Can herbs provide a new generation of drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease?
The overall aim of this review is to discuss cellular mechanisms at work in the progression of AD and current therapeutic strategies for treating AD, with a focus on the potential efficacy of herbal treatments. Recent advances in molecular, cellular, and animal model studies have revealed that formation of the 4-kDa amyloid beta peptide is a key factor in the development and progression of AD. Several cellular changes have been identified that are related to amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles found in the autopsied brains of AD patients and in AD animal models. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed to treat AD, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-amyloid approaches. Recently, herbal treatments have been tested in animal and cellular models of AD and in clinical trials with AD subjects. In AD animal models and cell models, herbal extracts appear to have fewer adverse effects than beneficial effects on A beta and cognitive functions. These extracts have multi-functional properties (pro-cholinergic, anti-oxidant, anti-amyloid, and anti-inflammatory), and their use in the treatment of AD patients looks promising. The chemical compositions of herbs and their potential for alleviating or reducing symptoms of AD or for affecting the disease mechanism need to be further studied.
Anekonda
Thimmappa S
TS
Neurogenetics Laboratory, Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
Reddy
P Hemachandra
PH
D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts