Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury
Physiological oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in supporting proper growth and development. While moderate oxidative stress is essential for activating key metabolic pathways and maintaining normal cellular signaling, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) can overwhelm the imma...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/818 |
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| author | Virginia Beretta Elena Scarpa Silvia Carloni Chiara Petrolini Valentina Dell’Orto Sebastiano Ravenda Serafina Perrone |
| author_facet | Virginia Beretta Elena Scarpa Silvia Carloni Chiara Petrolini Valentina Dell’Orto Sebastiano Ravenda Serafina Perrone |
| author_sort | Virginia Beretta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physiological oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in supporting proper growth and development. While moderate oxidative stress is essential for activating key metabolic pathways and maintaining normal cellular signaling, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) can overwhelm the immature antioxidant systems of newborns, potentially leading to cellular damage and impaired physiological function. This vulnerability is particularly pronounced in the central nervous system, where limited detoxification capacity exacerbates the risk of oxidative damage, following hypoxic–ischemic events. Antioxidants agents—such as melatonin, erythropoietin, allopurinol, N-acetylcisteine, selenium, iminobiotin, taurine, and acetyl-L-carnitine—have demonstrated significant neuroprotective effects in preclinical experimental studies, reducing markers of oxidative injury and improving neurological outcomes. These neuroprotective agents have also been evaluated in clinical trials, demonstrating antioxidant effects. A major issue lies in the complexity of neurological damage, which is not associated with a single pathological pathway. Additionally, the inability of these agents to reach effective concentrations within the central nervous system, along with inconsistencies across clinical trials in terms of dosage and administration methods, hinders the ability to obtain robust results. Future efforts should therefore focus on the development of delivery systems capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier and on establishing standardized clinical trial protocols and study designs. This educational review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging protective strategies, including antioxidant bioactive agents and nutritional interventions. It also explores the underlying mechanisms of oxidative stress and its impact on neonatal brain injury. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6f9f06a626c84c6c92f0aaa5472eae15 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-6f9f06a626c84c6c92f0aaa5472eae152025-08-20T02:23:03ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-05-01141181810.3390/cells14110818Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain InjuryVirginia Beretta0Elena Scarpa1Silvia Carloni2Chiara Petrolini3Valentina Dell’Orto4Sebastiano Ravenda5Serafina Perrone6Neonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, 43121 Parma, ItalyNeonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, 43121 Parma, ItalyDepartment of Biomolecular Sciences, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, 61029 Urbino, ItalyNeonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, 43121 Parma, ItalyNeonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, 43121 Parma, ItalyStress Physiology Lab, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Viale delle Scienze 11, 43125 Parma, ItalyNeonatology Unit, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Pietro Barilla Children’s Hospital, 43121 Parma, ItalyPhysiological oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in supporting proper growth and development. While moderate oxidative stress is essential for activating key metabolic pathways and maintaining normal cellular signaling, excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROSs) can overwhelm the immature antioxidant systems of newborns, potentially leading to cellular damage and impaired physiological function. This vulnerability is particularly pronounced in the central nervous system, where limited detoxification capacity exacerbates the risk of oxidative damage, following hypoxic–ischemic events. Antioxidants agents—such as melatonin, erythropoietin, allopurinol, N-acetylcisteine, selenium, iminobiotin, taurine, and acetyl-L-carnitine—have demonstrated significant neuroprotective effects in preclinical experimental studies, reducing markers of oxidative injury and improving neurological outcomes. These neuroprotective agents have also been evaluated in clinical trials, demonstrating antioxidant effects. A major issue lies in the complexity of neurological damage, which is not associated with a single pathological pathway. Additionally, the inability of these agents to reach effective concentrations within the central nervous system, along with inconsistencies across clinical trials in terms of dosage and administration methods, hinders the ability to obtain robust results. Future efforts should therefore focus on the development of delivery systems capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier and on establishing standardized clinical trial protocols and study designs. This educational review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of emerging protective strategies, including antioxidant bioactive agents and nutritional interventions. It also explores the underlying mechanisms of oxidative stress and its impact on neonatal brain injury.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/818oxidative stressbrain injuryneuroprotectiondrugsnewborn infants |
| spellingShingle | Virginia Beretta Elena Scarpa Silvia Carloni Chiara Petrolini Valentina Dell’Orto Sebastiano Ravenda Serafina Perrone Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury Cells oxidative stress brain injury neuroprotection drugs newborn infants |
| title | Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury |
| title_full | Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury |
| title_fullStr | Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury |
| title_short | Antioxidant Bioactive Agents for Neuroprotection Against Perinatal Brain Injury |
| title_sort | antioxidant bioactive agents for neuroprotection against perinatal brain injury |
| topic | oxidative stress brain injury neuroprotection drugs newborn infants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/818 |
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