A critical appraisal of dementia with special reference to Smritibuddhihrass

Jatamansinol from Nardostachys jatamansi Ameliorates Tau-Induced Neurotoxicity in Drosophila Alzheimer's Disease Model

Nardostachys jatamansi has long been used to prepare Medhya Rasayana in traditional Indian Ayurveda medicine to treat neurological disorders and enhance memory. Jatamansinol from the N. jatamansi against Alzheimer's disease (AD) showed that it could be a multitargeted drug against AD. Drosophila is an ideal model organism for studying a progressive age-related neurodegenerative disease such as AD since its neuronal organizations and functioning are highly similar to that of humans. The current study investigates the neuroprotective properties of jatamansinol against Tau-induced neurotoxicity in the AD Drosophila model. Results indicate jatamansinol is not an antifeedant for larva and adult Drosophila. Lifespan, locomotor activity, learning and memory, Tau protein expression level, eye degeneration, oxidative stress level, and cholinesterase activities were analyzed in 10, 20, and 30-day-old control (wild type), and tauopathy flies reared on jatamansinol supplemented food or regular food without jatamansinol supplementation. Jatamansinol treatment significantly extends the lifespan, improves locomotor activity, enhances learning and memory, and reduces Tau protein levels in tauopathy flies. It boosts the antioxidant enzyme activities, prevents Tau-induced oxidative stress, ameliorates eye degeneration, and inhibits cholinesterase activities in Tau-induced AD model. This study provides the first evidence that jatamansinol protects against Tau's neurotoxic effect in the AD Drosophila model, and it can be a potential therapeutic drug candidate for AD.

Ayurvedic Herbal Therapies: A Review of Treatment and Management of Dementia

Dementia has been characterized by atypical neurological syndromes and several cognitive deficits, such as extended memory loss, strange behavior, unusual thinking, impaired judgment, impotence, and difficulty with daily living activities. Dementia is not a disease, but it is caused by several neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Lewy's bodies. Several drugs and remedies are indicated for alleviating unusual cognitive decline, but no effective pharmacological treatment regimens are available without side effects. Herbal drugs or traditional medicines like Ayurveda have been known for facilitating and corroborating the balance between mind, brain, body, and environment. Ayurvedic therapy comprises 600 herbal formulas, 250 single plant remedies, and natural and holistic health-giving treatments that relieve dementia in patients and increase vitality. Ayurvedic Rasayana herbs [rejuvenating elements] strengthen the brain cells, enhance memory, and decrease stress. The current medicine scenario in the treatment of dementia has prompted the shift in exploring the efficacy of ayurvedic medicine, its safety, and its efficiency. This review presents the literature on several herbal treatments for improving dementia symptomatology and patients' quality of life.

Phytotherapeutics Against Alzheimer's Disease: Mechanism, Molecular Targets and Challenges for Drug Development

Alzheimer's disease is inflating worldwide and is combatted by only a few approved drugs. At best, these drugs treat symptomatic conditions by targeting cholinesterase and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Most of the clinical trials in progress are focused to develop disease-modifying agents that aim single targets. The 'one drug-one target' approach is failing in the case of Alzheimer's disease due to its labyrinth etiopathogenesis. Traditional medicinal systems like ayurveda uses a holistic approach encompassing legion of medicinal plants exhibiting multimodal activity. Recent advances in high-throughput technologies have catapulted the research in the arena of ayurveda, specifically in identifying plants with potent anti-Alzheimer's disease properties and their phytochemical characterization. Nonetheless, clinical trials of very few herbal medicines are in progress. This review is a compendium of Indian plants and ayurvedic medicines against Alzheimer's disease and their paraphernalia. A record of 230 plants that are found in India with anti-Alzheimer's disease potential and about 500 phytochemicals from medicinal plants has been solicited with the hope of exploring the unexplored. Further, the molecular targets of phytochemicals isolated from commonly used medicinal plants such as Acorus calamus, Bacopa monnieri, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Tinospora cordifolia and Withania somnifera have been reviewed with respect to their multidimensional property such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-aggregation, synaptic plasticity modulation, cognition and memory enhancing activity. In addition, the strengths, and challenges in ayurvedic medicine that limit its use as mainstream therapy is discussed and a framework for the development of herbal medicine has been proposed.