Preface

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive neuronal loss (structurally and/or functionally) in different regions of the brain. NDs represent one of the most important public health concerns, as they are the growing cause of death around the world, especially among the elderly. Aging has led to an increase in NDs, such as Alzheimer's disease, dementia, cerebrovascular impairment, seizure disorders, head injury, and Parkinson's disease, which are becoming critical due to their irreversibility, lack of effective medication, and the resulting social and financial burdens. Indeed, despite the noteworthy achievements in our understanding of NDs, there has been little achievement in formulating suitable therapies.

Currently, the available treatments for NDs seem to be ineffective, as they only work to ease the symptoms but cannot prevent the disease's progression. The use of medicinal herbs is emerging as an alternative or integrative therapeutic against NDs because of the preconception that medicinal herbs are consequently safe. Phytochemicals from medicinal plants assume an indispensable job in keeping up the chemical balance of the brain by affecting the capacity of receptors for the major inhibitory neurotransmitters. In a conventional act of medication, a few plants have been accounted for to treat NDs.

This book highlights various homegrown medications and their scientific validation to maintain neuronal wellbeing, utilized in Ayurveda practices and Chinese medication. This book summarizes different phytochemicals from various medicinal herbs that are used as promising therapeutic agents for NDs due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative as well as anticholinesterase activities. Even though the affinity of receptors or carriers for polyphenols or different phytochemicals of the homegrown arrangements in cerebrum tissues remains to be found out, numerous candidates show up as a potential and promising class of therapeutics for the treatment of ailments with a multifactorial etiology.

Adopting the ethnomedicinal approach, this book addresses the intersection between recent therapeutics for NDs and personalized medicine that will allow a broader range of interventions, including evidence-based natural products.