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Neurotoxic effects of environmental contaminants—measurements, mechanistic insight, and environmental relevance

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Abstract

Pollution is a significant and growing concern for any population regardless of age because these environmental contaminants exhibit different neurodegenerative effects on persons of different ages. These environmental contaminants are the products of human welfare projects like industry, automobile exhaust, clinical and research laboratory extrudes, and agricultural chemicals. These contaminants are found in various forms in environmental matrices like nanoparticles, particulate matter, lipophilic vaporized toxicants, and ultrafine particulate matter. Because of their small size, they can easily cross blood–brain barriers or use different cellular mechanisms for assistance. Other than this, these contaminants cause an innate immune response in different cells of the central nervous system and cause neurotoxicity. Considering the above critiques and current needs, this review summarizes different protective strategies based on bioactive compounds present in plants. Various bioactive compounds from medicinal plants with neuroprotective capacities are discussed with relevant examples. Many in vitro studies on clinical trials have shown promising outcomes using plant-based bioactive compounds against neurological disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Nadia Afsheen & Hamza Rafeeq

  2. Department of Pharmacy, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Sadia Rafique

  3. Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Kanwal Irshad

  4. Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Asim Hussain

  5. Department of Chemistry, Riphah International University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan

    Zille Huma

  6. Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, School of Engineering and Sciences, GD Goenka University, Sohna Road, Gurugram, Haryana, 122103, India

    Vineet Kumar

  7. School of Life Science and Food Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian, 223003, China

    Muhammad Bilal

  8. Chrono-Environment Laboratory, UMR CNRS 6249, Bourgogne Franche-Comté University, Besançon, France

    Lotfi Aleya

  9. Tecnologico de Monterrey, School of Engineering and Sciences, 64849, Monterrey, Mexico

    Hafiz M. N. Iqbal

Authors
  1. Nadia Afsheen
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  2. Sadia Rafique
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  3. Hamza Rafeeq
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  4. Kanwal Irshad
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  5. Asim Hussain
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  6. Zille Huma
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  7. Vineet Kumar
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  8. Muhammad Bilal
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  9. Lotfi Aleya
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  10. Hafiz M. N. Iqbal
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Contributions

Nadia Afsheen, Hamza Rafeeq, Asim Hussain, and Muhammad Bilal conceptualized and set the review theme. Nadia Afsheen, Sadia Rafique, Hamza Rafeeq, Kanwal Irshad, Asim Hussain, Zille Huma, and Vineet Kumar performed an initial literature evaluation and screened the data as per the theme of the review. Muhammad Bilal, Lotfi Aleya, and Hafiz M.N. Iqbal reviewed and edited the final manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hafiz M. N. Iqbal.

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Afsheen, N., Rafique, S., Rafeeq, H. et al. Neurotoxic effects of environmental contaminants—measurements, mechanistic insight, and environmental relevance. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29, 70808–70821 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-22779-2

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