Potential therapeutic action of natural products from traditional Chinese medicine on Alzheimer's disease animal models targeting neurotrophic factors

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the death of brain cells leads to memory loss and cognitive decline. To reduce the death rate and improve the biological activity of neurocytes, neurotrophic factors (NTFs) exhibit therapeutic effect on AD. However, therapeutic application of exogenous NTFs in treatment of AD is largely limited due to short half-life, poor stability, etc. Various extracts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have been shown to exhibit therapeutic effects on AD, and some of these effects are associated with regulation on the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and their associated receptors. This article reviews the progress on promotion of Panax ginseng, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch., Epimedium, Polygala tenuifolia Willd, and seven other TCMs on secretion of NTFs during AD, with a view to preparation development and clinical application of these TCMs on AD.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; brain-derived neurotropic factor; glial cell line-derived neurotropic factor; nerve growth factor; signaling pathway; traditional Chinese medicine.