Role of Herbal Transdermal Patches in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive chronic neurodegenerative disease of the brain named after German physician Aloes Alzheimer, who first described it in 1906.22 Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia and affects an estimated 10 million people worldwide. It play an increasingly important role both socially and financially in the aging populations. It is a neurological disease where amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are formed inside the brain. It is also characterized by progressive memory loss, depression, neuroinflammation, and derangement of other neurotransmitters.22 The most common form of dementia is AD, which demolishes the vital brain cells, causing trouble with memory, thinking, and behavior, brutal enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies, and social life. Recognized factors in Alzheimer's disease include acetylcholine deficiency, free radicals, and inflammation of the brain tissue. Many of the current drugs taken to treat the disease, such as, donepezil, have unpleasant side effects and doctors are keen to find alternatives. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease, but symptomatic treatment may improve the memory and other dementia related problems. The objective here is to provide a systematic review of the ongoing evidence pertaining to the use of medicinal herbs in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its associated symptoms.22 Traditional medicine is practiced worldwide as memory enhancer since ancient times. Natural therapy including herbs and medicinal plants has been used in the treatment since a long time. Natural compounds have been investigated as an alternative therapy for their ability to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Traditional herbs and formulations which are used in the Indian ayurvedic system are rich sources of antioxidant, anti-amyloidogenic, neuroprotective, and anti-inflammatory compounds. They promote quality of life by improving cognitive memory and rejuvenating brain functioning through neurogenesis. A rich knowledge base of traditional herbal plants (Turmeric, Gingko, Ashwagandha, Shankhpushpi, Giloy, Gotu kola, Garlic, Tulsi, Ginger, and Cinnamon) combined with modern science could suggest new functional leads for Alzheimer's drug discovery. The oral administration of treating AD has had some drawbacks that decrease the medication adherence and efficacy of the therapy. Transdermal drugs are proposed as an alternative remedy to overcome the disadvantages of current pharmaceutical dosage options for this chronic disorder. They could have different strengths, such as offering a stable diffusion of active substance, avoiding the first pass metabolism, and reducing system adverse reactions. In this article Ayurveda, the ancient Indian herbal medicine system based on multiple clinical and experimental, evidence have been reviewed for treating AD and improving brain functioning. The main objective of this research is to provide a systematic review of herbal drugs that are easily accessible and effective for the treatment of AD and also reviews the technical principles, novel techniques of transdermal delivery drug, and prospects for future development for the management of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions in AD patients.