Issue 21, 2021

Phenolic compounds that cross the blood–brain barrier exert positive health effects as central nervous system antioxidants

Abstract

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a physical structure whose main function is to strictly regulate access to circulating compounds into the central nervous system (CNS). Vegetable-derived phenolic compounds have been widely studied, with numerous epidemiologic and interventional studies confirming their health-related bioactivities across multiple cells, organs and models. Phenolics are non-essential xenobiotics, and should theoretically be unable to cross the BBB. The present work summarizes current experimental evidence that reveals that not only are phenolic compounds able to cross the BBB and bioaccumulate in the brain, but there is some stereoselectivity, which suggests the presence of specific transporters that allow them to reach the brain. Some molecules cross the BBB intact, while others do so only after being biotransformed or metabolized elsewhere. Once inside the CNS, they prevent or counter oxidative stress, which maintains the molecular, cellular, structural and functional integrity of the brain, and subsequently, overall human health.

Graphical abstract: Phenolic compounds that cross the blood–brain barrier exert positive health effects as central nervous system antioxidants

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
25 Jun 2021
Accepted
10 Sep 2021
First published
05 Oct 2021

Food Funct., 2021,12, 10356-10369

Phenolic compounds that cross the blood–brain barrier exert positive health effects as central nervous system antioxidants

D. Velásquez-Jiménez, D. A. Corella-Salazar, B. S. Zuñiga-Martínez, J. A. Domínguez-Avila, M. Montiel-Herrera, N. J. Salazar-López, J. Rodrigo-Garcia, M. A. Villegas-Ochoa and G. A. González-Aguilar, Food Funct., 2021, 12, 10356 DOI: 10.1039/D1FO02017J

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