Momordica charantia (bitter melon) attenuates high-fat diet-associated oxidative stress and neuroinflammation
Author(s)
Pratibha V. Nerurkar, Lisa M. Johns , Lance M. Buesa, Gideon Kipyakwai , Esther Volpe, Ryuei Sato, Pranjal Shah, Domonkos Feher, Philip G. Williams and Vivek R. Nerurkar
Publication
Journal of Neuroinflammation
Synopsis
The rising epidemic of obesity is associated with cognitive decline and is considered as one of the major risk factors for neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroinflammation is a critical component in the progression of several neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Increased metabolic flux to the brain during overnutrition and obesity can orchestrate stress response, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, recruitment of inflammatory immune cells from peripheral blood and microglial cells activation leading to neuroinflammation. The lack of an effective treatment for obesity-associated brain dysfunction may have far-reaching public health ramifications, urgently necessitating the identification of appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies. The objective of our study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of Momordica charantia (bitter melon) on high-fat diet (HFD)-associated BBB disruption, stress and neuroinflammatory cytokines.
