ABSTRACT
The World Health Organization estimates that more than one billion people suffer from central nervous system diseases. Of the known 600 neurological diseases, some are very common, whereas many are rarely found. The two most common neurological diseases are Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, with epilepsy and migraine are other common, neurological diseases that individuals might commonly encounter in their lifetime. The main goal of this chapter is to provide baseline data on a selection of bioactive compounds extracted from medicinal plants that can potentially contribute to the treatment of neurological diseases. In addition, this chapter discusses the possible mechanism of such bioactive compounds that may be responsible for their pharmacological action. The secondary metabolites from plant-derived medicines, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, have different pharmacological actions to treat neurological diseases. Since antiquity, medicinal plants have been part of traditional medical treatments, and today, due to safety concerns and side effects associated with the widespread use of synthetic treatments, interest in plant-sourced herbal treatments is increasing.
