title: Comparison of Two Old Phytochemicals versus Two Newly Researched Plant-Derived Compounds: Potential for Brain and Other Relevant Ailments.
abstract: Among hundreds of formulae of Chinese herbal prescriptions and recently extracted active components from the herbs, some of which had demonstrated their functions on nervous system. For the last decade or more, Gingko biloba and Polygala tenuifolia were widely studied for their beneficial effects against damage to the brain. Two compounds extracted from Apium graveolens and Rhizoma coptidis, butylphthalide and berberine, respectively, received much attention recently as potential neuroprotective agents. In this review, the two traditionally used herbs and the two relatively new compounds will be discussed with regard to their potential advantages in alleviating brain and other relevant ailments.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Center, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chun-Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Center, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Willmann
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3260-8470
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Center, Institute of Chinese Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong ; Brain Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Yew