Title:Medicinal Plants in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Perspective of Traditional Persian Medicine
Volume: 19
Issue: 5
Author(s): Mohammad Hosein Farzaei, Zahra Shahpiri, Mohammad Reza Mehri, Roodabeh Bahramsoltani, Mahdi Rezaei, Azade Raeesdana and Roja Rahimi*
Affiliation:
- Department of Traditional Pharmacy, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1417614411,Iran
Keywords:
Neurodegenerative disease, persian medicine, antioxidant, neuroprotective, inflammatory cytokine, phytotherapy.
Abstract: Background: Neurodegenerative diseases are a progressive loss of structure and/or function of neurons.
Weak therapeutic response and progressive nature of the diseases, as well as a wide range of side effects caused by
conventional therapeutic approaches make patients seek for complementary and alternative medicine.
Objective: The aim of the present paper is to discuss the neuropharmacological basis of medicinal plants and their
principle phytochemicals which have been used in traditional Persian medicine for different types of neurodegenerative
diseases.
Results: Medicinal plants introduced in traditional Persian medicine perform beneficial effects in neurodegenerative
diseases via various cellular and molecular mechanisms including suppression of apoptosis mediated by an increase
in the expression of anti-apoptotic agents (e.g. Bcl-2) as well as a decrease in the expression and activity of proapoptotic
proteins (e.g. Bax, caspase 3 and 9). Alleviating inflammatory responses and suppressing the expression
and function of pro-inflammatory cytokines like Tumor necrosis factor α and interleukins, as well as improvement in
antioxidative performance mediated by superoxide dismutase and catalase, are among other neuroprotective mechanisms
of traditional medicinal plants. Modulation of transcription, transduction, intracellular signaling pathways
including ERK, p38, and MAPK, with upstream regulatory activity on inflammatory cascades, apoptosis and oxidative
stress associated pathways, play an essential role in the preventive and therapeutic potential of the plants in neurodegenerative
diseases.
Conclusion: Medicinal plants used in traditional Persian medicine along with their related phytochemicals by affecting
various neuropharmacological pathways can be considered as future drugs or adjuvant therapies with conventional
pharmacotherapeutics; though, further clinical studies are necessary for the confirmation of their safety and
efficacy.
