Plant-Derived Antioxidants Protect the Nervous System From Aging by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) has become a major disease contributing to human death and is thought to be closely related to the aging process. The rich antioxidant substances in plants have been shown to play a role in delaying aging, and in recent years, significant research has focused on also examining their potential role in AD onset and progression. Many plant-derived antioxidant research studies have provided insights for the future treatment and prevention of AD. This article reviews various types of plant-derived antioxidants with anti-aging effects on neurons. Also it distinguishes the different types of active substances that exhibit different degrees of protection for the nervous system and summarizes the mechanism thereof. Plant-derived antioxidants with neuroprotective functions can protect various components of the nervous system in a variety of ways and can have a positive impact on interventions to prevent and alleviate AD. Furthermore, when considering neuroprotective agents, glial cells also contribute to the defense of the nervous system and should not be ignored.

Antioxidant effect of ethanolic onion (Allium cepa) husk extract in ageing rats

“…Ageing is considered an inevitable biological process ( Sadowska-Bartosz and Bartosz, 2014 ) accompanied by wide range of disorders, including the loss of ability to reproduce and regenerate. Age-related degradation promotes the development of socially significant diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases ( Cui et al, 2020 ), as well as degenerative disorders ( Freitas et al, 2017 , Go and Jones, 2017 , Hayes et al, 2020 , Meng et al, 2017 ). Lifestyle, environment, nutrition and heritable gene mutation also accelerate ageing ( Prasad et al, 2017 ).…”

“…These substances are absorbed by the organism together with food or consumed as synthetic or natural biologically active additives ( Oyewole et al, 2014 ). Plants are the main source of exogenous natural antioxidants for humans and animals, as they contain a wide variety of antioxidants ( Cui et al, 2020 ), which, in addition, are effective in small concentrations and do not show negative effects.…”

Lactobacillus plantarum GKM3 Promotes Longevity, Memory Retention, and Reduces Brain Oxidation Stress in SAMP8 Mice

“…Ginkgo biloba extract, another example, was loved by the Japanese for its functions in cognitive enhancing and oxidation-reduction [ 9 ]. Although many reports have suggested that the plant-based diets provide antioxidant effects and retard the aging process, there are more interesting focuses on the gut microbiota or even on a group of specific bacteria in the gut that could metabolize these nutraceuticals and provide positive multi-modulation effects to the host, including longevity [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Gut bacteria could produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, propionate, or butyrate from one’s diet [ 15 ].…”

Investigation of the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant effects of wheat bread supplemented with onion peel extract and onion powder in diabetic rats

“…Oxidative stress is one of the primary factors involved in the development of diabetes complications and is postulated to be linked with increased production of oxygen free radical [3]. Under normal physiological conditions, various antioxidant defense mechanisms work to protect the body from the dangers of free radical production [4]. In diabetes, the elevation of blood glucose levels promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [5].…”