The Potential Role of Phytochemicals in Alzheimer's Disease

Nutrients. 2025 Feb 12;17(4):653. doi: 10.3390/nu17040653.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative condition characterised by memory loss and cognitive disorders. The disease has been related to the presence of so-called senile plaques forming due to the buildup of amyloid β in the hippocampus. The AD therapies developed to date continue to prove insufficient, while long-term exposure to synthetic drugs tends to lead to serious side effects, which is why potential herbal treatments are generally preferable to conventional drug regimens and, as such, have been under considerable research scrutiny in recent years. There are a number of herbs, e.g., lavender Ginkgo biloba, that are already commonly employed in alleviating the symptoms of certain neurological disorders. In light of the above, the aim of the following paper is to discuss the importance of medicinal herbs, their neuroprotective properties, and their mechanisms of activity. The article presents a review of the identified therapeutic properties of phytomedicines that exhibit strong anti-Alzheimer's disease (AD) activity.

Keywords: AChE; Alzheimer’s disease; herbs; tau proteins; β-amyloids.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease* / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Ginkgo biloba / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / pharmacology
  • Neuroprotective Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Phytochemicals* / pharmacology
  • Phytochemicals* / therapeutic use
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts* / therapeutic use
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry

Substances

  • Phytochemicals
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Plant Extracts