Grape Seed Extract as an Adjuvant Therapy for Huntington Disease; A Narrative Review of Biological Plausibility and...

Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating, genetic disorder with a prevalence of 2.7 per 100,000 people. It is neurodegenerative, leading to cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms from neuronal loss within the striatum of the basal ganglia and cortex. Currently, the treatments involve symptomatic management, instead of treating the pathophysiology of the disease. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a complex mixture of polyphenols, proteins, and lipids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This literature review examines the possibility of using GSE as a potential adjunctive therapy for HD. Preclinical studies have shown a neuroprotective effect through biologically plausible mechanisms. Clinical research has shown that GSE works on redox and inflammatory pathways related to the pathogenesis of HD. Although there are not many clinical trials on GSE in HD patients directly, the overlap of mechanisms behind both GSE and HD and the favorable side effect profile make GSE a potential adjunctive therapy. Targeted clinical investigation is warranted to determine the full therapeutic potential of GSE.