Pharmacological research of natural products in the treatment of Alzheimer’ s disease / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer’ s disease ( AD) , a central nervous system degenerative disease, is characterized by progressive cognitive impairment and memory damage. Although intensive research leads to a better understanding of AD pathology, no new medi-cines are found to prevent, delay or stop the progression of AD. Three cholinesterase inhibitors ( donepezil, rivastigmine and ga-lantamine) and an N-methyl D-aspartase NMDA receptor antag-onist, memantine have been approved in clinic for AD treat-ment, but these treatments only have modest symptomatic effects for relatively short time periods. Therefore, to find effective medicines to prevent, improve and treat AD is urgent. It is well known, the traditional Chinese medicine resources are abundant in China. Chinese medicines, including the active ingredients and compounds, have been used in dementia treatment for a long history. The review is aimed to summarize the application and related mechanisms of natural products such as huperzine A, ginsenosides, L-3-n-butylphathlide, TSG and so on in AD treat-ment.