Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review

Abstract Aim of the study This review examines the pharmacology and clinical applications of superfoods like Crocus sativus, Murraya koenigii, Phoenix dactylifera, Punica granatum, Ficus carica, and Beta vulgaris on mental health, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, cogniti...

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Main Authors: Raghupathi Niranjan Kumar, Haja Nazeer Ahamed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-01-01
Series:Discover Food
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00267-5
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author Raghupathi Niranjan Kumar
Haja Nazeer Ahamed
author_facet Raghupathi Niranjan Kumar
Haja Nazeer Ahamed
author_sort Raghupathi Niranjan Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aim of the study This review examines the pharmacology and clinical applications of superfoods like Crocus sativus, Murraya koenigii, Phoenix dactylifera, Punica granatum, Ficus carica, and Beta vulgaris on mental health, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. We hope this perspective guides superfood research. Materials and methods We used PRISMA for our systematic review. We used Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, ResearchGate, and Springer Link. Other book chapters are investigated in this study. We chose 95 original research articles for the study after identification, exclusion, eligibility, and inclusion. Results Crocus sativus had 150 glycosides, carotenoids, flavonoids, monoterpenes, and derivatives that were reviewed. These drugs may assist depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, Parkinson's, stroke, memory, and cognition. Murraya koenigii boosts brain-protecting glutathione peroxidase and SOD. These antioxidants are abundant: linalool, terpinene, myrcene, murrayanol, alpha-pinene Murraya koenigii extract enhances cholinergic transmission and reduces serotonergic and dopaminergic transmission. The anthocyanins, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lignans in Punica granatum polyphenols reduce depression, anxiety, memory loss, and oxidative also decrease stroke. Beta vulgaris antioxidants, betanin, and nitrates prevent oxidation. Phoenix dactylifera and Ficus carica polyphenols reduce anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, antioxidants, and stroke. Ficus carica, Punica granatum, and Phoenix dactylifera antioxidants inhibit cerebral ischaemia. Conclusion After reviewing 95 papers, Ficus carica, Crocus sativus, Beta vulgaris, Murraya koenigii, Punica granatum, and Phoenix dactylifera are neuroprotective and therapeutic. Flavonoids in Ficus carica reduce anxiety and depression, whereas Punica granatum improves memory. Phoenix dactylifera are antioxidants, Beta vulgaris decreases anxiety and depression. They need more research to verify their long-term efficacy.
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spelling doaj-art-85af937b025147388ea056436a27915e2025-01-12T12:26:58ZengSpringerDiscover Food2731-42862025-01-015112310.1007/s44187-024-00267-5Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic reviewRaghupathi Niranjan Kumar0Haja Nazeer Ahamed1Crescent School of Pharmacy, B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and TechnologyCrescent School of Pharmacy, B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and TechnologyAbstract Aim of the study This review examines the pharmacology and clinical applications of superfoods like Crocus sativus, Murraya koenigii, Phoenix dactylifera, Punica granatum, Ficus carica, and Beta vulgaris on mental health, anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive decline, psychosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke. We hope this perspective guides superfood research. Materials and methods We used PRISMA for our systematic review. We used Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest, ResearchGate, and Springer Link. Other book chapters are investigated in this study. We chose 95 original research articles for the study after identification, exclusion, eligibility, and inclusion. Results Crocus sativus had 150 glycosides, carotenoids, flavonoids, monoterpenes, and derivatives that were reviewed. These drugs may assist depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, Parkinson's, stroke, memory, and cognition. Murraya koenigii boosts brain-protecting glutathione peroxidase and SOD. These antioxidants are abundant: linalool, terpinene, myrcene, murrayanol, alpha-pinene Murraya koenigii extract enhances cholinergic transmission and reduces serotonergic and dopaminergic transmission. The anthocyanins, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lignans in Punica granatum polyphenols reduce depression, anxiety, memory loss, and oxidative also decrease stroke. Beta vulgaris antioxidants, betanin, and nitrates prevent oxidation. Phoenix dactylifera and Ficus carica polyphenols reduce anxiety, depression, Alzheimer's, antioxidants, and stroke. Ficus carica, Punica granatum, and Phoenix dactylifera antioxidants inhibit cerebral ischaemia. Conclusion After reviewing 95 papers, Ficus carica, Crocus sativus, Beta vulgaris, Murraya koenigii, Punica granatum, and Phoenix dactylifera are neuroprotective and therapeutic. Flavonoids in Ficus carica reduce anxiety and depression, whereas Punica granatum improves memory. Phoenix dactylifera are antioxidants, Beta vulgaris decreases anxiety and depression. They need more research to verify their long-term efficacy.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00267-5Crocus sativusFicus caricaPunica granatumPhoenix dactyliferaMurraya koenigiiBeta vulgaris
spellingShingle Raghupathi Niranjan Kumar
Haja Nazeer Ahamed
Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
Discover Food
Crocus sativus
Ficus carica
Punica granatum
Phoenix dactylifera
Murraya koenigii
Beta vulgaris
title Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
title_full Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
title_fullStr Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
title_full_unstemmed Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
title_short Superfoods and their impact on brain health: a systematic review
title_sort superfoods and their impact on brain health a systematic review
topic Crocus sativus
Ficus carica
Punica granatum
Phoenix dactylifera
Murraya koenigii
Beta vulgaris
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s44187-024-00267-5
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