Anti-ferroptotic effects of natural polyphenols in nervous system injury: a narrative literature review.

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis, a newly identified regulated cell death characterized by increased lipid peroxidation and accumulation of toxic lipid peroxides, is closely related to the pathophysiological processes of nervous system diseases which can be inhibited with iron chelators, lipophilic antioxidants, and lipid peroxidation inhibitors.

Objective: To review the current evidence on the efficacy of various natural polyphenols in nervous system injury.

Methods: The data selected for this review were collected by searching the MEDLINE/PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar database for articles published in English between 2000 and 2024 using the following terms: cell death, regulated cell death, ferroptosis, lipid peroxides, iron, and glutathione peroxidase.

Results: Natural polyphenols have been found to have some protective effects against nervous system disorders, which are attributed to a variety of biological properties, particularly antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects. The preclinical studies conducted on the use of the most common dietary polyphenols, including resveratrol, EGCG, curcumin, quercetin, gastrodin, baicalein & baicalin, carthamin, galangin, puerarin, morachalcone, and carnosic acid with the molecular mechanisms have been discussed. On the other hand, the results of a few clinical studies emphasize the primary role of iron in neuronal degeneration following some of nervous system injury.

Conclusion: Some of the findings indicated that natural polyphenols as antioxidant supplements have anti-ferroptotic effects in nervous system disorders.