The Heme Oxygenase/Biliverdin Reductase System as Effector of the Neuroprotective Outcomes of Herb-Based Nutritional Supplements

Emanuela Mhillaj; Vincenzo Cuomo; Luigia Trabace; Cesare Mancuso

doi:10.3389/fphar.2019.01298

The Heme Oxygenase/Biliverdin Reductase System as Effector of the Neuroprotective Outcomes of Herb-Based Nutritional Supplements

Front Pharmacol. 2019 Nov 11:10:1298. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01298. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Emanuela Mhillaj¹, Vincenzo Cuomo², Luigia Trabace³, Cesare Mancuso^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Pharmacology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Roma, Italy.
² Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "V. Erspamer," Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
⁴ Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.

Abstract

Over the last few years, several preclinical studies have shown that some herbal products, such as ferulic acid, Ginkgo biloba, and resveratrol, exert neuroprotective effects through the modulation of the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase system. Unfortunately, sufficient data supporting the shift of knowledge from preclinical studies to humans, particularly in neurodegenerative diseases, are not yet available in the literature. The purpose of this review is to summarize the studies and the main results achieved on the potential therapeutic role of the interaction between the heme oxygenase/biliverdin reductase system with ferulic acid, G. biloba, and resveratrol. Some critical issues have also been reported, mainly concerning the safety profile and the toxicological sequelae associated to the supplementation with the herbs mentioned above, based on both current literature and specific reports issued by the competent Regulatory Authorities.

Keywords: Ginkgo biloba; ferulic acid; heme oxygenase; neuroprotection; resveratrol.

Publication types

Review