Medicinal plants commonly used in Africa with neuroprotective potential in Alzheimer’s disease: Mechanisms and translational relevance

Résumé fourni par la source

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and currently available pharmacological interventions provide only limited symptomatic relief and do not halt disease progression, emphasizing the need for alternative therapeutics. Herbal medicine, particularly from regions rich in plant biodiversity such as Africa, is gaining attention for its cognitive-enhancing and neuroprotective potential. This study reviews the potential benefits of common medicinal plants used in Africa for the treatment of AD, their traditional uses, phytochemical properties, and mechanisms of action reported in pre-clinical/clinical studies. A comprehensive search targeting 19 medicinal plant species with potential benefits for AD treatment was conducted across PubMed, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online up to 2025 using specific keywords related to African medicinal plants and AD. This review focused on medicinal plants utilized in African herbal medicine. However, some species included in this review are non-native but have been introduced, cultivated, and integrated into local herbal practices in Africa. Plants such as Persea americana, Cuminum cyminum, Huperzia serrata, and Astragalus membranaceus exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticholinesterase activities, modulating major AD pathological processes, such as amyloid-beta aggregation, oxidative stress, and cholinergic dysfunction. Preclinical evidence suggests neuroprotective effects in animal models, while clinical data, though limited, show cognitive benefits. Regulatory challenges and the lack of standardization in the development and dosing of herbal extracts remain significant barriers to the clinical translation of African herbal medicine. Hence, further research and clinical validation, alongside the development of regulatory frameworks and standardization protocols, are needed to bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and evidence-based medicine and to develop effective, accessible, and sustainable AD treatment options.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.