Title:An Overview and Therapeutic Promise of Nutraceuticals Against
Sports-Related Brain Injury
Volume: 15
Author(s): Ashif Iqubal, Pratichi Bansal, Mohammad Kashif Iqubal, Faheem Hyder Pottoo*Syed Ehtaishamul Haque*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal, University, P.O.BOX 1982, Damman, 31441, ,Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi-110062, ,India
Keywords:
Cognition, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, signaling pathway and natural products.
Abstract: Sports-related traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the common neurological maladies
experienced by athletes. Earlier, the term ‘punch drunk syndrome’ was used in the case TBI of boxers
and now this term is replaced by chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Sports-related brain
injury can either be short-term or long-term. A common instance of brain injury encompasses subdural
hematoma, concussion, cognitive dysfunction, amnesia, headache, vision issue, axonopathy,
or even death, if it remains undiagnosed or untreated. Further, chronic TBI may lead to pathogenesis
of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration via tauopathy, the formation of neurofibrillary tangles,
and damage to the blood-brain barrier, microglial, and astrocyte activation. Thus, altered
pathological, neurochemical, and neurometabolic attributes lead to the modulation of multiple signaling
pathways and cause neurological dysfunction. Available pharmaceutical interventions are
based on one drug one target hypothesis and are thereby unable to cover altered multiple signaling
pathways. However, in recent times, pharmacological intervention of nutrients and nutraceuticals
have been explored as they exert a multifactorial mode of action and maintain over homeostasis of
the body. There are various reports available showing the positive therapeutic effect of nutraceuticals
in sport-related brain injury. Therefore, in the current article, we have discussed the pathology,
neurological consequence, sequelae, and perpetuation of sports-related brain injury. Further, we
have discussed various nutraceutical supplements as well as available animal models to explore the
neuroprotective effect/ upshots of these nutraceuticals in sports-related brain injury.