Perspectives for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease: A Review on Indigeous Plants for Alzheimer Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of dementia. The salient pathological hallmarks of AD are extracellular accumulation of amyloid β peptide (Aβ) forming senile plaques (SP), the aggregates of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and microglial changes in the brain. N-Methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), a member of ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR), plays an indispensable mantle in maintaining calcium homeostasis and synaptic plasticity. Activation of NMDAR requires co-binding of glycine and glutamate along with postsynaptic depolarization. Upon activation it facilitates the entry of calcium ion into the neurons. The GluN2B subunit of NMDAR has been involved into the direct interaction with Aβ and tau protein and also in the activation of microglia, thus leading to pathophysiology of AD. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) mediated excitotoxicity has been implicated in multi-neurodegenerative diseases. Owing to dearth of efficacy and adverse effects of NMDA receptor antagonists, search for herbal remedies acting like salutary agents is a dynamic expanse of investigation to contest neurodegenerative disease. In this review we have delved deep into different NMDA antagonist and their pivotal role in preventing Aβ-mediated synaptic plasticity and their potential role as therapeutic target to curtail AD