Therapeutic potentials of herbal drugs for Alzheimer's disease-An overview

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a well known progressive neurodegenerative disorder having complex pathophysiology. Currently, drugs that are used symptomatically in the treatment of AD include acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) (rivastigmine, galantamine, donepezil) and N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (memantine). Limited bioavailability of these drugs stresses continuity of search for novel therapeutics for this slow growing but complex disease. Herbal drugs are being used to treat memory related problems, including Alzheimer's from time immemorial. Both preclinical and clinical studies demonstrated the therapeutic potential of herbal drugs for the prevention of AD. Herbal drugs have been shown to be effective against Alzheimer's possibly due to their pleiotropic and multifaceted action that includes antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective action. This review highlights the therapeutic potential of herbal drugs for the treatment of AD.