Abstract

EXPLORING NEUROPROTECTIVE STRATEGIES: HERBAL MEDICINE AS A PROMISING APPROACH

Chandani Praveen and Sadaf Fatima*

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis are devastating disorders marked by the progressive loss of neurons. The key mechanisms underlying these diseases include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and microglial activation, leading to the decline of cognitive and motor functions. With current therapeutic approaches providing limited efficacy, natural products, particularly phytochemicals, have emerged as promising neuroprotective agents. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the neuroprotective effects of plant extracts and their bioactive constituents, highlighting their potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases. The review emphasizes the antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and neurotrophic activities of these natural products. The findings revealed that various plant extracts and their bioactive compounds effectively alleviate oxidative stress, reduce protein aggregation, and mitigate neuroinflammation. These compounds also inhibit neuronal apoptosis and microglial activation, while enhancing neurotrophic activities, thus promoting neuronal survival and synaptic function. Phytochemicals present substantial potential as novel therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases by targeting multiple pathological pathways and opening new avenues for future research.

Keywords: Neurodegenerative diseases; Herbal medicine; Bioactive molecules; Neuroprotection.