Microbial biotransformation of polyphenols and neuroprotection in neurodegenerative disorders

The field of neurodegenerative disease research is increasingly focused on the roles of the gut-brain axis and the gut microbiome in determining brain health and disease trajectories. Neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases are characterized by progressive cognitive decline and neuronal loss, with limited options for curative treatment. Accumulating evidence highlights dietary polyphenols—notable bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods—as modulators of gut microbiota composition and activity. In turn, gut microbes metabolize these polyphenols into bioactive metabolites, many of which may exert enhanced neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the precise mechanisms by which polyphenols and their microbial metabolites influence neurodegeneration, and how these interactions might be harnessed in clinical interventions.This Research Topic aims to unravel the dynamic interplay between dietary polyphenols, gut microbiota, and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. The main objectives are to clarify the molecular and cellular events underlying the biotransformation of polyphenols by gut microbes and to elucidate the impact of these interactions on neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, and cognitive outcomes. The topic seeks to advance understanding of plant polyphenols as both direct effectors and modulators of microbiota composition, and to evaluate microbiota-targeted strategies—including prebiotic and probiotic interventions—for delaying or preventing neurodegenerative processes. By integrating in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models, the scope ensures a comprehensive exploration from basic mechanisms to translational application.This Research Topic covers experimental, computational, and translational research into the relationships among polyphenols, the gut microbiome, and neurodegenerative disease. Both mechanistic and intervention-focused studies are encouraged, with a special interest in omics-driven and multi-disciplinary investigations. To further insights into this promising cross-disciplinary field, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Microbial metabolism of dietary polyphenols, including identification of key microbiota and metabolitesEffects of polyphenol supplementation on gut microbiota diversity, composition, and functionInfluence of microbial-derived polyphenol metabolites on neuroinflammation, neuroprotection, and cognitive functionOmics-based and bioinformatics approaches to map gut-brain metabolic pathways and networksPrebiotic, probiotic, and synbiotic interventions targeting gut microbiota for neurodegenerative disease modulationUse of simulated gut fermentation models and animal systems to investigate polyphenol-microbiota-brain interactionsTranslational and clinical insights into microbiome- and polyphenol-targeted therapies for neurodegenerative diseases Topic editors: Maizatul Hasyima Omar, Mohan Li, Zhenmin Liu, Chakkaravarthi S Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77356/microbial-biotransformation-of-polyphenols-and-neuroprotection-in-neurodegenerative-disorders