Review on Alzheimer-Suppressing Potential of different Medicinal plant

 

Vikas G. Pawar, Arshu Patel, Aarti R. Sanap

Pravara Rural College of Pharmacy, Loni, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India.

*Corresponding Author E-mail: aartisanap773@gmail.com

 

Abstract:

Progressive neurodegenerative disorder i.e. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by cognitive decline, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction, β-amyloid aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation. Plant-derived neuroprotective agents have gained increasing scientific attention due to their multi-target mechanisms and favorable safety profiles. This review aims to highlight the Alzheimer’s-suppressing potential of four traditionally important medicinal plants: Convolvulus pluricaulis, Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Bacopa monnieri. C. pluricaulis has been reported to exhibit nootropic and anxiolytic effects mainly via cholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity. C. longa (Curcumin) has strong anti-amyloid, anti-inflammatory, and metal-chelating properties, offering protection against plaque formation and neuronal toxicity. W. somnifera (Withanolide) promotes synaptic regeneration, decreases oxidative stress, and provides amyloid and tau pathology modulation. B. monnieri, rich in bacosides and flavonoids, enhances cognitive performance by reducing oxidative damage, improving cholinergic function, and inhibiting β-amyloid aggregation. Altogether, these botanicals act through complementary pathways, including antioxidant defense, anti-inflammatory modulation, neurotransmitter regulation, and prevention of amyloid/tau pathology, thereby making them promising candidates for the integrative management of AD. Further clinical validation is essential to determine standardized doses and the long-term efficacy of these extracts, as well as synergistic potential in combination therapies.

 

KEYWORDS: Alzheimer’s disease, Extraction, Convolvulus pluricaulis, Turmeric.

 

 


INTRODUCTION:

Alzheimer's disease is one of the neurodegenerative disease and worldwide influenced projected 55 million people worldwide, with the prevalence projected to triple to 152 million by 2050 as the global population abide to age due to major cause is dementia1,2. The aggregation of amyloid-beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic dysfunction, neuronal loss, and cognitive decline, manifested as memory impairment, behavioral changes, and the eventual loss of independence occurs by growing neuro degenerative disease is described3,4. The total global economic impact surpasses $1.3 trillion annually, not only entailing direct medical costs but also accounting for informal caregiving, while the patients themselves experience significant deterioration in their quality of life and functional capabilities5,6. Recent therapy depends on acetylcholinesterase blocker such as donepezil and rivastigmine, and the glutamate NMDA receptor antagonist memantine. All these Medications have a symptomatic effect only and do not prevent the progression of the disease; they benefit only 30-50% of patients, and their use is associated with considerable adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances, hepatotoxicity, cardiac arrhythmias, and dizziness7,8,9. Classical oral drug delivery suffers from a number of drawbacks, including extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism, which reduces bioavailability to less than 5% for many neuroprotective agents; poor penetration through the blood-brain barrier, which restricts entry to only 2% of small molecules and essentially eliminate huge biomolecules; systemic side effects due to non-targeted distribution; and patient compliance, particularly problematic in cognitively impaired individuals who require multiple doses per day10,11,12. These scientific gaps create an urgent need for innovative delivery routes and formulation strategies that bypass hepatic metabolism, circumvent the blood-brain barrier, provide direct brain targeting, ensure sustained

Therapeutic concentrations, and offer patient-friendly administration, especially suitable for elderly populations with swallowing difficulties.

 

For the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, from traditional medical systems natural neuroprotective substances provide emerging potential.  In Ayurveda Convolvulus pluricaulis, also known as Shankhpushpi, which has been used for centuries as a memory enhancer and brain tonic. It contains a bioactive phytoconstituents, including flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin), alkaloids (shankhpushpine and convolvine), glycosides, coumarins, and triterpenoids13,14,15. Bacopa monneieri, Withania somnifera and curcuma longa are the natural herb that are also widely used for the memory enhancement and neuroprotective agent33,34,35. The therapeutic potentials are manifestations of various mechanisms of neuroprotection: potent antioxidant activity to reduce oxidative stress implicated in neuronal damage, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, thus enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission similar to conventional drugs but with better safety profiles; anti-inflammatory effects as manifested by suppression of neuroinflammatory cytokines and microglial activation, neuroprotection against amyloid-beta-induced toxicity and tau hyperphosphorylation, enhancement of neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity, and anxiolytic properties contributing to the mitigation of behavioral symptoms16,17,18,19.

 

Plant profile:

Taxonomical classification:

1.     Convolvulus pluricaulis:

 

 

Kingdom

Plantae

Sub kingdom

Tracheobionta

Genus

Convolvulus

Family

Convulvulaceae

Class

Magnoliopsida dicotyledons

Sub class

Asteridae

Order

Solanales

Species

Convolvulus pluricaulis

 

Convolvulus pluricaulis is member of the Convolvulaceae family which is a perennial herb of the Indian regions. In Ayurveda it is commonly called as the Shankhpushpi, it can be used for the treatment of the various health problem like anxiety, depression, epilepsy, and dementia38, 39. . Pharmacological effects due to health benefits of Convolvulus pluricaulis include anti- inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties40. It has been empowered with several potential phytochemicals, namely flavonoids (kaempferol and quercetin), coumarins (scopoletin and ayapanin), phenolic acid hydroxycinnami acid, and phytosterol β-sitosterol that are related to its pharmacological effects41

 

2.     Bacopa monneieri:

 

Kingdom

Plantae

Class

Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons)

Family

Plantaginaceae

Order

Lamiales

Genus

Bacopa

Species

Bacopa monneieri

 

In recent years, there is much awareness in used of the Bacopa monnieri is a traditional medicinal herb due to its neuroprotective role in treating neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Bacosides, flavonoids, and alkaloids, are the bioactive compounds, such as which exert strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective action. In this study, we have investigated the use of B. monnieri natural constituents for Alzheimer's-related neurodegeneration by using their pharmacological activities.  The objective is to determine if these phytochemicals, based on their biochemical characteristics, could serve as useful substitutes or supplements to synthetic BACE1 inhibitors, so offering a safer and more comprehensive strategy against cognitive decline and Aẞ toxicity42.

 

3.     Withania somnifera:

 

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophytes

Class

Angiosperms

Family

Solanaceae

Genus

Withania

Species

Withania somnifera

 

Ashwagandha which is called as Withania somnifera (WS) is a nootropic agent that improves cognition including memory. Withanolide A and withanoside IV from WS roots enhance neurite outgrowth in cultured neurons and in rodents injected with Aβ. Here we show that WS extract reverses behavioral deficits and plaque pathology and decreases the Aβ burden in middle-aged and old APP/PS1 mice by up-regulation of liver LRP, leading to increased clearance of Aβ. The therapeutic effects of WS were reproducible in APPSwInd J20 mice, another model of AD, where behavioral deficits were reversed and plaque load was lowered significantly43.

 

4.     Curcuma longa:

 

Kingdom

Plantae

Genus

Curcuma

Family

Zingiberaceae

Class

Liiopsida

Order

Zingiberales

Species

Curcuma longa

 

It has been discovered that Curcumin inhibits COX-2, phospholipases, transcription factors, and enzymes that convert membrane phospholipids into prostaglandins. The pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α (tumour necrosis factor-alpha) and IL-1 (interleukin-1) beta are inhibited when activated neutrophils emit less ROS and AP-1 and NF-Kappa B are inhibited. All things considered, Curcumin reduces the primary chemical responsible for inflammation as well as the transcription of inflammatory cytokines. Curcumin suppresses the expression of IL-12 p70 and intracellular IL-12 p40/p70. Curcumin exposure also reduced the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-, IL-1, and IL-6). These studies indicate a potent inhibitor of pro-inflammatory cytokine production by Curcumin, and it may differ according to the nature of the target cells44, 45

 

Plant part

Solvent used

Constituent responsible for neuroprotection

Mechanism of action

Neurological disorder

References no

1. Withania somnifera

Root

Ethanol

Flavonoids

reversed ibotenic acid-induced cognitive impairments

Alzheimer's disease

36

Root

Ethanol

Flavonoids

ameliorated effects on cognition and memory enhancements

Alzheimer's disease

37

2. Bacopa monneieri

Whole plant

Methanol

Bacosides

Reduce beta- amyloid aggregation and exerting anti-inflammatory effects

Alzheimer's disease

46,47

3. Curcuma longa

Rhizomes

Ethanol

Curcumin

Restoring BDNF level, reducing oxidative stress

Alzheimer's disease

44,45

4.Convolvulus Pluricaulis

Whole plant

Ethanol

Flavonoids

Anti-acetylcholinesterase activity, reduction of amyloid- beta and tau protein expression

Alzheimer's disease

20

 

Ethanomedicinal uses of Convolvulus Pluricaulis:

The different part of the Convolvulus Pluricaulis used for the different diseases and also used in home remedies. The different part and the used are as follow:

 

 

Whole plant21-27

1.     Decoction of this herb used along with milk used for Amnesia treatment.

2.     Whole plant used for the management of arthritis, osteoarthritis and rheumatic pain.

3.     Also used for the blood disorders and burning sensation.

4.     Neurological disorder and headache the plant play important role.

 

Leaf 26,28,29

1.     Anxiety, asthma and also used in diabetes.

2.     Leaf are important for the urinary disorder.

 

Flowers:

1.     Bone fracture30

2.     Dementia31

 

CONCLUSION:

The cumulative evidence shows that Convolvulus pluricaulis, Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Bacopa monnieri are plants with considerable neuroprotective properties, which can collectively suppress and manage Alzheimer’s disease. These plants operate through many different mechanisms, including the decrease of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and amyloid-β aggregation, the enhancement of cholinergic transmission, and the promotion of neuronal regeneration. Phytoconstituents of these plants, such as the alkaloids in C. pluricaulis, the curcuminoids in C. longa, the Withanolide in W. somnifera, and the bacosides in B. monnieri, have considerable pharmacological effects, which complement one another and offer a multi-target therapeutic approach in accordance with the complex pathology of AD. Even though preclinical data is compelling, further well-designed clinical studies, standardized extracts, and to confirm their effectiveness and safety in humans, mechanistic research is required. All things considered, these plants offer a potential natural toolkit for creating safer, multi-target approaches to Alzheimer's disease treatment and prevention.

 

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Received on 04.01.2026      Revised on 07.02.2026

Accepted on 11.03.2026      Published on 25.04.2026

Available online from April 28, 2026

Research J. Science and Tech. 2026; 18(2):185-189.

DOI: 10.52711/2349-2988.2026.00026

 

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