Antioxidants, Hormetic Nutrition, and Autism.

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) includes a heterogeneous group of complex neurodevel opmental disorders characterized by atypical behaviors with two core pathological manifestations: deficits in social interaction/communication and repetitive behaviors, which are associated with disturbed redox homeostasis. Modulation of cellular resilience mechanisms induced by low levels of stressors represents a novel approach for the development of therapeutic strategies, and in this context, neuroprotective effects of a wide range of polyphenol compounds have been demonstrated in several in vitro and in vivo studies and thoroughly reviewed by [2, 3]. Mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine for many years and have been associated with a long list of therapeutic properties, including antitumor, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and hepatoprotective effects [4]. Our recent studies have strikingly indicated the presence of polyphenols in nutritional mushrooms and demonstrated their protective effects in different models of neurodegenerative disorders in humans and rats [5, 6]. Although their therapeutic effects are exerted through multiple mechanisms, increasing attention is focusing on their capacity to induce endogenous defense systems by modulating cellular signaling processes, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Here we discuss the protective role of hormesis and its modulation by hormetic nutrients in ASD.

• Authors: Sergio Modafferi, Gabriella Lupo, Mario Tomasello, Francesco Rampulla, Marialaura Ontario, Maria Scuto, Angela Trovato Salinaro, Antonio Arcidiacono, Carmelina Daniela Anfuso, Maria Legmouz, Fatima-Zahra Azzaoui, Agostino Palmeri, Sestina Spano', Francesca Biamonte, Gaetano Cammilleri, Tilman Fritsch, Alena Sidenkova, Edward Calabrese, Uwe Wenzel, Vittorio Calabrese
• Journal: Current neuropharmacology (Curr Neuropharmacol) (08 17 2023) ISSN: 1875-6190 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 37592816 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].