Hanafy Doaa M, Burrows Geoffrey E, Prenzler Paul D, Hill Rodney A
School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Locked Bag 588, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia.
Graham Centre for Agricultural Innovation (an alliance between Charles Sturt University and NSW Department of Primary Industries), Pugsley Place, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.
Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Jul 17;9(7):631. doi: 10.3390/antiox9070631.
With an increase in the longevity and thus the proportion of the elderly, especially in developed nations, there is a rise in pathological conditions that accompany ageing, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive and memory decline. The pathophysiology of the disease is poorly understood, with several factors contributing to its development, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, cholinergic neuronal apoptotic death, and the accumulation of abnormal proteins in the brain. Current medications are only palliative and cannot stop or reverse the progression of the disease. Recent clinical trials of synthetic compounds for the treatment of AD have failed because of their adverse effects or lack of efficacy. Thus, there is impetus behind the search for drugs from natural origins, in addition to the discovery of novel, conventional therapeutics. Mints have been used traditionally for conditions relevant to the central nervous system. Recent studies showed that mint extracts and/or their phenolic constituents have a neuroprotective potential and can target multiple events of AD. In this review, we provide evidence of the potential role of mint extracts and their derivatives as possible sources of treatments in managing AD. Some of the molecular pathways implicated in the development of AD are reviewed, with focus on apoptosis and some redox pathways, pointing to mechanisms that may be modulated for the treatment of AD, and the need for future research invoking knowledge of these pathways is highlighted.
随着寿命的延长，进而老年人比例的增加，尤其是在发达国家，与衰老相关的病理状况有所上升，如神经退行性疾病。阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种以进行性认知和记忆衰退为特征的神经退行性疾病。该疾病的病理生理学尚不清楚，有多种因素促成其发展，如氧化应激、神经炎症、胆碱能神经元凋亡性死亡以及大脑中异常蛋白质的积累。目前的药物只是姑息性的，无法阻止或逆转疾病的进展。近期用于治疗AD的合成化合物临床试验因不良反应或缺乏疗效而失败。因此，除了发现新型传统疗法外，从天然来源寻找药物也有其推动力。薄荷传统上一直用于治疗与中枢神经系统相关的病症。近期研究表明，薄荷提取物和/或其酚类成分具有神经保护潜力，可针对AD的多个发病环节。在本综述中，我们提供证据证明薄荷提取物及其衍生物作为治疗AD可能来源的潜在作用。本文回顾了一些与AD发病相关的分子途径，重点关注凋亡和一些氧化还原途径，指出了可能用于治疗AD的可调节机制，并强调了未来基于这些途径知识开展研究的必要性。
