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035 a| (Sirsi) o1523697733;

035 a| (OCoLC)1523697733;

049 a| EREE;

096 a| QV 766;

100 1 a| Bessetti, Riley N.,e| author.?| UNAUTHORIZED;

245 10 a| Phytochemicals confer neuroprotection in models of contaminant-induced neurodevelopmental disorders /c| by Riley N. Bessetti.;

264 1 a| [Greenville, N.C.] :b| [East Carolina University],c| 2025.;

300 a| 1 online resource (191 pages) :b| illustrations (chiefly color).;

336 a| textb| txt2| rdacontent;

337 a| computerb| c2| rdamedia;

338 a| online resourceb| cr2| rdacarrier;

347 a| text fileb| application/pdfc| 3.13 MB2| rda;

490 1 a| ECU Brody School of Medicine dissertation;

538 a| System requirements: Adobe Reader.;

538 a| Mode of access: World Wide Web.;

502 b| Ph.D.c| East Carolina Universityd| 2025.;

500 a| Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology.;

500 a| Advisor: Karen Litwa;

500 a| Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 2, 2026).;

650 2 a| Neuroprotection.=| ^A1349581;

520 3 a| Phytochemicals that target antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways have gained attention as promising interventions for mitigating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are linked to oxidative stress-driven disruptions in neural development. Among the many contributing factors, fetal exposure to environmental insults including maternal infection, pollution, and pharmaceuticals increase oxidative stress and the likelihood of ASD development. The response to cellular oxidative stress is regulated in part by the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NRF2), which promotes phase II enzyme and antioxidant gene expression. The work described in this dissertation investigates the neuroprotective potential of two phytochemicals, sulforaphane and cannabidiol (CBD), focusing on their ability to activate the NRF2 pathway. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, we modeled the susceptibility of early brain development to the toxicant valproic acid (VPA) in vitro with parallel assessment in primary mouse cultures. Sulforaphane robustly activates NRF2-mediated antioxidant responses, mitigating VPA-induced oxidative stress and synaptic alterations. In contrast, CBD recruits NRF2 to the nucleus without increasing transcription of antioxidant genes, but may promote neuroprotection through the suppression of neuroinflammatory pathways. Our continuing work, influenced by the growing recognition of the role of neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental disorders, explores how phytochemicals modulate inflammatory responses. Ultimately, these findings contribute to our understanding of how NRF2 activators and the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation can be harnessed as potential preventative strategies to combat environmental exposures that increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.;

504 a| Includes bibliographical references.;

650 2 a| Phytochemicals.=| ^A1273132;

650 2 a| Neurodevelopmental Disorders.=| ^A1337811;

653 a| Oxidative Stress;

700 1 a| Litwa, Karen,e| degree supervisor.?| UNAUTHORIZED;

710 2 a| East Carolina University.b| Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.?| UNAUTHORIZED;

830 0 a| ECU Brody School of Medicine dissertation.?| UNAUTHORIZED;

856 40 z| Access via ScholarShipu| http://hdl.handle.net/10342/14076;

949 o| wjh;

994 a| C0b| ERE;

596 a| 1 4;

998 a| 6584074;

999 a| CLICK ON WEB ADDRESSw| ASISc| 1i| 6584074-1001l| JNETm| JOYNERr| Ys| Yt| JNE3ETDu| 6/16/2025x| ETDz| JERESOURCE;

999 a| CLICK ON WEB ADDRESSw| ASISc| 1i| 6584074-2001l| HSLELECm| HSLr| Ys| Yt| HEETDu| 6/16/2025x| ETDz| HERESOURCE;

Phytochemicals confer neuroprotection in models of contaminant-induced neurodevelopmental disorders / by Riley N. Bessetti.

Author/creator	Bessetti, Riley N. author.
Other author	Litwa, Karen, degree supervisor.
Other author	East Carolina University. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.
Format	Theses and dissertations
Publication	[Greenville, N.C.] : [East Carolina University], 2025.
Description	1 online resource (191 pages) : illustrations (chiefly color).
Supplemental Content	Access via ScholarShip
Subjects	Neuroprotection. Phytochemicals. Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Series	ECU Brody School of Medicine dissertation ECU Brody School of Medicine dissertation. UNAUTHORIZED
Summary	Phytochemicals that target antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways have gained attention as promising interventions for mitigating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Many neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), are linked to oxidative stress-driven disruptions in neural development. Among the many contributing factors, fetal exposure to environmental insults including maternal infection, pollution, and pharmaceuticals increase oxidative stress and the likelihood of ASD development. The response to cellular oxidative stress is regulated in part by the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (NRF2), which promotes phase II enzyme and antioxidant gene expression. The work described in this dissertation investigates the neuroprotective potential of two phytochemicals, sulforaphane and cannabidiol (CBD), focusing on their ability to activate the NRF2 pathway. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology, we modeled the susceptibility of early brain development to the toxicant valproic acid (VPA) in vitro with parallel assessment in primary mouse cultures. Sulforaphane robustly activates NRF2-mediated antioxidant responses, mitigating VPA-induced oxidative stress and synaptic alterations. In contrast, CBD recruits NRF2 to the nucleus without increasing transcription of antioxidant genes, but may promote neuroprotection through the suppression of neuroinflammatory pathways. Our continuing work, influenced by the growing recognition of the role of neuroinflammation in neurodevelopmental disorders, explores how phytochemicals modulate inflammatory responses. Ultimately, these findings contribute to our understanding of how NRF2 activators and the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation can be harnessed as potential preventative strategies to combat environmental exposures that increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.
General note	Presented to the Faculty of the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology.
General note	Advisor: Karen Litwa
General note	Title from PDF t.p. (viewed June 2, 2026).
Dissertation note	Ph.D. East Carolina University 2025.
Bibliography note	Includes bibliographical references.
Technical details	System requirements: Adobe Reader.
Technical details	Mode of access: World Wide Web.

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Phytochemicals confer neuroprotection in models of contaminant-induced neurodevelopmental disorders / by Riley N. Bessetti.

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