 15(18), 3912; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15183912 - 8 Sep 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3892
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a common characteristic of psychiatric, neurological, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, compounds that are neuroprotective and reduce oxidative stress may be of interest as novel therapeutics. Phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin content, ORAC and DPPH free radical scavenging, and Cu2+ and [...] Read more.
Oxidative stress is a common characteristic of psychiatric, neurological, and neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, compounds that are neuroprotective and reduce oxidative stress may be of interest as novel therapeutics. Phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin content, ORAC and DPPH free radical scavenging, and Cu2+ and Fe2+ chelating capacities were examined in variations (fresh/capsule) of Queen Garnet plum (QGP, Prunus salicina), black pepper (Piper nigrum) clove (Syzygium aromaticum), elderberry (Sambucus nigra), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) and sage (Salvia officinalis), plus two blends (Astralagus membranaceus—lemon balm-rich, WC and R8). The ability of samples to prevent and treat H2O2-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells was investigated. Pre-treatment with WC, elderberry, QGP, and clove prevented the oxidative stress-induced reduction in cell viability, demonstrating a neuroprotective effect. Elderberry increased cell viability following oxidative stress induction, demonstrating treatment effects. Clove had the highest phenolic and flavonoid content, DPPH, and Cu2+ chelating capacities, whereas QGP and elderberry were highest in anthocyanins. Black pepper had the highest ORAC and Fe2+ chelating capacity. These findings demonstrate that plant extracts can prevent and treat oxidative stress-induced apoptosis of neuron-like cells in vitro. Further research into phytochemicals as novel therapeutics for oxidative stress in the brain is needed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging)
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16 pages, 2634 KiB  
Article
Cordyceps cicadae NTTU 868 Mycelia Fermented with Deep Ocean Water Minerals Prevents D-Galactose-Induced Memory Deficits by Inhibiting Oxidative Inflammatory Factors and Aging-Related Risk Factors
by Ching-Yu Chang, Pei-Xin Yang, Tsai-Luen Yu and Chun-Lin Lee
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081968 - 19 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2241
Abstract
Cordyceps cicadae, a medicinal fungus that is abundant in bioactive compounds such as N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) and polysaccharides, possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nerve damage recovery properties. Deep ocean water (DOW) contains minerals that can be absorbed and transformed into organic forms by [...] Read more.
Cordyceps cicadae, a medicinal fungus that is abundant in bioactive compounds such as N6-(2-hydroxyethyl)-adenosine (HEA) and polysaccharides, possesses remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and nerve damage recovery properties. Deep ocean water (DOW) contains minerals that can be absorbed and transformed into organic forms by fungi fermentation. Recent studies have shown that culturing C. cicadae in DOW can enhance its therapeutic benefits by increasing the levels of bioactive compounds and minerals’ bioavailibility. In this study, we investigated the effects of DOW-cultured C. cicadae (DCC) on brain damage and memory impairment induced by D-galactose in rats. Our results indicate that DCC and its metabolite HEA can improve memory ability and exhibit potent antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging in D-galactose-induced aging rats (p < 0.05). Additionally, DCC can mitigate the expression of inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), thereby preventing brain aging. Furthermore, DCC showed a significant decrease in the expression of the aging-related proteins glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and presenilin 1 (PS1). By reducing brain oxidation and aging-related factors, DOW-cultured C. cicadae demonstrate enhanced anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects, making it a promising therapeutic agent for preventing and treating age-related brain damage and cognitive impairment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging)
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18 pages, 5402 KiB  
Article
Whey Protein Hydrolysate Renovates Age-Related and Scopolamine-Induced Cognitive Impairment
by Ning Ding, Hanxiu Meng, Chao Wu, Wallace Yokoyama, Hui Hong, Yongkang Luo and Yuqing Tan
Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051228 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3793
Abstract
Whey protein and its hydrolysates are ubiquitously applied in the food system. However, their effect on cognitive impairment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential ability of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) to ameliorate cognitive degeneration. WPH intervention in Crl:CD1 (ICR, Institute [...] Read more.
Whey protein and its hydrolysates are ubiquitously applied in the food system. However, their effect on cognitive impairment remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential ability of whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) to ameliorate cognitive degeneration. WPH intervention in Crl:CD1 (ICR, Institute for cancer research) mice and aged C57BL/6J mice in a scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment model for 10 days were evaluated. Behavioral tests indicated that WPH intervention improved the cognitive abilities in ICR and aged C57BL/6J mice (p < 0.05). Scopolamine enhanced the Aβ1-42 level in the brain tissue, and the WPH intervention exhibited a similar therapeutic effect to donepezil in ICR mice. A noticeable reduction occurred in serum Aβ1-42 level of aged mice treated with WPH. The histopathological study of the hippocampus showed that WPH intervention alleviates neuronal damage. Hippocampus proteomic analysis suggested possible mechanisms of WPH action. The relative abundance of Christensenellaceae, a gut microbe related to Alzheimer’s disease, was altered by WPH intervention. This study demonstrated that short-term WPH intake protected against memory impairment induced by scopolamine and aging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging)
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20 pages, 4082 KiB  
Article
Kaempferia parviflora Extracts Protect Neural Stem Cells from Amyloid Peptide-Mediated Inflammation in Co-Culture Model with Microglia
by Piya Temviriyanukul, Anchana Chansawhang, Jirarat Karinchai, Sataporn Phochantachinda, Shutipen Buranasinsup, Woorawee Inthachat, Pornsiri Pitchakarn and Boonrat Chantong
Nutrients 2023, 15(5), 1098; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15051098 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3577
Abstract
The existence of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress surrounding amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been demonstrated and may result in the activation of neuronal death and inhibition of neurogenesis. Therefore, dysregulation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress is one [...] Read more.
The existence of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress surrounding amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), has been demonstrated and may result in the activation of neuronal death and inhibition of neurogenesis. Therefore, dysregulation of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress is one possible therapeutic target for AD. Kaempferia parviflora Wall. ex Baker (KP), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, possesses health-promoting benefits including anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammation in vitro and in vivo with a high level of safety; however, the role of KP in suppressing Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation and neuronal differentiation has not yet been investigated. The neuroprotective effects of KP extract against Aβ42 have been examined in both monoculture and co-culture systems of mouse neuroectodermal (NE-4C) stem cells and BV-2 microglia cells. Our results showed that fractions of KP extract containing 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7,4′-trimethoxyflavone, and 3,5,7,3′,4′-pentamethoxyflavone protected neural stem cells (both undifferentiated and differentiated) and microglia activation from Aβ42-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in both monoculture and co-culture system of microglia and neuronal stem cells. Interestingly, KP extracts also prevented Aβ42-suppressed neurogenesis, possibly due to the contained methoxyflavone derivatives. Our data indicated the promising role of KP in treating AD through the suppression of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress induced by Aβ peptides. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging)
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Review

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27 pages, 1188 KiB  
Review
Sirtuin Proteins and Memory: A Promising Target in Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy?
by Francesca Fernandez, Lyn R. Griffiths, Heidi G. Sutherland, Michael H. Cole, J. Helen Fitton, Pia Winberg, Daniel Schweitzer, Lloyd N. Hopkins and Barbara J. Meyer
Nutrients 2024, 16(23), 4088; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16234088 - 27 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1682
Abstract
Sirtuins (SIRTs), nicotine adenine dinucleotide (+)-dependent histone deacetylases, have emerged as critical regulators in many signalling pathways involved in a wide range of biological processes. Currently, seven mammalian SIRTs have been characterized and are found across a number of cellular compartments. There has [...] Read more.
Sirtuins (SIRTs), nicotine adenine dinucleotide (+)-dependent histone deacetylases, have emerged as critical regulators in many signalling pathways involved in a wide range of biological processes. Currently, seven mammalian SIRTs have been characterized and are found across a number of cellular compartments. There has been considerable interest in the role of SIRTs in the brain due to their role in a plethora of metabolic- and age-related diseases, including their involvement in learning and memory function in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Although cognitive function declines over the course of healthy ageing, neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) can be associated with progressive cognitive impairments. This review aimed to report and integrate recent advances in the understanding of the role of SIRTs in cognitive function and dysfunction in the context of AD. We have also reviewed the use of selective and/or natural SIRT activators as potential therapeutic agents and/or adjuvants for AD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Protective Effects of Natural Products on Chronic Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Aging)
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