title: Plants traditionally used in age related brain disorders--a survey of ethnobotanical literature.
abstract: In traditional herbal medicine, numerous plants have been used to treat age related cognitive disorders. In this review we compiled available literature from four Swiss university libraries, scientific journals and online database query's on plants and remedies used in traditional medicinal systems for such diseases. Over 150 plant species in various preparations and mixtures were found. European herbals from the 16th and 17th century alongside traditional Chinese and Indian medicinal works were the most prolific sources. The information is organised into geographic regions and when available the findings are discussed in the light of more recent scientific findings concerning their secondary metabolites and in vitro and in vivo activities relevant to dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Francine
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gmünder
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamburger
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa; D000569:Americas; D000818:Animals; D001208:Asia; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations