Alzheimer’s disease: ethanobotanical studies

Abstract Alzheimer is a neurodegenerative disorder common in elderly patients causing neuronal cell death in patient’s brain cell which is responsible for memory and cognition impairment. Ethnobotanical studies have shown that many medicinal plants used in traditional medicine system across the globe have shown significant results in enhancing the memory functions. The traditional knowledge can be a potential source for drug discovery against Alzheimer’s disease. Phytochemical analysis have shown that bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, sterols, alkaloids, flavanoids, lignans, tannins and triterpenes are present in these plants which are used traditionally against Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the medicinal plants have been studied and shown to have beneficial effect by animal studies and clinical trials, without any side effects. In this chapter where we will discuss about few very common medicinal plants and their effects on AD along with the gaps and challenges faced for the transformation of traditional knowledge to drugs in the market.