RESUMO
Dementia is a brain disorder marked by cognitive dys functioning which causes loss of learning , thinking and memory .Various drugs that possess nootropic activity are used for treatment of dementia but emerges side effects. To overcome these side effects plants with medicinal importance came into existence. India has wide variety of medicinal plants (Centella asiatica, Clitoria ternatea ,Ginkgo biloba, Curcuma longa etc) that has been claimed for nootropic activity with limited side effects. Nootropic activity of medicinal plants can be screened with various animals models that has been able to identify chemicals with potential therapeutic efficacy. The current review article rehabilitates knowledge of medicinal plants with nootropic action, as well as the animal models needed to screen them.