ABSTRACT
Mechanisms including blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, oxidative stress, chronic stress, hippocampal neurogenesis, microglial activation and chronic low-grade neuroinflammation, have shown to be related to cognitive changes across age. Supplementation with one or more plant based extracts or nutraceuticals that act on these mechanisms may be an important next step toward preventing age associated cognitive decline. Dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) are the main neurotransmitters found in the central nervous system (CNS) which possess immunomodulatory functions. Various experimental evidences support that these molecules are involved in modified cytokine secretion, apoptosis and cytotoxicity. Extracts from Withania somnifera, Bacopa monnieri, Gingko biloba, and Curcuma longa are being studied for their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties as well as their cognitive enhancing effects. Extraction is considered to be the important step in the analysis of constituents and the following mentioned extraction techniques such as soxhlet, room temperature, super critical fluid extraction are used. A neurotransmitter profiling findings are useful in pharmacological regulation of the serotonergic and dopaminergic system modulated immune function and may help in establishing therapeutic alterations. The translational gap between in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies is still a major issue especially with respect to immunomodulatory effects. So this study aims to join that gap in a holistic approach.
