ABSTRACT
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in people older than 65 years of age, and leads to profound disturbances in daily life routine, characterized by loss of cognitive functions and memory loss, and leading to anxiety and depression. About 50–60 % cases of dementia are due to AD. Formation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are the basic mechanism in the development of the disease, that ultimately affects the surrounding neurons, especially cholinergic neurons. AD may result from genetic mutation or deletions caused by oxidative stress. AD is more common in females than in males, and affects 10 million people worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing due to environmental and genetic factors. No curative treatment is available for this disease, but proper management of this disease could prevent the progress of the symptoms. Allopathic medicines used for the treatment of AD are costly and have side effects, so new therapeutically effective and safe drugs are required to treat this disease. It is well known that phytoconstituents have nutraceutical, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activities. A number of medicinal plants like Hypericum perforatum, Bacopa monnieri, Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Ginkgo biloba, and many others, have therapeutic potential against AD. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the drugs derived from natural sources, particularly plants, for the treatment and management of AD.
