Unlocking the potential of low-molecular-weight (Poly)phenol metabolites: Protectors at the blood-brain barrier frontier

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are an increasing group of chronic and progressive neurological disorders that ultimately lead to neuronal cell failure and death. Despite all efforts throughout decades, their burden on individuals and society still casts one of the most massive socioeconomic problems worldwide.

The neuronal failure observed in NDDs results from an intricacy of events, mirroring disease complexity, ranging from protein aggregation, oxidative stress, (neuro)inflammation, and even blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, ultimately leading to cognitive and motor symptoms in patients. As a result of such complex pathobiology, to date, there are still no effective treatments to treat/halt NDDs progression.

Fortunately, interest in the bioavailable low molecular weight (LMW) phenolic metabolites derived from the metabolism of dietary (poly)phenols has been rising due to their multitargeted potential in attenuating multiple NDDs hallmarks. Even if not highly BBB permeant, their relatively high concentrations in the bloodstream arising from the intake of (poly)phenol-rich diets make them ideal candidates to act within the vasculature and particularly at the level of BBB.

In this review, we highlight the most recent - though still scarce - studies demonstrating LMW phenolic metabolites’ ability to modulate BBB homeostasis, including the improvement of tight and adherens junctional proteins, as well as their power to decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and oxidative stress levels in vitro and in vivo. Specific BBB-permeant LMW phenolic metabolites, such as simple phenolic sulfates, have been emerging as strong BBB properties boosters, pleiotropic compounds capable of improving cell fitness under oxidative and pro-inflammatory conditions. Nevertheless, further studies should be pursued to obtain a holistic overview of the promising role of LMW phenolic metabolites in NDDs prevention and management to fully harness their true therapeutic potential.