Insights into the Explicit Protective Activity of Herbals in Management of Neurodegenerative and Cerebrovascular Disorders

Abstract

The longstanding progressive neurodegenerative conditions of the central nervous system arise mainly due to deterioration, degradation and eventual neuronal cell loss. As an individual ages, the irreversible neurodegenerative disorders associated with aging also begin to develop, and these have become exceedingly prominent and pose a significant burden mentally, socially and economically on both the individual and their family. These disorders express several symptoms, such as tremors, dystonia, loss of cognitive functions, impairment of motor activity leading to immobility, loss of memory and many more which worsen with time. The treatment employed in management of these debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (which mainly involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal region), Alzheimer's disease (which arises due to accumulation of Tau proteins causing diffusive atrophy in the brain), Huntington's disease (which involves damage of striatal and spinal neurons, etc.), have several adverse effects, leading to exploration of several lead targets and molecules existing in herbal drugs. The current review highlights the mechanistic role of natural products in the treatment of several neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ischemic stroke and depression.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Huntington’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; bioactive compounds; natural products; neurodegenerative disorders.

Figure 1

Description of factors leading to neurodegeneration processes. The further progression of these processes leads to the exacerbation of apoptotic factors, the increase in oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. ROS: reactive oxygen species; DNA: deoxy ribonucleic acid; Ach: Acetylcholine; IL-1β: interleukin 1 β; TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor-α; NF-κB: Nuclear factor kappa B.

Figure 2

Pathological factors responsible for onset of Alzheimer’s disease. BACE-1: β-secretase; MAO: mono amino oxidase; ROS: Reactive oxygen species.

Figure 3

Pathological factors responsible for initiation and prolongation of Parkinson’s disease along with a list of herbal plants and bioactive natural origin molecules exhibiting anti-Parkinson activity. ROS: Reactive oxygen species.

Figure 4

Pathological factors responsible for the initiation and prolongation of depression and list of herbal plants and bioactive natural origin molecules with anti-depressant effects.

Figure 5

Targeted pathways for inducing neuroprotective effects after ischemic stroke. ROS: Reactive oxygen species; DNA: deoxyribonucleic acids; PARP1: poly ADP-ribose polymerase-1; MMP: Matrix metalloproteinase; AIF: apoptosis inducing factor: PKA: protein kinase A; CREB: cAMP response element-binding protein.

Figure 6

Herbal plants and natural origin bioactive compounds and their mechanisms involved in the management of Ischemic stroke. ROS: Reactive oxygen species; PKA: protein kinase A; CREB: cAMP response element-binding protein; PI3/AKT: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B; TBARS: Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; MAO: Mono amino oxidase; SOD: sodium dismutase; CAT: catalase; GPx: glutathione.