Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review

Juglans regia L. (walnut) has a rich history in traditional medicine due to its various medicinal properties, including its neuroprotective effects on nervous system disorders. This updated review sheds light on the therapeutic potential of walnuts in nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s dis...

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Main Authors: Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar, Hossein Hosseinzadeh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mashhad University of Medical Sciences 2024-12-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_24942_70af94d165b612350ff8653274b66159.pdf
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author Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar
Hossein Hosseinzadeh
author_facet Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar
Hossein Hosseinzadeh
author_sort Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar
collection DOAJ
description Juglans regia L. (walnut) has a rich history in traditional medicine due to its various medicinal properties, including its neuroprotective effects on nervous system disorders. This updated review sheds light on the therapeutic potential of walnuts in nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, and pain, supported by evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies. These beneficial effects are attributed to the walnut’s rich composition of bioactive compounds, including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, sinapate, ellagic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin 3-galactoside, juglone, vanillic acid, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, daidzein, and others. The mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of walnuts include decreasing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, proteolysis, β-amyloid plaque accumulation, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, phosphorylated-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) levels, increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, mitochondrial homeostasis, expression of mitophagy-related proteins, and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. Although walnuts hold great promise in managing nervous system disorders and their complications, further preclinical and clinical investigations are necessary to consolidate these findings. This comprehensive review highlights the potential of walnuts as a natural therapeutic agent and encourages future research to unlock their full neuroprotective potential.
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spelling doaj-art-072ca4e5c8b5436a9bf3dda267e2dfd32025-08-20T03:56:45ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences2008-38662008-38742024-12-0127121492150510.22038/ijbms.2024.79854.1730224942Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive reviewMahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar0Hossein Hosseinzadeh1Pharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranPharmaceutical Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IranJuglans regia L. (walnut) has a rich history in traditional medicine due to its various medicinal properties, including its neuroprotective effects on nervous system disorders. This updated review sheds light on the therapeutic potential of walnuts in nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, depression, epilepsy, and pain, supported by evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies. These beneficial effects are attributed to the walnut’s rich composition of bioactive compounds, including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, sinapate, ellagic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, p-coumaric acid, quercetin 3-galactoside, juglone, vanillic acid, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, apigenin, luteolin, daidzein, and others. The mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of walnuts include decreasing oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, proteolysis, β-amyloid plaque accumulation, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, phosphorylated-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) levels, increasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, mitochondrial homeostasis, expression of mitophagy-related proteins, and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway. Although walnuts hold great promise in managing nervous system disorders and their complications, further preclinical and clinical investigations are necessary to consolidate these findings. This comprehensive review highlights the potential of walnuts as a natural therapeutic agent and encourages future research to unlock their full neuroprotective potential.https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_24942_70af94d165b612350ff8653274b66159.pdfanalgesicsanti-inflammatory agentsanti-oxidantsepilepsyherbal medicineneurodegenerative diseases
spellingShingle Mahboobeh Ghasemzadeh Rahbardar
Hossein Hosseinzadeh
Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
analgesics
anti-inflammatory agents
anti-oxidants
epilepsy
herbal medicine
neurodegenerative diseases
title Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
title_full Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
title_fullStr Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
title_full_unstemmed Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
title_short Neuroprotective effects of walnut (Juglans regia L.) in nervous system disorders: A comprehensive review
title_sort neuroprotective effects of walnut juglans regia l in nervous system disorders a comprehensive review
topic analgesics
anti-inflammatory agents
anti-oxidants
epilepsy
herbal medicine
neurodegenerative diseases
url https://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_24942_70af94d165b612350ff8653274b66159.pdf
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AT hosseinhosseinzadeh neuroprotectiveeffectsofwalnutjuglansregialinnervoussystemdisordersacomprehensivereview