Flavonoids as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents

Neuroinflammation is known as the main mechanism implicated in the advancement of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The main feature of neuroinflammation is associated with the activation of microglia. The activated microglia increase proinflammatory cytokine production and induce progressive neuronal cell death. Citrus flavonoids show neuroprotective effects that are associated with the anti-inflammatory action of flavonoids in neurodegenerative diseases. Among these citrus flavonoids, kaempferol, naringin, and nobiletin show inhibitory effects on nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways that can modulate inflammatory conditions in microglial cells. In the present review, we present the anti-inflammatory activities of citrus flavonoids and therapeutic potential of flavonoids as neuroprotective agents.