Curcumin and Apigenin - novel and promising therapeutics against chronic neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Madhuri Venigalla; Erika Gyengesi; Gerald Münch

doi:10.4103/1673-5374.162686

Curcumin and Apigenin - novel and promising therapeutics against chronic neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Neural Regen Res. 2015 Aug;10(8):1181-5. doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.162686.

Authors

Madhuri Venigalla¹, Erika Gyengesi², Gerald Münch³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia.
² Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia ; Molecular Medicine Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
³ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia ; National Institute of Complementary Medicine, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia ; Molecular Medicine Research Group, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by deposition of amyloid beta, neurofibrillary tangles, astrogliosis and microgliosis, leading to neuronal dysfunction and loss in the brain. Current treatments for Alzheimer's disease primarily focus on enhancement of cholinergic transmission. However, these treatments are only symptomatic, and no disease-modifying drug is available for Alzheimer's disease patients. This review will provide an overview of the proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-amyloidogenic, neuroprotective, and cognition-enhancing effects of curcumin and apigenin and discuss the potential of these compounds for Alzheimer's disease prevention and treatment. We suggest that these compounds might delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease or slow down its progression, and they should enter clinical trials as soon as possible.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease; anti-inflammatory drugs; neuroinflammation; plant secondary metabolites; reactive oxygen species.

Publication types

Review