Prominent Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

The phrase "neurodegenerative diseases" refers to conditions that cause a major loss of neurons, both structurally and functionally. Neurodegenerative diseases are serious life-threatening in which neural cells in the brain stop working or die. One of the most recently discovered pathogenic processes in the genesis of neurological illnesses is mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondria play a significant role in various cellular processes such as the production of ATP, intracellular calcium, and generation of reactive oxygen species and improper function leads to diseases. Oxidative stress and aging are two other prevalent etiologies of neurological diseases. Several side effects have emerged as a result of current treatment methods and the progressive nature of illnesses, prompting patients to switch to other medications. The helpful impact of medicinal plants in these situations has been attributed to their demonstration through several cellular and molecular processes. Traditional plants have a few neuroprotective mechanisms: they reduce inflammatory responses, regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines' functional aspects such as tumor growth, and enhance antioxidant qualities. Plant prevention strategies for these diseases heavily rely on variations in transcription and transduction pathways. Some of the therapeutic herbs for preventing neurological disorders are Panax ginseng, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Ginkgo biloba, and Utrica diocia, etc., have shown antioxidant as well as anti-inflammatory effects and also show a promising tool for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. Medicinal plants contain various phytochemical constituents that improve oxidative stress, reduce mitochondrial damage, and protect against brain damage. In short, use of whole plants or parts of medicinal plants from roots to seeds extracted chemicals are used to prevent neurodegenerative illnesses.