Phytotherapeutic alternatives for neurodegenerative dementias: Scientific review, discussion and therapeutic proposal

Abstract

The incidence and prevalence of age‐related neurodegenerative dementias have been increasing. There is no curative therapy and conventional drug treatment can cause problems for patients. Medicinal plants traditionally used for problems associated with ageing are emerging as a therapeutic resource. The main aim is to give a proposal for use and future research based on scientific knowledge and tradition. A literature search was conducted in several searchable databases. The keywords used were related to neurodegenerative dementias, ageing and medicinal plants. Boolean operators and filters were used to focus the search. As a result, there is current clinical and preclinical scientific information on 49 species used in traditional medicine for ageing‐related problems, including neurodegenerative dementias. There are preclinical and clinical scientific evidences on their properties against protein aggregates in the central nervous system and their effects on neuroinflammation, apoptosis dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, gabaergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems alterations, monoamine oxidase alterations, serotonin depletion and oestrogenic protection. In conclusion, the potential therapeutic effect of the different medicinal plants depends on the type of neurodegenerative dementia and its stage of development, but more clinical and preclinical research is needed to find better, safer and more effective treatments.

Dementia Disorders: A Narrative Review

“…As is usual for medicinal plants, they have very complex names like bacopa monnieri and huperzine A. Classic (serotonergic), and non-classic psychedelics have been noted to slow or reverse brain atrophy [34]. These authors suggest that the neuroplasticity mechanism for this effect is the "modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and stimulation of synaptic and network remodeling".…”

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) extract reverts glycaemic imbalance and cognitive impairment in an animal model of obesity

“…60 Particularly, due to the processes of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, and mostly reduction of antioxidant protection made by glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). 59,61 As obesity is a chronic inflammatory condition it may deplete sources of antioxidants defense in the body, and the activity of some enzymes such as SOD and GSH becomes crucial. 62,63 That metabolical change can lead to the initiation of pathogenic that also will be better observed on biological material extracted from subjected metabolic stress.…”

“…Food & Function cytokines in the hippocampus, which favors the neurodegeneration development. 10,61,65,73 Since overstimulation of microglia includes the increase of oxidative stress, we investigated the DHE protective inhibitory capacity of animal brains. 14,60,70 After eleven weeks of diet DHE supplementation, the behavioral test of memory and learning was performed.…”

Challenges and Future Prospects: A Benefaction of Phytoconstituents on Molecular Targets Pertaining to Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Inhibits fibril formation by specifically binding to the Aβ active motif (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). 49 LRP levels in plasma are increased.…”