Evaluation of neuroprotective potential of plyphenols derived from Portuguese native plants: Juniperus sp. and Rubus sp.

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Neurodegenerative diseases have become a challenge to modern societies in industrialized countries due to the high social and economic impacts and therefore demand intensive research. These diseases present diverse common features, in which oxidative stress plays a very important role. As result of oxidative stress, some molecular mechanisms become dysfunctional and ultimately lead to cell death. Amongst the compounds displaying neuroprotective activity, phenolics have been identified amongst the most active substances from natural sources.(...)