Tkaczenko Halina, Buyun Lyudmyla, Kołodziejska Renata, Kamiński Piotr, Kurhaluk Natalia
Institute of Biology, Pomeranian University in Słupsk, Arciszewski St. 22B, 76-200 Słupsk, Poland.
Department of Tropical and Subtropical Plants, M.M. Hryshko National Botanic Garden, National Academy of Science of Ukraine, 01003 Kyiv, Ukraine.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Sep 12;26(18):8907. doi: 10.3390/ijms26188907.
The growing prevalence of mental health issues and cognitive impairment poses a significant challenge to global public health. Conditions such as depression, anxiety, neurodegenerative diseases, and stress-related cognitive dysfunction are becoming more common, while conventional pharmacotherapies are often limited by suboptimal efficacy, adverse side effects, and concerns about long-term use. Against this backdrop, neurophytochemistry-the study of plant-derived bioactive compounds-has emerged as a promising area of research. This review explores the potential of selected phytochemicals to support mental well-being and cognitive function via various molecular mechanisms. Compounds such as apigenin, hesperidin, and epigallocatechin gallate have been shown to have a significant impact on key regulatory pathways. These include enhancing neurogenesis via brain-derived neurotrophic factor, modulating neurotransmitter systems (such as GABA and serotonin), and attenuating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. The therapeutic relevance of these compounds is discussed in the context of depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and stress-related cognitive dysfunction, often referred to as 'brain fog'. This review synthesizes evidence published between 2010 and 2025 from several scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. Preliminary evidence from in vitro studies and animal models indicates that neurophytochemicals could enhance synaptic plasticity, protect neurons from oxidative damage, and modulate inflammatory pathways, particularly those involving NF-κB and the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant response. In addition, early human clinical trials have shown that phytochemical supplementation can lead to improvements in mood regulation, stress response, and cognitive performance. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that the gut-brain axis plays a key role in mediating the effects of phytochemicals. Several compounds have been found to modulate the composition of gut microbiota in ways that could enhance the function of the central nervous system. While the initial results are encouraging, more high-quality clinical trials and mechanistic studies are required to validate these findings, optimize dosage regimens, and guarantee the safety and efficacy of long-term use. Thus, neurophytochemicals represent a promising integrative approach to alleviating the increasing burden of mental and cognitive disorders through naturally derived therapeutic strategies.
心理健康问题和认知障碍的日益普遍对全球公共卫生构成了重大挑战。抑郁症、焦虑症、神经退行性疾病以及与压力相关的认知功能障碍等病症正变得越来越常见，而传统药物疗法往往受到疗效欠佳、副作用以及对长期使用的担忧等因素的限制。在此背景下，神经植物化学——对植物源生物活性化合物的研究——已成为一个有前景的研究领域。本综述探讨了选定的植物化学物质通过各种分子机制支持心理健康和认知功能的潜力。诸如芹菜素、橙皮苷和表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯等化合物已被证明对关键调节途径有重大影响。这些途径包括通过脑源性神经营养因子增强神经发生、调节神经递质系统（如γ-氨基丁酸和血清素）以及减轻氧化应激和神经炎症。这些化合物在抑郁症、焦虑症、阿尔茨海默病、帕金森病以及通常被称为“脑雾”的与压力相关的认知功能障碍的背景下讨论了其治疗相关性。本综述综合了2010年至2025年间从多个科学数据库发表的证据，包括PubMed、Scopus、科学网和Embase。体外研究和动物模型的初步证据表明，神经植物化学物质可以增强突触可塑性、保护神经元免受氧化损伤并调节炎症途径，特别是那些涉及核因子κB和Nrf2/ARE抗氧化反应的途径。此外，早期人体临床试验表明，补充植物化学物质可以改善情绪调节、应激反应和认知表现。此外，新出现的证据表明，肠-脑轴在介导植物化学物质的作用中起关键作用。已发现几种化合物以可增强中枢神经系统功能的方式调节肠道微生物群的组成。虽然初步结果令人鼓舞，但需要更多高质量的临床试验和机制研究来验证这些发现、优化给药方案并确保长期使用的安全性和有效性。因此，神经植物化学物质代表了一种有前景的综合方法，可通过天然衍生的治疗策略减轻日益增加的精神和认知障碍负担。
