Role of Flavonoids in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Limitations and Future Perspectives

Background: Flavonoids, a group of natural dietary polyphenols, are known for their beneficial effects on human health. By virtue of their various pharmacological effects, like anti-oxidative, antiinflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and neuroprotective effects, flavonoids have now become an important component of herbal supplements, pharmaceuticals, medicinals and cosmetics. There has been enormous literature supporting neuroprotective effect of flavonoids. Recently their efficacy in various neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson diseases, has received particular attention. Objective: The mechanism of flavanoids neuroprotection might include antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antineuroinflammatory and modulation of various cellular and intracellular targets. In in-vivo systems, before reaching to brain, they have to cross barriers like extensive first pass metabolism, intestinal barrier and ultimately blood brain barrier. Different flavonoids have varied pharmacokinetic characteristics, which affect their pharmacodynamic profile. Therefore, brain accessibility of flavonoids is still debatable. Methods: This review emphasized on current trends of research and development on flavonoids, especially in neurodegenerative diseases, possible challenges and strategies to encounter using novel drug delivery system. Results: Various flavonoids have elicited their therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative diseases, however by using nanotechnology and novel drug delivery systems, the bioavailability of favonoids could be enhanced. Conclusion: This study bridges a significant opinion on medicinal chemistry, ethanopharmacology and new drug delivery research regarding use of flavonoids in management of neurodegeneration.