Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in neuroprotection: brain and spinal cord injury focus

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#animals #humans #brain #brain-injuries #flavonoids

Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in neuroprotection: brain and spinal cord injury focus

Faysal et al., 2025 | Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol | Systematic Review

Citation

Faysal Md, Al Amin Md, ... Emran Talha Bin. Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in neuroprotection: brain and spinal cord injury focus. Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol. 2025-Jul;398(7):8215-8240. doi:10.1007/s00210-025-03888-4

Abstract

Flavonoids in fruits, vegetables, and plant-based drinks have potential neuroprotective properties, with clinical research focusing on their role in reducing oxidative stress, controlling inflammation, and preventing apoptosis. Some flavonoids, such as quercetin, kaempferol, fisetin, apigenin, luteolin, chrysin, baicalein, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, naringenin, naringin, hesperetin, genistein, rutin, silymarin, and daidzein, have been presented to help heal damage to the central nervous system by affecting key signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt and NF-κB. This review systematically analyzed articles on flavonoids, neuroprotection, and brain and spinal cord injury from primary medical databases like Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Flavonoids enhance antioxidant defenses, reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and aid cell survival and repair by focusing on specific molecular pathways. Clinical trials are also exploring the application of preclinical results to therapeutic approaches for patients with spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. Flavonoids can enhance injury healing, reduce lesion size, and enhance synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. The full potential of flavonoids lies in their bioavailability, dose, and administration methods, but there are still challenges to overcome. This review explores flavonoid-induced neuroprotection, its clinical implications, future research opportunities, and molecular mechanisms, highlighting the potential for innovative CNS injury therapies and improved patient health outcomes.

Key Findings

This review explores flavonoid-induced neuroprotection, its clinical implications, future research opportunities, and molecular mechanisms, highlighting the potential for innovative CNS injury therapies and improved patient health outcomes.

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population spinal cord injury and
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition stress

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Humans
  • Brain
  • Brain Injuries
  • Flavonoids
  • Neuroprotection
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Spinal Cord Injuries

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: quercetin

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09