Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics and Functional Nutrients in Human Health: Epigenetic Mechanisms and Cellular Resilience Signaling in Brain Insulin Resistance and the Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

This review explores how functional nutrients like polyphenols and flavonoids may help counteract damage caused by micro- and nanoplastic exposure, particularly regarding brain health. The study suggests these nutrients can activate protective cellular pathways at low doses to help maintain blood-brain barrier integrity, though chronic pollutant exposure may disrupt antioxidant signaling and contribute to brain insulin resistance.

2025 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Healthful Diet and Nutritional Food as a Preventive and Interventional Paradigm in the Face of Microplastic and Nanoplastic Crisis

This review examines dietary patterns and nutritional interventions as potential strategies to reduce health risks from microplastic and nanoplastic exposure, discussing how antioxidant-rich foods and specific nutrients may mitigate inflammation and oxidative stress triggered by MNP ingestion.

2025 Food Frontiers
Article Tier 2

Role of nutraceutical against exposure to pesticide residues: power of bioactive compounds

This review explores how nutraceuticals, which are health-promoting compounds found in foods like fruits, vegetables, and spices, might help protect the body against damage from pesticide exposure. The bioactive compounds, including antioxidants and polyphenols, can support detoxification and repair cellular damage caused by environmental toxins. While focused on pesticides, this approach is relevant to microplastic exposure because microplastics carry pesticides and other chemicals into the body, and dietary interventions could potentially help mitigate some of their harmful effects.

2024 Frontiers in Nutrition 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Oxidative stress-activated Nrf2 remitted polystyrene nanoplastic-induced mitochondrial damage and inflammatory response in HepG2 cells

Researchers discovered that polystyrene nanoplastics damage human liver cells by causing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, but the cells activate a protective pathway called Nrf2 to fight back. When the Nrf2 defense was blocked, the damage from nanoplastics became significantly worse, confirming its protective role. This study helps explain how the liver tries to defend itself against nanoplastic toxicity, and suggests that people with weaker antioxidant defenses may be more vulnerable to liver damage from plastic exposure.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 16 citations
Review Tier 2

Cellular mechanisms of microplastic and nanoparticle exposure and its relationship with metabolic diseases: Literature review

This literature review examined how microplastic and nanoparticle exposure affects cellular mechanisms related to metabolic disease, finding evidence that these contaminants disrupt insulin signaling, alter lipid metabolism, and may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.

2025 Biological Environment and Pollution
Article Tier 2

Sakuranetin counteracts polyethylene microplastics induced nephrotoxic effects via modulation of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics caused kidney damage in rats by increasing oxidative stress and disrupting a key protective cellular pathway. However, when the natural plant compound sakuranetin was administered alongside the microplastics, it significantly reduced the kidney damage by restoring antioxidant defenses. The study suggests that certain natural compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects of microplastic exposure on organ health.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Attenuative effects of tamarixetin against polystyrene microplastics‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats by regulation of Nrf‐2/Keap‐1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether tamarixetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, could reduce liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. The study found that tamarixetin helped protect against microplastic-induced liver toxicity by activating antioxidant defense pathways, suggesting potential protective effects of certain plant-derived compounds against microplastic-related oxidative stress.

2023 Cell Biochemistry and Function 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Ovarian Aging: Potential Mechanism and Protective Strategies

This review explores how the Nrf2 signaling pathway, a key defense system against oxidative stress, plays a role in ovarian aging, which leads to menopause, reduced fertility, and health risks like osteoporosis. While not focused on microplastics specifically, the Nrf2 pathway is one of the main systems that microplastics disrupt when they accumulate in reproductive tissues. Understanding this pathway helps explain how environmental pollutants like microplastics could accelerate ovarian aging and harm fertility.

2023 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Protective role of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics instigatedcardiac toxicity via regulating Nrf2/keap1 pathway

Researchers found that exposing rats to polyethylene microplastics caused significant heart damage — including oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death — by disrupting the Nrf2 antioxidant defense pathway. Supplementing with poncirin, a natural plant flavonoid, substantially protected cardiac tissue by restoring antioxidant activity, suggesting a potential protective role against microplastic-induced heart toxicity.

2024 Asian Journal of Agriculture and Biology 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nanoplastic toxicity in humans: Exposure pathways, cellular effects, and mitigation strategies

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics enter the body through food, air, and skin, then accumulate in organs where they trigger oxidative stress, inflammation, cell death, and genetic damage. These effects have been linked to chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity, immune dysfunction, and brain diseases, and the review highlights promising countermeasures including advanced filtration, bioremediation, and protective compounds like melatonin and probiotics.

2025 Toxicology Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of polyethylene microplastics toxicity using Nrf2/ARE and MAPK/Nrf2 signaling pathways

Researchers exposed male and female rats to varying doses of polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent increases in oxidative stress markers and disruptions to reproductive hormone levels. They identified specific cellular signaling pathways, including the Nrf2 antioxidant response system, that were affected by microplastic exposure. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion may trigger oxidative damage and reproductive effects through identifiable molecular mechanisms.

2025 Toxicology Mechanisms and Methods 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene nanoplastics induce glycolipid metabolism disorder via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathway in mice

Researchers fed mice polystyrene nanoplastics and found that the particles disrupted the animals' ability to regulate blood sugar and fat metabolism. The nanoplastics triggered oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver, activating signaling pathways that led to insulin resistance and abnormal fat accumulation. The study provides evidence that nanoplastic exposure may contribute to metabolic disorders through specific molecular mechanisms involving the NF-kB and MAPK pathways.

2023 Journal of Environmental Sciences 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Narirutin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and Nrf2/Keap1 pathway

Researchers investigated whether narirutin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. The study suggests that microplastic exposure triggered significant kidney stress through oxidation and inflammation, but narirutin helped reduce that damage by activating protective cellular pathways.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging Contaminants: An Emerging Risk Factor for Diabetes Mellitus

This review examines how emerging environmental contaminants, including microplastics and nanoplastics, may contribute to the development and progression of diabetes. These contaminants can disrupt glucose metabolism through oxidative stress, inflammation, and interference with hormone signaling. The findings suggest that chronic exposure to microplastics and other pollutants in food and water could be an overlooked risk factor for the growing global diabetes epidemic.

2024 Toxics 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the micro- and nanoplastics–diabetes nexus: Shattered barriers, toxic links, and methodological horizons

This review examines growing evidence that micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to diabetes by disrupting blood sugar regulation, insulin signaling, and fat metabolism through oxidative stress and inflammation. Animal studies show that plastic particles can damage the pancreas, liver, and gut in ways that mirror the development of diabetes, though human studies are still limited. The review calls for more research into whether everyday microplastic exposure could be a hidden factor in the global rise of metabolic diseases.

2025 Environmental Pollution 7 citations
Article Tier 2

The Impact of Micro-Nanoplastics on Mitochondria in the Context of Diet and Diet-Related Diseases

This review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may worsen diet-related diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes by damaging mitochondria, the energy-producing structures inside cells. Studies suggest that microplastic exposure combined with unhealthy diets can amplify metabolic problems like insulin resistance and high blood sugar. The findings point to mitochondrial damage as a key link between microplastic exposure and the growing epidemic of metabolic diseases.

2025 Stresses 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect and a mechanistic evaluation of polystyrene nanoplastics on a mouse model of type 2 diabetes

Researchers found that polystyrene nanoplastics worsened type 2 diabetes symptoms in mice, including blood sugar control, insulin resistance, and organ damage in the liver and pancreas. Even nanoplastics alone, without a high-fat diet, caused significant increases in blood glucose and insulin resistance at higher doses. The study reveals a specific molecular pathway through which nanoplastics disrupt blood sugar regulation, raising concerns that chronic human exposure to nanoplastics could contribute to metabolic diseases like diabetes.

2023 Food and Chemical Toxicology 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Targeting NF-κB Signaling: Selected Small Molecules Downregulate Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Both Food Allergen and LPS-Induced Inflammation

This study found that two natural food compounds, vanillyl alcohol and lauric acid, can reduce inflammation by blocking the NF-kB pathway, a key driver of chronic inflammatory diseases. While not directly about microplastics, the NF-kB pathway is one of the main ways that microplastic exposure triggers inflammation in the body. These findings suggest that certain dietary compounds could help mitigate the inflammatory effects of environmental pollutants like microplastics.

2024 International Journal of Molecular Sciences 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Reno-protective potential of poncirin against polyethylene microplastics instigated kidney damage in rats via regulating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

In a rat study, daily exposure to polyethylene microplastics caused kidney damage — elevated creatinine, urea, and injury biomarkers — while a natural plant compound called poncirin partially reversed this damage by activating the Nrf-2/Keap-1 antioxidant defense pathway. While the doses used were high and results need human validation, the study adds to growing evidence that microplastics can harm the kidneys and that dietary antioxidants may offer some protection.

2024 Journal of King Saud University - Science 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Mitigative potential of kaempferide against polyethylene microplastics induced testicular damage by activating Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway

Researchers tested whether kaempferide, a natural plant compound with antioxidant properties, could protect against testicular damage caused by polyethylene microplastics in rats. They found that the microplastics triggered significant oxidative stress and tissue damage in the testes, but kaempferide treatment substantially reduced these harmful effects by activating a key protective cellular pathway. The study suggests that natural antioxidant compounds may help counteract some of the reproductive harm associated with microplastic exposure.

2023 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Biological exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics and plastic additives: impairment of glycolipid metabolism and adverse effects on metabolic diseases

This review examines how exposure to micro- and nanoplastics disrupts the body's ability to process sugars and fats, potentially contributing to diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The plastics cause inflammation and oxidative stress, damage gut bacteria, trigger insulin resistance, and increase fat buildup in the liver. For people who already have metabolic conditions, plastic exposure may make their disease worse.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of Micro and Nanoplastics on Inflammatory and Antioxidant Gene Expression in the Gastrointestinal System

This study examined the effects of micro- and nanoplastics on inflammatory and antioxidant gene expression in gastrointestinal tissues. The results indicate that plastic particles trigger upregulation of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress pathways in gut cells, contributing to understanding of how dietary microplastic exposure may contribute to gastrointestinal disease.

2025 Journal of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Nanoplastics induced health risk: Insights into intestinal barrier homeostasis and potential remediation strategy by dietary intervention

Researchers showed that environmentally aged nanoplastics disrupt intestinal barrier integrity by increasing permeability, triggering inflammation via AP-1 signaling, and inducing mitochondrial apoptosis, and that dietary quercetin counteracts these effects by activating the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway and suppressing p38/JNK phosphorylation.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Nanoplastics Act as Metal Carriers with the Potential to Alter Human Gene Expression Patterns—The Inferences from Bioinformatic Online Tools

This review examined how micro- and nanoplastic particles interact with and adsorb metals such as iron, copper, and zinc, and how this metal trafficking into cells alters gene expression and cellular function. The authors highlighted emerging evidence that MNPs act as metal carriers that amplify trace element toxicity and cellular stress responses.

2025 Biomolecules