Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. polyphenols attenuate acrylamide-induced cerebral injury via dual modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 and MAPK pathways.
Han Haixia, Gao Juanjuan, Sun Quan, Tong Dandan, Liu Jian, Yang Xiuli, Sun Jingjing, Cui Yue, Wang Juan, Feng Zuoshan, Jia Mingxi
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acrylamide (ACR), an environmental neurotoxicant prevalent in thermally processed foods, contributes to brain injury via oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. The cumulative effects of long-term low-dose exposure are particularly alarming. As a traditional food ingredient, the inflorescence of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. is rich in polyphenolic compounds that exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study systematically evaluated the neuroprotective potential of Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. polyphenols (CTNP) against chronic low-dose ACR exposure in mice. RESULTS: Behavioral analyses demonstrated that CTNP (0.25-1.00 g kg-1) significantly ameliorated ACR-induced gait abnormalities and restored voluntary activity. CTNP mitigated neuronal misalignment and loss of synaptic density in the hippocampal CA1/CA3 regions and markedly reduced serum levels of brain injury markers MBP and GFAP by 30.6% and 41.7%, respectively. Mechanistic investigations revealed that CTNP attenuated oxidative damage via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, leading to decreased brain reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels while enhancing catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Furthermore, CTNP suppressed MAPK pathway-mediated neuroinflammation, reducing pro-inflammatory factors such as COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that CTNP, as diet-derived bioactives, mitigate ACR neurotoxicity through coordinated modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant and MAPK anti-inflammatory pathways, supporting their potential as a functional food component for preventing environmental toxicant-associated neural damage. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
Key Findings
- Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. polyphenols (CTNP) significantly improved behavioral deficits caused by acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in mice.
- CTNP reduced neuronal damage and synaptic loss in hippocampal regions and lowered serum brain injury markers MBP and GFAP by over 30%.
- CTNP activated the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway, decreasing oxidative stress markers and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, while suppressing MAPK pathway-mediated neuroinflammation.
Clinical Significance
CTNP shows potential as a dietary neuroprotective agent by mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation caused by environmental neurotoxicants, suggesting its use in preventing neural damage linked to chronic toxin exposure.
Citation
Han Haixia, Gao Juanjuan, Sun Quanet al.. Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. polyphenols attenuate acrylamide-induced cerebral injury via dual modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 and MAPK pathways. Journal of the science of food and agriculture. 2026-Mar-29.