Title:Dietary Flavonoids Interaction with CREB-BDNF Pathway: An Unconventional Approach for Comprehensive Management of Epilepsy
Volume: 17
Issue: 12
Author(s): Pallavi Sharma, Amit Kumar and Damanpreet Singh*
Affiliation:
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur-176061, Himachal Pradesh,India
Keywords:
cAMP response element binding protein, bioavailability, epilepsy comorbidities, neuroinflammation, neurotrophins,
cognitive deficit.
Abstract: cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is a key transcriptional regulator that
regulates the transcription of genes related with neuronal differentiation, synaptic plasticity, learning
and memory. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is a CREB dependent gene which
plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy and central comorbid conditions associated with
epilepsy. However, the beneficial or detrimental consequences of CREB-BDNF activation on the
induction and/or progression of seizures depend specifically on the region of brain involved and the
time of activation. The bioactive molecules that alter the activity of CREB in a way to have specialized
effects in different brain regions and neural circuits involved could potentially be utilized for
therapeutic purposes. Flavonoids are the polyphenolic compounds which lead to phosphorylation of
CREB in the hippocampus, followed by increase in extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and
BDNF. Several members of flavonoid family have also showed suppression of epileptic seizures via
interaction with CREB/BDNF pathway. Moreover, epilepsy is often accompanied by a number of
behavioural and psychological comorbid conditions that further gets aggravated by the use of conventional
antiepileptic drug therapy. Multiple studies have also supported the beneficial effects of
flavonoids in cognitive and memory impairments by upregulation of CREB-BDNF pathway. The
current review is an attempt to collate the available preclinical and clinical studies to establish the
therapeutic potential of various dietary flavonoids in comprehensive management of epilepsy with
relation to CREB-BDNF pathway.