Tannin Components of Geranium Plants in Prevention and Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease： A Review / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease （AD） is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by mechanisms including excessive deposition of β amyloid （Aβ）， neuroinflammatory responses， and hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein （Tau protein）. Currently， there are no effective clinical treatments available for AD. Traditional Chinese herbal drugs have gained attention for their potential to exert anti-AD effects through multi-component， multi-target approaches. As a traditional Chinese herbal drug with over 600 years of clinical use， Geranii Herba has substantial medicinal potential and wide application prospects. Geranium medicinal plants contain chemical components such as tannins， flavonoids， organic acids， and volatile oils. Research has indicated that various tannin compounds found in Geranii Herba possess pharmacological activities like enhancing learning and memory abilities， and improving cognitive function. These effects are linked to mechanisms involving anti-Aβ effects， Tau protein regulation， antioxidation， anti-inflammation， and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. These compounds can act through multiple pathways and targets to inhibit neurodegenerative changes in neurons， thus effectively preventing and treating neurodegenerative diseases like AD. Based on relevant literature， this study focused on reviewing various tannin components in Geranium plants and their role in preventing and treating AD and identified potential drug components for treating neurodegenerative diseases such as AD by exploring the tannin components and their mechanisms in Geranium plants， thereby providing a theoretical foundation and research direction for further development and clinical application.