Autor(es)

Rosales, Thiecla Katiane Osvaldt ; da Silva, Pedro Brivaldo Viana ; Oliveira, Paulo Alexandre ; Zanetti, Marcus Vinicius ; Santos, Helder A. ; Fabi, Joa Paulo

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY; v. 164, p. 20-pg., 2025-10-01.

Resumo

Background: Emerging evidence highlights the crucial role of gut microbiota in neurodegenerative diseases through the gut-brain axis. Flavonoids, a class of bioactive polyphenols, exhibit neuroprotective potential by modulating microbial composition and reducing neuroinflammation. However, their clinical application faces inherent challenges, including poor chemical stability, low bioavailability, and inefficient delivery to the distal colon. Objective: This comprehensive review examines nano-encapsulated flavonoids as an advanced delivery strategy for optimizing gut microbiota modulation in preventive and adjunctive (add-on) therapy for neurodegenerative disorders. Methods: A systematic bibliometric analysis (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) was performed to identify and evaluate studies focusing on three key areas: flavonoid-microbiota interactions, nanoencapsulation methodologies, and gut-brain axis mechanisms. Special emphasis was placed on polysaccharide-based nanoformulations due to their ability to target the colon. Key findings: Gut microbiota dysbiosis significantly contributes to neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases through microbial metabolite-induced neuroinflammation. Flavonoids exhibit dual mechanisms of action by selectively promoting beneficial bacterial populations while simultaneously generating neuroactive metabolites through microbial biotransformation. Polysaccharide-based nanoencapsulation systems protect flavonoids from premature degradation, enabling controlled release in the colonic environment and significantly enhancing their biological efficacy. Conclusions: Nanoencapsulation technology overcomes the significant biological limitations of flavonoid compounds, demonstrating a technological approach for microbiota-targeted neuroprotection. Developing colonspecific delivery systems maximizes therapeutic interactions with gut microbiota, creating new possibilities for preventive interventions and complementary treatment strategies in neurodegeneration. Future investigations need to include clinical studies, long-term safety assessments, and the development of personalized microbiota modulation protocols. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 23/01396-7 - Nanocarreadores de Antocianinas à Base de Pectina e Lisozima: Abordagem Experimental para Avaliação do Aumento da Biodisponibilidade e dos Efeitos Anticancerígenos no Cólon de Ratos
• Beneficiário: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 22/12834-2 - Efeitos das pectinas modificadas na saúde intestinal: estudos pré-clínicos e clínicos para avaliar efeitos celulares, transcricionais e epigenéticos
• Beneficiário: Joao Paulo Fabi
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular
• Processo FAPESP: 22/12270-1 - Estudo da modulação da microbiota do cólon por meio de oligômeros de pectinas encapsulados em matriz péctica
• Beneficiário: Pedro Brivaldo Viana da Silva
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 13/07914-8 - FoRC - Centro de Pesquisa em Alimentos
• Beneficiário: Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs
• Processo FAPESP: 23/09620-3 - Nanocarreadores de Antocianinas à Base De Pectina e Lisozima: Abordagem Experimental para Avaliação do Aumento da Biodisponibilidade e dos Efeitos Anticancerígenos no Cólon de Ratos
• Beneficiário: Thiécla Katiane Osvaldt Rosales
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Programa Fixação de Jovens Doutores