Planta Med 2014; 80(15): 1249-1258
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1383038
Reviews
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Mechanisms of Action of Phytochemicals from Medicinal Herbs in the Treatment of Alzheimerʼs Disease

Mi Hye Kim
1   College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
,
Sung-Hoon Kim
2   Cancer Preventive Material Development Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
,
Woong Mo Yang
1   College of Korean Medicine and Institute of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 July 2013
revised 07 July 2014

accepted 05 August 2014

Publication Date:
11 September 2014 (online)

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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.