Figure 5.

Overview of the natural products’ targets in AD. Many natural products show neuroprotective effects in the various experimental models of AD through multiple mechanisms of action. These include direct effect on neurotoxic agents such as Aβ plaque formation or tau hyperphosphorylation events (1). The neuroinflammation and oxidative stress linked to AD pathology is orchestrated through overactivation of glial cells (2) that serve as the major target for natural products. Glial cell targets include amelioration of proinflammatory cytokine production/action, removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and boosting of antioxidant defenses. Further effects of natural products include promotion of recovery of damaged cells (3) or inhibition of neuronal apoptosis (4). Recent evidence also shows that natural products enhance neuroregeneration by promoting stem cells proliferation and differentiation (5).