Abstract
Alzheimerʼs disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive
dementia and deterioration of cognitive function. Although several drugs currently
used for the treatment of Alzheimerʼs disease delay its onset and slow its progression,
still there is no drug with profound disease-modifying effects. Studies aiming the
treatment of this neurodegenerative disorder explore various disease mechanisms. Since
antiquity, medicinal herbs have been used in traditional medicine. Recent studies
suggest that the neurobiological effects of phytochemicals from medicinal herbs may
contribute to clinical benefits in in vitro and in vivo models of Alzheimerʼs disease. This review focuses on five phytochemicals, berberine,
curcumin, ginsenoside Rg1, puerarin, and silibinin, which have been mostly investigated
to treat the development and progression of this neurodegenerative disorder.
Key words
Alzheimerʼs disease - phytochemical - medicinal herbs - drug development