Role of nutraceuticals in neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Nutraceuticals are food-derived compounds considered beneficial for human health. It has been recently shown that nutraceuticals play an important role in the regulation of brain physiology and in the prevention of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Nutraceuticals differ structurally and therefore act at different biochemical and metabolic levels and have shown different types of neuroprotec-tive properties which include mitochondrial dysfunction, intracellular calcium overload, oxidative stress and inflammation. Nutraceuticals have recently gained importance owing to their multifaceted effects. These food-based approaches are believed to target at multiple pathways in a slow but more physiological manner without causing severe adverse effects.