Mechanisms of Neuroprotective Effects of Peptides Derived from Natural Materials and Their Production and Assessment

Abstract

In this review, we provide an overview of the main mechanisms by which peptides derived from natural materials exhibit neuroprotective effects. We also review methods for the production of these peptides and various methods for determining their neuroprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. Neuroprotective peptides are closely associated with protection against apoptosis, with proteins related to the cell death/survival signaling pathway, with acetylcholine activity and with inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. Neuroprotective peptides derived from natural materials typically have a molecular weight below 1 kDa; they are most often derived using the extraction enzymes papain and alcalase. The neuroprotective peptides identified in the literature are mainly composed of hydrophobic amino acids with low molecular weight, with Asp and Glu at the N-terminal position. These observations may guide the development of novel peptides with potential neuroprotective effects.