Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling
Rescue of cognitive function represents an unmet need in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nutraceuticals deliver a concentrated form of a presumed bioactive(s) agent(s) that can improve cognitive function alone or in combination with current approved dru...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Antioxidants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1075 |
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| author | Margherita Grasso Giuseppe Caruso Justyna Godos Angela Bonaccorso Claudia Carbone Sabrina Castellano Walter Currenti Giuseppe Grosso Teresa Musumeci Filippo Caraci |
| author_facet | Margherita Grasso Giuseppe Caruso Justyna Godos Angela Bonaccorso Claudia Carbone Sabrina Castellano Walter Currenti Giuseppe Grosso Teresa Musumeci Filippo Caraci |
| author_sort | Margherita Grasso |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rescue of cognitive function represents an unmet need in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nutraceuticals deliver a concentrated form of a presumed bioactive(s) agent(s) that can improve cognitive function alone or in combination with current approved drugs for the treatment of cognitive disorders. Nutraceuticals include different natural compounds such as flavonoids and their subclasses (flavan-3-ols, catechins, anthocyanins, and flavonols), omega-3, and carnosine that can improve synaptic plasticity and rescue cognitive deficits through multiple molecular mechanisms. A deficit of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway is an early event in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in different neuropsychiatric disorders, from depression to AD. In the present review, we provide evidence that different nutraceuticals, such as <i>Hypericum perforatum</i> (hypericin and hyperforin), flavonoids such as hesperidin, omega-3, and carnosine, can target TGF-β1 signaling and increase TGF-β1 production in the central nervous system as well as cognitive function. The bioavailability of these nutraceuticals, in particular carnosine, can be significantly improved with novel formulations (nanoparticulate systems, nanoliposomes) that increase the efficacy and stability of this peptide. Overall, these studies suggest that the synergism between nutraceuticals targeting the TGF-β1 pathway and current approved drugs might represent a novel pharmacological approach for reverting cognitive deficits in AD patients. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-929a824f8b3e4f439898b7eadf0a6125 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3921 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:48:05Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antioxidants |
| spelling | doaj.art-929a824f8b3e4f439898b7eadf0a61252023-11-22T03:05:01ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212021-07-01107107510.3390/antiox10071075Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 SignalingMargherita Grasso0Giuseppe Caruso1Justyna Godos2Angela Bonaccorso3Claudia Carbone4Sabrina Castellano5Walter Currenti6Giuseppe Grosso7Teresa Musumeci8Filippo Caraci9Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Educational Sciences, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyDepartment of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, ItalyRescue of cognitive function represents an unmet need in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Nutraceuticals deliver a concentrated form of a presumed bioactive(s) agent(s) that can improve cognitive function alone or in combination with current approved drugs for the treatment of cognitive disorders. Nutraceuticals include different natural compounds such as flavonoids and their subclasses (flavan-3-ols, catechins, anthocyanins, and flavonols), omega-3, and carnosine that can improve synaptic plasticity and rescue cognitive deficits through multiple molecular mechanisms. A deficit of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) pathway is an early event in the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in different neuropsychiatric disorders, from depression to AD. In the present review, we provide evidence that different nutraceuticals, such as <i>Hypericum perforatum</i> (hypericin and hyperforin), flavonoids such as hesperidin, omega-3, and carnosine, can target TGF-β1 signaling and increase TGF-β1 production in the central nervous system as well as cognitive function. The bioavailability of these nutraceuticals, in particular carnosine, can be significantly improved with novel formulations (nanoparticulate systems, nanoliposomes) that increase the efficacy and stability of this peptide. Overall, these studies suggest that the synergism between nutraceuticals targeting the TGF-β1 pathway and current approved drugs might represent a novel pharmacological approach for reverting cognitive deficits in AD patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1075Alzheimer’s diseasecognitiontransforming growth factor-β1nutraceuticalsmedicinal herbsomega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids |
| spellingShingle | Margherita Grasso Giuseppe Caruso Justyna Godos Angela Bonaccorso Claudia Carbone Sabrina Castellano Walter Currenti Giuseppe Grosso Teresa Musumeci Filippo Caraci Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling Antioxidants Alzheimer’s disease cognition transforming growth factor-β1 nutraceuticals medicinal herbs omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids |
| title | Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling |
| title_full | Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling |
| title_fullStr | Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling |
| title_short | Improving Cognition with Nutraceuticals Targeting TGF-β1 Signaling |
| title_sort | improving cognition with nutraceuticals targeting tgf β1 signaling |
| topic | Alzheimer’s disease cognition transforming growth factor-β1 nutraceuticals medicinal herbs omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/10/7/1075 |
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