Neurogenic Traditional Chinese Medicine as a Promising Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Hippocampal neurogenesis plays a critical role in the formation of new neurons during learning and memory development. Attenuation of neurogenesis in the brain is one of the primary causes of dementia in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and, conversely, modulating the process of hippocampal neurogenesis benefit patients with AD. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), particularly herbal medicine, has been in use for thousands of years in Asia and many regions of the world for the treatment of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of neurotrophic factors, signal transducing factors, epigenetic modulators and neurotransmitters in neurogenesis, and we also discuss the functions of several Chinese herbs and their active molecules in activating multiple pathways involved in neurogenesis. TCM herbs target pathways such as Notch, Wnt, Sonic Hedgehog and receptor tyrosine kinase pathway, leading to activation of a signaling cascade that ultimately enhances the transcription of several important genes necessary for neurogenesis. Given these pathway activating effects, the use of TCM herbs could be an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of AD.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Interventions in Neurological Disorder Therapeutics by Regulating Glutamate Signaling

“…Chinese herbal medicine, together with acupuncture, autonomy, and Chinese massage are called traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies. Recently, TCM supports insightful strategies in treating neurologic diseases, and a variety of active ingredients of Chinese herbal medicine have been proven to specifically modulate glutamate targets for improving neurologic disorders [ 9 - 11 ]. To completely overview the effects of these natural constituents on neurological diseases through regulating glutamate signaling, we gathered the relevant literature since 2000, and a majority of these studies were concentrated around the last three years.…”

Assessing the therapeutic potential of Graptopetalum paraguayense on Alzheimer’s disease using patient iPSC-derived neurons

“…It is well established that certain natural products often possess therapeutic effects and that such natural products may have been used for the treatment and prevention of human diseases for centuries across various cultures. Moreover, it is well known that herbal medicines have a long history of being used to prevent and treat cognitive decline, one AD-like symptom 17,18 . Graptopetalum paraguayense (GP), a herbal medicine commonly used in Taiwan, is considered to have a range of potentially beneficial effects; these include the lowering of blood pressure and blood glucose, the alleviating of hepatic disorders, the inhibition of inflammation, anti-hepatic fibrosis activity, and anti-hepatoma activity, as well as having neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on inflammation-associated neurological diseases 19–24 .…”

Chinese herbal medicines on cognitive function and activity of daily living in senior adults with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Not only CHM regulated immune-neuroendocrine functions and hemorrheology, but also altered cognitive dysfunction 52 . Taken together, the CHMs seem to have great benefits to the relief of patients with AD though changing or regulating signaling pathways (e.g., calcium, enzyme), neuroregeneration, and even reducing Aβ concentration 53, 54…”