Phytochemicals Mediated Remediation of Neurotoxicity Induced by Heavy Metals

Table 1

Phytochemicals as antidotes to heavy metals induced toxicity.

Phytochemicals	Sources	Protective functions	References
Allicin	Garlic	Reduces arsenic induced oxidative and arsenic toxicity by complex formation.	[6, 7]
Anthocyanin/flavonoids	Cherry, grapes, and berries	Anthocyanin protects against Cd-induced oxidative stress.; Anthocyanin appears to effectively diminish Pb induced oxidative stress.	[8, 9]
Catechins	Tea, cocoa, peach, and berries	Catechin inhibits Cd absorption and normalises bone metabolic disorders through the bone mineral density, bone mineral content, and bone calcium content. Catechin protects hepatic cell membrane fluidity, increases cell viability, and modulates oxidative stress.	[10, 11]
Curcumin	Turmeric	Curcumin protects against Cd-induced lipid peroxidation.; Curcumin binds Pb to form an excretable complex, reducing neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.	[12–15]
Naringenin	Orange, grapefruit, and tomato	Naringenin quenches free radicals, recovers antioxidant enzyme activity, and chelates Cd.	[16]
γ-Oryzanol	Rice	γ-Oryzanol reduces the testicular Cd concentration, improves δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity, and prevents lipid peroxidation.	[17]
Quercetin	Onion, tomato and radish olive oil, red wine, tea, and so forth	Induces the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Quercetin modulates the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway and forms excretable complex with Pb hydroxyl and superoxide groups scavenge radicals, whereas the phenolic groups act as possible chelating sites.	[18–23]
Phenolics	Coriander, fruits, vegetables, and tea	Act as antioxidants.	[13, 24, 25]
Phycocyanobilin	Cyanobacteria (Spirulina and Chlorella)	Probably acting as antioxidants.	[26, 27]
Puerarin	Pueraria mirifica plant	Puerarin modulates the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) pathway, reduces reactive oxygen species, and protects against DNA damage and apoptosis.	[22, 28]
Vitamins A (β- carotenes), B1, B6, C, and E	Nigella sativa	Act as antioxidants.	[29–32]