Grape Seed Extract Shows Promise as a Potential Treatment for Neurodegenerative Disorders

General Description

Grape Seed Extract has shown potential in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and epilepsy. In AD, it inhibits amyloid fibril formation, reduces oxidative stress, and improves cognitive function. In PD, it restores brain proteostasis, decreases alpha-synuclein aggregation, and protects dopaminergic neurons. In epilepsy, it alleviates seizures by inhibiting oxidative damage, protecting mitochondria, and reducing inflammation. These findings suggest that Grape Seed Extract could be a safe and effective therapeutic option for these conditions. However, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully understand its therapeutic potential and establish its effectiveness.

Figure 1. Grape Seed Extract

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that has been shown to be associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid fibril formation. Grape Seed Extract contains several antioxidant agents, including vitamin C, vitamin E, procyanidins, and proanthocyanidins, which can inhibit AD onset and progression. Grape Seed Extract administration has been found to decrease the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase the level of glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), which can ameliorate the impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity induced by oxidative stress and rescue cognition deficits in AD. Additionally, Grape Seed Extract can attenuate oxidative stress by activating nuclear erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades. Moreover, Grape Seed Extract has potent anti-inflammatory effects by preventing the release of proinflammatory mediators, including 5-lipoxygenase. Grape Seed Extract also reduces amyloid fibril formation and inhibits Aβ (1–42) peptide aggregation, which can be a valuable agent against AD. Therefore, clinical trials on AD treatment and even prevention can be suggested for this supplement. Grape Seed Extract could be a safe and affordable intervention against AD by maintaining proteostasis. ¹

Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by impaired proteostasis and alpha-synuclein aggregation, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and various dysfunctions in the brain. Grape Seed Extract has shown promising effects in the treatment of PD by restoring brain proteostasis and decreasing alpha-synuclein aggregation. Grape Seed Extract has been found to decrease alpha-synuclein aggregation in the frontal cortex and reduce the expression of neuroinflammatory markers, resulting in the alleviation of non-motor symptoms associated with PD. Additionally, Grape Seed Extract has been shown to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation, and apoptosis in the substantia nigra, protecting dopaminergic neurons and improving motor functions. Furthermore, Grape Seed Extract exhibits mitochondrial protective effects by increasing mitochondrial DNA content, enhancing the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis factors, and activating important regulators such as PGC-1α, SIRT1, and AMPK. Studies have demonstrated that Grape Seed Extract treatment influences the power of frequency bands in specific brain regions, such as the thalamic ventral anterior (VA) nucleus, and improves motor dysfunctions in PD animal models. Overall, Grape Seed Extract shows potential as a therapeutic agent for attenuating PD symptoms by protecting different brain regions and promoting mitochondrial health. ¹

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by recurrent seizures. While there are several anti-epileptic drugs available, they mainly treat symptoms and come with various side effects that affect the quality of life. Therefore, finding a safe and effective therapeutic option is crucial. Grape Seed Extract, known for its potent antioxidant properties, has shown promise in the treatment of epilepsy. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play a significant role in the development of epilepsy. Studies conducted by Zhen et al. (2014) demonstrated that Grape Seed Extract can alleviate kindling induced by pentylenetetrazole, a seizure-inducing agent, in rats. Grape Seed Extract achieved this by inhibiting oxidative damage and protecting the mitochondria in the hippocampus. Inflammation, both in the peripheral and central nervous system, contributes to epileptogenesis by causing the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This leads to morphological synaptic changes in the hippocampus and the development of epilepsy. Grape Seed Extract, with its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for epilepsy. By targeting oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation, Grape Seed Extract offers a potential avenue for the treatment of epilepsy. Further research and clinical trials are necessary to fully understand its therapeutic potential and establish its effectiveness as an adjunctive or alternative therapy for epilepsy management. ²

Reference

1. Mahdipour R, Ebrahimzadeh-Bideskan A, Hosseini M, et al. The benefits of grape seed extract in neurological disorders and brain aging. Nutr Neurosci. 2023;26(5):369-383.

2. Zhen J, Qu Z, Fang H, Fu L, Wu Y, Wang H, et al. Effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on pentylenetetrazole-induced kindling and associated cognitive impairment in rats. Int J Mol Med. 2014;34(2):391–398.