Neuroprotective strategies using vegetal compounds in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Lately, different therapy strategies for treating or slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease are being analyzed. Moreover, the last two decades have seen a considerable research effort directed towards discovering the causes of Alzheimer's disease with the ultimate hope of developing safe and effective pharmacological treatments. In addition to the therapeutic strategies based on targeted drugs, the regimens will require the simultaneous application of neuroprotective drugs. Therefore, although there is currently no "cure" for Alzheimer's disease, a large number of potential therapeutic strategies emerged lately. In this small mini-review we will selectively describe some of the compounds derived from plants that could have a great potential in the treatment of various diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. In this way, there are many plant species that have been traditionally used for memory disorders. The differentiated results and powerful activity of these extracts are making these neuroprotective strategies to be somehow plausible for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, these plants can be examined in order to isolate and identify their active ingredients and this can serve as a starting point to find safer and more effective agents for therapeutic use. On thing is certain: as the effective treatment options are limited, there is a demand for new drugs. Thus, plant extracts or vegetal compounds could represent an important part in this equation.