Anekonda Thimmappa S, Reddy P Hemachandra
Neurogenetics Laboratory, Neurological Sciences Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA.
Brain Res Brain Res Rev. 2005 Dec 15;50(2):361-76. doi: 10.1016/j.brainresrev.2005.09.001. Epub 2005 Nov 2.
The overall aim of this review is to discuss cellular mechanisms at work in the progression of AD and current therapeutic strategies for treating AD, with a focus on the potential efficacy of herbal treatments. Recent advances in molecular, cellular, and animal model studies have revealed that formation of the 4-kDa amyloid beta peptide is a key factor in the development and progression of AD. Several cellular changes have been identified that are related to amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tangles found in the autopsied brains of AD patients and in AD animal models. Several therapeutic strategies have been developed to treat AD, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-amyloid approaches. Recently, herbal treatments have been tested in animal and cellular models of AD and in clinical trials with AD subjects. In AD animal models and cell models, herbal extracts appear to have fewer adverse effects than beneficial effects on A beta and cognitive functions. These extracts have multi-functional properties (pro-cholinergic, anti-oxidant, anti-amyloid, and anti-inflammatory), and their use in the treatment of AD patients looks promising. The chemical compositions of herbs and their potential for alleviating or reducing symptoms of AD or for affecting the disease mechanism need to be further studied.
本综述的总体目标是探讨阿尔茨海默病（AD）进展过程中的细胞机制以及当前治疗AD的策略，重点关注草药治疗的潜在疗效。分子、细胞和动物模型研究的最新进展表明，4 kDa淀粉样β肽的形成是AD发生和发展的关键因素。已确定了一些与AD患者尸检大脑和AD动物模型中发现的淀粉样β斑块和神经原纤维缠结相关的细胞变化。已开发出多种治疗AD的策略，包括抗炎、抗氧化和抗淀粉样蛋白方法。最近，草药治疗已在AD的动物和细胞模型以及AD受试者的临床试验中进行了测试。在AD动物模型和细胞模型中，草药提取物对β淀粉样蛋白和认知功能的有益作用似乎多于不良反应。这些提取物具有多功能特性（促胆碱能、抗氧化、抗淀粉样蛋白和抗炎），其在治疗AD患者方面看起来很有前景。草药的化学成分及其缓解或减轻AD症状或影响疾病机制的潜力需要进一步研究。
