Tab. XIV.

Neuroprotective properties and therapeutic potential of selected medicinal plants.

Medicinal plants	Active ingredients	Neuroprotective properties	Therapeutic potential	Reference
Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettest (folk name: brahmi)	Bacopasides III–V, bacosides A and B, bacosaponins A, B and C	Antioxidant, antistress, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and smooth muscle relaxant. Improves memory	Neuroprotection in AD and bipolar disorder, improves intelligence and memory	[130, 133, 134]
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (folk name: ashwaganda)	Ashwagandhine, withanolides, withasomniferin, withasomniferols and withanone	Memory enhancer and anti-stress agent with effects on locomotor function and neural growth	Inhibits oxidative stress, improves cholinergic function and mitochondrial respiration in rotenone-induced Parkinsonism in Drosophila melanogaster	[131]
Acorus calamus (folk name: sweet flag, sway or muskrat root)	145 compounds α-asarone, β-asarone, eugenol, isoeugenol, 44 sesquiterpenes including lactones, monoterpenes (C-10), triterpenoid saponins	Antioxidant, anti-depressant, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, neuroprotective, antianxiety, cytoprotective, immunomodulatory	Neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory agent in AD and PD	[132, 135]
Hypericum perforatum (Folk name: St John’s wort)	Quercetin, hyperoside, quercitrin, rutin, hypericin, kaempferol, hyperforin	Antidepressive, antioxidant, neuroprotective	Restoration and improvement of microglial viability, inhibits amyloid-β toxicity in AD and brain malondialdehyde in PD	[47]