Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and neuronal cell protection

Abstract The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is linked with different biomarkers, although it is thought to be mainly caused by the generation of reactive oxygen species. Therefore new treatment strategies to ameliorate AD are focusing on the area of oxidative neural cell injury. The treatment of many diseases is highly dependent on natural products, including the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (AAs). Among the AAs, galanthamine is a potent reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase used to treat mild-to-moderate AD. The antioxidant potential of AAs has also been gaining ground, due to their ability to stabilize free radicals generated by neuronal excitotoxic processes. Against this background, this chapter provides an overview of neurodegenerative diseases and neuronal cell damage; oxidative stress (OS); the current pharmacotherapy of dementia; and the efficacy of AAs in treating neuronal cell damage. In addition, the limitations and prospects of AAs as neuroprotective agents are discussed.