Role of medicinal plants in neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), are characterized by progressive loss (and even death) of structure and function of neurons, and have created great burden to the individual and the society. The actual cause of various neurodegenerative diseases still remains a mystery in healthcare. Some of the commonly studied environmental factors causes for neurodegenerative diseases are protein degradation, oxidative stress, inflammation, environmental factor, mitochondrial defects, familial history, and abnormal protein accumulation in neuron. However ageing plays a very important role in neurodegenerative diseases. Medicinal plants and natural compounds, such as Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), Ginseng, curcumin, resveratrol, Baccopa monnieri, Ginkgo biloba, and Wolfberry have been applied to prevent or alleviate neurological diseases and relief of neurological symptoms reported in in vivo or in clinical trails. Natural compounds in nanosize range as a therapeutic agent possess the same activity as in native state. Nanodrug delivery helps to increase the bioavailability of the drug and thereby specifically target cells and tissues. Nanoparticles, polymeric nanomicelles, complex polymers nanocrystal, and nanofibers are used to carry the medicinal plants for drug delivery system in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Especially, electrospinning and electrospraying as straightforward yet versatile techniques for the production of nanosized fibers and particles possess huge potential in encapsulation of natural compounds for the neurodegenerative diseases. This review is a study to understand the role of nanotechnology and natural compounds in neurodegenerative diseases associated with ageing.