Abstract

ROLE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MANAGEMENT OF ALZHEIMER’S AND NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASE –REVIEW

S. Rajkumar*, P. Selvamani, S. Latha and P. S. Dhivya

Abstract

Alzheimer‘s disease (AD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the elderly population and it is considered to be responsible for a 60% of all dementia in people aged 65 or older. Due to its unbearable nature, an enormous social and economic burden is placed on society. Currently there is no permanent heal for the disorder and much of the treatments available have been able to only delay the progression of the disease or provide symptomatic relief for a short period of time. Present are necessitating for an advance treatment of these diseases. Plants have been used since archeological find in the treatment of various diseases including cognitive disorders, such as AD. Phytochemical substances such as alkaloids (galathamine), curcuminoids, heperzine, ginkgolid, icariin, ginsenoside, carinatumins, esveratrol, berberine, rhapenticin, rhapontigenin, tenshinone, desitoindosi IX, salvianolic acid, diterpenes, triterpenoid (ursolicacids), stilbenes and withanolides were pharmacological activities relevant to treat AD. The medicinal plants have been act on multi functional molecular mechanism in AD (Senile plaque deposition, antiamyloid, neurofibrillary tangle formation and tau hyperphosphorylation).

Keywords: amyloid plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, tau proteins, secretase inhibitors.