Cellular Mechanisms Implicated in the Action of Neuroprotective Nutraceuticals

我的研究计划旨在阐明神经保护性营养食品，特别是植物衍生分子(植物化学物质)的作用所涉及的细胞机制和途径。营养食品是一系列产品，包括分离的营养素、膳食补充剂和具有有益生理特性的草药分子。目前有大量文献表明，这些天然分子对人类和动物健康有积极作用。然而，在大多数情况下，其所谓的多效性有益作用尚未被准确地记录下来。在此背景下，我的实验室在已建立的细胞范例和动物模型中，分析了几种植物化学物质在对抗神经毒素或高糖给药引起的神经退化和神经炎症中的作用。我们特别感兴趣的是确定神经保护和抗炎植物化学物质使用的特定细胞机制和途径。最近，我们证明了植物来源的分子，如栎素、葫芦素和芝麻素，具有多种细胞特性，这些特性超出了通常所知的抗氧化作用，但也延伸到减少细胞凋亡和神经炎症。根据我们对天然化合物的了解，在接下来的五年里，我建议阐明神经保护植物化学物质的作用所涉及的细胞机制和途径。为此，我们将重点关注三个具体目标：

My research program aims to elucidate the cellular mechanisms and pathways implicated in the action of neuroprotective nutraceuticals, specifically plant-derived molecules (phytochemicals). Nutraceuticals are products that range from isolated nutrients, dietary supplements and herbal molecules possessing beneficial physiological properties. An abundant amount of literature is currently proposing a positive effect for these natural molecules in human and animal health. However, in most cases, their alleged pleiotropic beneficial effects have not yet been accurately documented. In this context, my laboratory analyses the role of several phytochemicals in opposing neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation induced by neurotoxins or high glucose administration, in established cellular paradigms and animal models. We are specifically interested in defining the specific cellular mechanisms and pathways used by neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Recently, we demonstrated that plant derived molecules such as quercetin, cucurbitacins and sesamin possess multiple cellular properties that go beyond their anti-oxidation action generally known, but also extend to the reduction of both apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Based on our knowledge of natural compounds, for the next five years, I propose to elucidate the cellular mechanisms and pathways implicated in the action of neuroprotective phytochemicals. For this we will focus on three specific aims: