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In The News... "Neurohormetic phytochemicals: low-dose
toxins that induce adaptive neuronal stress responses" Diets rich in vegetables and fruits
are associated with reduced risk of several major diseases, including
neurodegenerative disorders. Although some beneficial phytochemicals might
function solely as antioxidants, it is becoming clear that many of the
beneficial chemicals in vegetables and fruits evolved as toxins (to dissuade
insects and other predators) that, at subtoxic doses, activate adaptive cellular
stress response pathways in a variety of cells including neurons. Examples of
such ‘preconditioning’ or ‘neurohormesis’ pathways include those involving
cell-survival signaling kinases, the transcription factors NRF2 and CREB, and
histone deacetylases of the sirtuin family. In these ways, neurohormetic
phytochemicals such as resveratrol, sulforaphanes and curcumin might protect
neurons against injury and disease by stimulating the production of antioxidant
enzymes, neurotrophic factors, protein chaperones and other proteins that help
cells to withstand stress. Thus, as we discuss in this review, highly conserved
longevity and survival pathways in neurons are the targets of many
phytochemicals.
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