Exploring the Neuroprotective Promise of Functional Fruit Phytochemicals

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, represent a significant global clinical challenge, since existing treatments primarily manage symptoms rather than addressing the complex and multifactorial underlying pathologies. Functional fruits, including both their edible and nonedible parts, are rich in bioactive phytochemicals such as ellagitannins, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ellagic acid, which collectively exhibit antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. These compounds modulate key signaling pathways involved in inflammation, neuroplasticity, cell survival, and neuronal signaling, suggesting therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases. In resource‐limited settings such as South Africa, leveraging the medicinal properties of functional fruits and their waste products is particularly valuable. However, the existing reviews rarely address both the edible pulp and nonedible wastes, such as seeds and peels, in relation to their pharmacological relevance for neuronal health. This review synthesizes current evidence on the neuroprotective effects of commonly consumed functional fruits, focusing on their bioactive compounds and underlying mechanisms of action. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct to identify studies evaluating antiamyloid‐beta accumulation, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of selected functional fruits. The analysis revealed that both the edible and waste parts contain bioactive compounds (such as ellagitannins, quercetin, and gallic acid) with neuroprotective potential. While further studies are required to confirm the safety, efficacy, and bioavailability of these compounds, current evidence highlights the medicinal relevance of functional fruits’ edible parts and often‐overlooked waste fractions as promising sources for neurodegenerative disease interventions.