Neuro-nutraceuticals: Natural products nourish the brain but be aware of contrary effects

Abstract

In this Special Issue on "Nutraceuticals: Molecular and Functional Insights into how Natural Products Nourish the Brain", the editors bring together contributions from experts in nutraceutical research to provide a contemporary overview of how select chemically identified molecules from natural products can beneficially affect brain function at the molecular level. Other contributions address the holistic benefit of herbal medicines and their multi-targeted actions, which improve brain function in diverse cellular and animal models of brain injury. Not only are new targets for nutraceuticals reported, but their benefits on neurobehavioural problems are elucidated in conditions as diverse as obesity and menopause. Inflammation in neuropathologies, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), remains a huge focus and diverse nutraceuticals demonstrate therapeutic applicability via glial-mediated actions. While contrary actions should be borne in mind in the search for novel neurotherapeutics, the great promise offered by herbal medicines and their newly identified active principles offers unique options for the management of diverse neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Contrary actions; Inflammation; Neuropathologies; Nutraceutical; Traditional medicine.