Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Padiglione C, A. O. U. Policlinico 'G. Martino', Messina, Italy.
Department of Biomedical and Dental Science and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Nat Prod Res. 2022 Nov;36(22):5916-5933. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2021.2020265. Epub 2021 Dec 29.
Neurodegeneration is a degenerative process characterized by the progressive loss of the structure and function of neurons that involves several immune cells. It is the primary cause of dementia and other several syndromes, known as neurodegenerative diseases. These disorders are age-related and it is estimated that by 2040 there will be approximately 81.1 million people suffering from these diseases. In addition to the traditional pharmacological therapy, in recent years nutraceuticals, naturally based compounds with a broad spectrum of biological effects: anti-aging, antioxidants, hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolemic, anticancer, anxiolytic, antidepressant, etc., assumed an important role in counteracting these pathologies. In particular, several compounds such as astaxanthin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, St. John's wort, and extracts show particular neuroprotective and immunomodulatory abilities, involving several immune cells and some neurotransmitters that play a critical role in neurodegeneration, making them particularly useful in improving the symptoms and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
神经退行性变是一种以神经元结构和功能进行性丧失为特征的退行性过程，涉及多种免疫细胞。它是痴呆症和其他几种综合征（称为神经退行性疾病）的主要原因。这些疾病与年龄有关，据估计，到 2040 年，将有大约 8110 万人患有这些疾病。除了传统的药物治疗外，近年来，具有广泛生物效应的天然营养保健品，如抗氧化剂、降血糖、降胆固醇、抗癌、抗焦虑、抗抑郁等，在对抗这些疾病方面发挥了重要作用。特别是一些化合物，如虾青素、黄芩素、甘草甜素、贯叶连翘和提取物，表现出特别的神经保护和免疫调节能力，涉及多种免疫细胞和一些在神经退行性变中起关键作用的神经递质，使它们在改善神经退行性疾病的症状和进展方面特别有用。
