Herbal Medicines as Neuroprotective Agent: A Mechanistic Approach

Abstract

Neurodegeneration refers to a condition of neuronal death occurring as a result of progressive disease of long-term and is becoming a major health problem in the 21st century. Neurons degenerated are not replaced resulting in a cognitive loss, many neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression, Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia, cerebrovascular impairment, seizure disorders, head injury, parkinsonism. The common pathology of neurodegeneration includes deposition of misfolded proteins such as amyloid-β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease, α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease (PD), transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in dementia. Neuroprotection refers to the strategies and possible mechanisms that are able to protect the central nervous system (CNS) against neuronal injury and neurodegenerative disorders. The past decade has witnessed an intense interest in herbal plants having long-term health-promoting or medicinal qualities. Comprehensive research and discovery have demonstrated that natural products, medicinal herbs, plant extracts, and their metabolites, have great potential as the neuroprotective agent. Although the precise mechanisms of action of herbal drugs have yet to be determined, some of them have been shown to prevent formation of betaamyloid plaques, promote nerve growth, some inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in brain while other exhibits antioxidant activity by increasing the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Thus the herbal plants can be a valuable source of the drug against neurodegenerative disorders which will require high-throughput screening. This review will highlight the role of herbal plants and their phytoconstituents against neurodegenerative diseases and other related disorders, focusing on their mechanism of action and therapeutic potential.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of Glycyrrhiza Glabra Linn. And Diosmetin on Modulation of Spatial Memory Through Acetylcholinesterase and Brain‑derived Neurotrophic Factor in Ethanol-Induced Cognitive Impairment Model Rats

“…Histopathological studies were shown as appeared as shrunken and decreased number of the pyramidal cells [39]. These results inferred with our study and suggest that the herbal plants could be a valuable source of drug against NDD which will prove through highthroughput screening for further drug discovery fields [40]. Our results exhibit that elevated BDNF level in drug-treated group may be implied with prevention of cognitive impairment.…”

Curcumin – The Healing Herb: Properties and Future Prospective

“…Protein misfolding and their accumulation inside or outside of neurons are the key pathological feature in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Huntington's disease. Herbal medicines are regarded as effective and promising sources of potential neuroprotective agents because of their cognitive benefits and more significantly, their mechanisms of action with respect to the fundamental pathophysiology of the diseases [45]. HPTLC method was developed using the combination of three solvents as a mobile phase, i.e., toluene-chloroform-methanol (5:…”

Neuropharmacological Effects of the Ethanolic Extract of Derivatives of Lupeol in Rats

“…The [13]. Anxiolytic agents increase the motor activity, which manifests an increase in the time spent by the animal in the open arms of EPM [14].…”