Review of ethnomedicinal uses and phytopharmacology of herbs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The disruption of the delicate balance between the body's antioxidants and oxidants' production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) leads to a number of health-related difficulties these days, the most prominent of which being Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is a progressive neurological disease that presents major problems for medical systems. Current allopathic treatments were effective in treating symptoms, but they were unable to halt the disease's progression. Herbs have been widely employed in traditional treatments for age-related memory loss and cognitive impairment since prehistoric times. It is stated that medicinal plants include a variety of dynamic components and have emerged as a popular alternative to synthetic based medicine for the treatment of cognitive and related diseases. In this article we have focused on few beneficial medicinal plants and their phytochemicals, including Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, Bacopa monnieri, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Clitoria ternatea, Centella asiatica, Commiphora wightii, and Nardostachys jatamansi. Phytoconstituents of these plants exhibit various neuroprotective activity like antioxidant activity, inhibition of A? deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation. The findings of the study emphasize the importance of exploring herbal medicinal plants for treating Alzheimer's disease, as they may offer minimal side effects compared to allopathic drugs.