Herbal remedies for Alzheimer’s disease: neuroprotective mechanisms and cognitive enhancement potential

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by memory loss and cognitive decline. Current drugs offer limited benefits and often cause side effects. Recently, interest has grown in medicinal plants for the treatment of AD due to their neuroprotective compounds. This review explores how herbal remedies may help AD, focusing on key plants including Ginkgo biloba, Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Panax ginseng. These plants show promise in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and amyloid buildup. Their bioactive compounds, including flavonoids and alkaloids, may promote memory and slow AD progression. Despite these promising findings, the review also highlights significant challenges in translating preclinical success into clinical efficacy. Issues such as variability in plant composition, lack of standardized formulations, insufficient large-scale clinical trials, and regulatory hurdles continue to impede the integration of herbal therapies into mainstream AD treatment. Addressing these challenges through rigorous scientific validation and standardized protocols is essential for advancing the use of herbal medicine in neurodegenerative disease management.