June 2015
Tushar Das, Mas Rw abdel Hamid, Tuhin Das
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, affecting approximately 75.6 million people worldwide and will be estimated to increase to 135.5 million in 2050. Currently FDA approved drugs such as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI): Donepezil, Rivastigmine and Galantamine and N-methyl-daspartate (NMDA) antagonist: Memantine are prescribed for the treatment of AD.
Meanwhile less than 20% of AD patients are responding moderately to these drugs with an average benefit for six to twelve months, often with serious side effects. Therefore there is an urgent need to develop and evaluate more effective pharmacological interventions with fewer side effects.
Plant Withania somnifera which is used as herb in Ayurvedic medicine contain steroidal lactones glycowithanolides (Withaferin A, Withasomniferin-A) in their leaves which has potential as therapeutic agent for AD.
In this mini review, we compare that immunomodulatory, antioxidative, anticholinesterase and antiinflammatory properties of glycowithanolides with the market available drugs.
