REVIEW ARTICLE

Review on Herbal Drugs Used In Treatment of

Dementia
K Sujith1*, C Ronald Darwin1, V Suba2
Abstracts: Many medicinal herbs have been used traditionally to improve memory and
cognitive function and to treat neurodegenerative disease. Search for newer herbal
therapeutic agents for prevention, treatment of memory disorder is increasing due to
prevalence of this condition in present stressful life style. This review on herbal drugs used in
cognitive dysfunction will provide scientific documentation of herbal drugs for the progress of
research in cognitive disorders and provide an insight for development of template of
phytoconstituents from traditional system of medicine to protect the people suffering from
dementia.
Key Words: Dementia, cognition, herbal drug, traditional medicine.
INTRODUCTION
Dementia is a syndrome characterized by
impairment in memory, the ability to
organize thoughts and reason, the ability to
use language, and these impairments are
severe enough to cause a decline in the
patient's usual level of functioning. Although
some kinds of memory loss are normal parts
of aging, the changes due to aging are not
severe enough to interfere with the level of
function .Impairment of memory, learning
disability, poor retention and impairment of
orientation and judgment are common
problems in todays stressful and competitive
world. Age, stress, emotions are conditions
that may led to memory loss, amnesia,
anxiety, dementia and to more ominous
threat like schizophrenia and alzheimers
diseases. With the increase of life expectancy
and the consequent increase in the number
of patients suffering from brain degenerative
disorders, the search for natural products
that are able to reduce or minimize cognitive
deficits has become even more attractive due
to their proven effectiveness and least side
effects. Plant species used in traditional
medicinal systems for enhancing cerebral
function have proven to be effective in
animal memory tests and useful in
cognitively impaired humans[1,2].The natural
products provide new templates for
development
of
potential
medicinal
compound for therapy in cognitive deficit .
Mechanism Involved In Antimnesic
Potentials
Nootropics are referred to as memory
enhancers which improve the cognition,
memory, intelligence, motivation, attention
and concentration. Dopaminergics are
substances that affect the neurotransmitter
dopamine or the components of the nervous
system that use dopamine. Attributable
effects of dopamine are enhancement of
attention,
alertness,
and
antioxidant
activity.Dopaminergic nootropics include
dopamine synthesis precursors, dopamine
1Department

of Pharmacology, K.K College of

Pharmacy, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.
E-mail: sujipillai76@yahoo.co.in
*Coreesponding author

2Department

of Pharmacology, National
Institute of Siddha, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India.

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reuptake inhibitors, monoamine oxidase

inhibitors, and other compounds.Memory
can come from many different processes, but
is dependent on the ability to store and recall
information.Cholinergics are substances that
affect the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or
the components of the nervous system that
use acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a
facilitator of memory formation. Increasing
the availability of this neurotransmitter in
the brain may improve these functions.
Cholinergic nootropics include acetylcholine
precursors
and
cofactors,
and
acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. The AMPA
transmitter and the AMPA receptors are
currently being researched, and there are
signs that significant memory improvement
and possible alertness enhancement may
occur when agonized.Cyclic adenosine
monophosphate is a secondary messenger
that, if increased, has shown memory
improvements. One common method is by
decreasing the activity of phosphodiesterase4, an enzyme that breaks down cAMP.
Currently, oxidative damage is believed to be
one of the leading cause of neuronal
degeneration in AD [3]. Though the exact
mechanisms of AD are still unknown, several
lines of evidence suggest that oxidative stress
is implicated in A-induced neurotoxicity,
besides apoptosis and inflammation, two
processes
strictly
related
to
ROS
overproduction [4]. Anti-inflammatory and
antioxidant therapies have been also
proposed as possible preventive strategies at
present.
Plants Containing Antiamnesic Potential
The following is the list of cognitive
enhancing plants evaluated by researchers
and used for memory enhancement.
CONCLUSION
In recent years, efforts have been made to
find new therapeutic agents for the
prevention or treatment of memory
disorders, such as the gradual impairment of
memory in aging or in neurodegenerative
pathology and even lifestyle factors, but an
effective therapy for the resolution of the
cognitive deficits is still needed. Moreover
drugs that could not only treat but also
prevent diseases are needed in the clinical
practice. Both prevention and delayment of
these disorder onsets with medicinal herbs

would have a large impact in terms of

reducing both suffering and costs. For years
pharmacological research has been looking
for novel therapeutic approaches to address
the problem of memory impairment and
understanding cognitive processes and it still
presents a remarkable challenge. However,
advances in herb based research are offering
to neuropsychopharmacology interesting
and promising targets to address disorders
of memory.This review on natural drugs will
aid further research for identify the possible
templates of active constituents and develop
ideal memory enhancing agents for the
treatment of various cognitive disorders.
REFERENCES AND NOTES
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Freedman AM, Schatzberg AFN. A placebocontrolled, double blind, randomized trial of an
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2. YamaguchiY, Higashi M, Kobayashi H.Effects of
ginsenoside on maze performance and brain
choline
acetyltransferase
activity
in
scopolamine-treated young rats and aged rats.
European Journal of Pharmacology 1997;
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3. PerryG,Taddeo
MA,
Nunomura
A,Zhu
X,Zenteno-Savin T,Drew KL,ShimohamaS,Avila,
J,CastellaniRJ,SmithMA.Comparative
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activated in primary neurons by amyloid B
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Pratiti D, Padmaja R, Radhika S, Amit A,
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medicinal
plants
for
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Ethnopharmacol 2007; 109: 359-363.

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REVIEW ARTICLE
Table 1: List of Cognitive Enhancing Plants Evaluated by Researchers and Used for Memory Enhancement
S.No
Name of plant
Family
Part used
1
Abutilon indicum l.
Malvaceae
Whole plant
2
Acacia nilotica (l.) Willd.
Mimosaceae
Leaves
3
Acanthus ebracteatus
Acanthaceae
Aerial part
4
Acorus calamus
Araceae
Rhizomes
5
Aegle marmelos (l.) Correa
Rutaceae
Fruit pulp
6
Albizzia lebbeck
Fabeaceae
Leaves
7
Allium sativum
Alliaceae
Bulb
8
Alpinia galanga willd.
Zingiberaceae
Rhizomes
9
Andrographis paniculata nees
Acanthaceae
Aerial part
10
Angelica sinensis
Umbelliferae
Root
11
Astragalus membranaceus
Fabaceae
Root
12
Azadirachta indica Juss.
Meliaceae
Bark
13
Bacopa monniera
Scrophulariaceae
Whole plant
14
Biota orientalis
Cupressaceae
Seed
15
Boerhavia diffusa l.
Nyctaginaceae
Whole plant
16
Butea superba roxb.
Leguminosae
Root barks
17
Buxus sempervirens l
Buxaceae
Whole plant
18
Camelliasinensis
Theaceae
Leaf
19
Capsella bursa- pastoris l
Brassicaceae
Whole plant
20
Carthamus tinctorius l
Asteraceae
Flower
21
Carum carvi
Apiaceae
Radix
22
Cassia fistula l.
Leguminosae
Root
23
Caulis spatholobi
Leguminosaae
Whole herb
24
Celastrus paniculata
Celastraceae
Seeds
25
Centella asiatica
Umbelliferae
Whole plant
26
Chamaecyparis pisifera
Cupressaceae
Whole plant
27
Clitoria ternatea
Fabeaceae
Aerial part,root
28
Commiphoris whighitti
Burseraceae
Gum resin
29
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulaceae
Whole plant
30
Crocus sativus
Iridaceae
Pistil
31
Crataegus laevigarta
Rosaceae,
Whole plant
32
Curcuma longa
Zingiberaceae
Rhizomes
33
Cymbopogon schoenanthus (l.)
poaceae
Whole plant
34
Desmodium gangeticum
Fabeaceae
Laves ,Root
35
Dioscorea bulbifera l.
dioscoreaceae
Whole plant
36
Dipsacus asper Wall
Dipsacaceae
Root
37
Embelia ribes burm. F.
Myrsinaceae
Fruit ,Root
38
Emblicaofficinalis gaerth
phyllanthaceae
Whole plant
39
Equisetum arvense linn
Equisetaceae
Stem
40
Euphorbia antiquorum l.
Euphorbiaceae
Stem
41
Euphoria longan
Sapindaceae
Fruit
42
Evodia rutaecarpa
Rutaceae
Fruit
43
Evolvulus alsinoides
Convolvulaceae
Whole plant
44
Ficus religiosa l
Moraceae
Whle plant,bark
45
Gastrodia elata
Orchidaceae
Root
46
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgoaceae
Whole plant
47
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Fabeaceae
Rhizome
48
Heteropterys aphrodisiaca
Malpighiaceae
Root
49
Hibiscus sabdarifffa linn
Malvaceae
Calyces
50
Huperzia saururus
Lycopodiaceae
Aerial part
51
Hypericum perforatum
Clusiaceae
Leaves , flower , stem
52
Ilex paraguariensisl.
Aquifoliaceae
Leaves
53
Indigo naturalis
Apiaceae
Whole herb
54
Lantana camara l.
Verbenaceae
Aerial parts
55
Laurus nobilis l.
Lauraceae
Leaf
56
Lavandula augustifolia miller
Lamiaceae
Whole plant
57
Lepidium meyenii walp
Brassicaceae
Whole plant
58
Lycium barbarum
Solanaceae
Fruit
59
Lycopodium clavatum l.
Lycopodiaceae
Whole plant
60
Lycoris radiata
Amaryllidaceae
Whole plant
61
Malva silvestris l.
Malvaceae
Aerial parts
62
Mammea harmandii kosterm.
Guttiferae
Flower
63
Mangiferaindica linn
Anacardiaceae
Fruit

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Reference
5
6
7
8
5
9
10
11
12
13,14
15,16
11
17
18
11
5
19
10
20
5
21
12
22
23
12
20
24,25
26
11
27
28
29
30
31
20
32,33
11
34
35
5,7
36
37
38
11
39,40
41,42
43
44
45
46
47
48
10,49
11
50
50
51
52,53
19
54,55
50
5,7
56

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REVIEW ARTICLE
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
81
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127

Mangnolia officinalis
Melissa officinalis linn
Mentha spicata l.
Michelia champaca l.
Mimosa pudica l.
Mimusops elengi l.
Mitragyna speciosa
Moringa oleifera lam.
Musa sapientum l.
Myriacaria elegans royle
Myristica fragrans houtt.
Nardostachys jatamansi dc
Nelumbo nucifera gaertn.
Nicotiana tabaccum
Ocimum sanctum linn
Ophiopogon japonicus
Origanum vulgare l.
Paederia linearis hook. F.
Panax ginseng
Paronychia argentea lam
Periwrinkle
Petroselinum crispum nym
Phyllanthus amarus
Pimpinella anisum
Piper interruptum opiz
Piper nigrum l
Plumbago indica l.
Polygala tenuifolia
Ptychopetalum olacoides benth
Pyrola japonica klenze
Radix polygalae
Radix paeoniae alba
Rhizoma acori
Rhodiola rosea
Rhododendron luteum sweet.
Robinia pseudoacacia l
Rosa alba
Rosmarinus officinalis
Rubia cordifolia l.
Ruta graveolens l.
Salix mucronata thunb.
Salvia lavandulaefolia
Salvia officinalis
Sanguisorba minor scop.
Saururus chinensis
Schizandra chinensis
Semecarpus anacardium linn
Sesamum indicum
Stephania suberosa forman.
Streblus asper lour.
Symplocos chinensis
Tabernaemontana divaricata l
Terminalia bellirica (gaertn.)
Terminalia chebula retz
Teucrium polium l.
Tiliacora triandra (colebr.)
Tinospora cordifolia
Tribullus terrestris l.
Trigonella foenum graecum
Tripterygium wilfordii
Uncaria tomentosa
Vaccinium angustifolium
Vicia faba l.
Vitis vinfera
Withania somnifera

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Magnoliaceae
Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
Magnoliaceae
Mimosaceae
Sapotaceae
Rubiaceae
Moringaceae
Musaceae
Tamaricaceae
Myristiceae
valerianaceae
Nelumbonaceae
Solanaceae
Lamiaceae
Ruscaceae
Labiateae
Rubiaceae
Araliaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Apocynaceae
Apiaceae
Euphorbiacea
Umbelliferae
Piperaceae
Piperaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Polygalaceae
Olacaceae
pyrolaceae
Ploygalaceae
Paeoniaceae
Araceae
Crassulaceae
Ericaceae
Fabaceae
Rosaceae
Lamiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rutaceae
Salicaceae
Lamiaceae
Lamiaceae
Rosaceae
Saururaceae
Schisandraceae
Anacardiaceae
Pedaliaceae
Menispermaceae
Moraceae
Symplocaceae
Apocynaceae
Combretaceae
Combretaceae
Lamiaceae
Menispermaceae
Menispermaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Fabaceae
Celastraceae
Rubiaceae
Ericaceae
Fabaceae
Vitaceae
Solanaceae

10

Bark
Aerialpart
whole plant
Leaves
Whole plant
Flower
Leaves
Bark
Fruit
Aerial parts
Seed
Rhizome
Stamen
Leaves
Whole plant
Tuber
Whole plant
Wholeplant
Aerialparts,root
Aerial parts
Aerial part
Radix
Leaves, stems
Fructus
Stems
Seeds
Root
Root
Root
Whole plant
Root
Whole herb
leaves
Root
Whole plant
Whole plant
Flowers
Leaves
Stem
Whole plant
Bark
Whole plant
Wholeplant
Aerial parts
Roots
Fruits, leaves
Bark
Whole plant
Roots
Seed
Whole plant
Roots
Fruit
Fruit
Aerial part
Root
Stem
Whole plant
seeds
Whole plant
Aerial parts
Fruits
Whole plant
Seeds
Root

57
58
21
5,7
11
5,7
59
11
5,7
60
12
8
5,7
61
62
63
21
5
64,65,67
50
67
21
68
21
5,7
5,7
5,7
69,70
71
20
72
22
73
74,75,76
19
19
77
78,79
11
21
6
80
81
21
82
82,83
11
84
5,7
11
20
85
5,7
20
19
5,7
11
19
86
87
88
89
19
90
91,92

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REVIEW ARTICLE
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129
130

Zingiber officinale
Ziziphus mauritanalam
Zygophyllum fabago l.

Zingiberaceae
Rhamnaceae
Zygophyllaceae

12. Mukherjee PK, Kumar V, Houghton PJ.

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