Recent Advances in the Antioxidant Therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease: Emphasis on Natural Antioxidants

Abstract

There is an urge to hunt for therapeutic measures against the most rampant neurodegenerative disorder, i.e., Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recent researches have revealed that dietary antioxidants have potential to combat AD through several antioxidative mechanisms. Oxidative stress, a pathological hallmark of AD occurs mainly through increased free radical production and needs to be targeted and controlled in order to treat AD. Prevention of β-amyloid aggregation is another challenge. Aggregation of amyloid β-protein strongly contributes to the AD pathogenesis. Use of antioxidants can prove to be a hopeful approach to neuroprotection as they have tendency to reduce destructive effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants keep the equilibrium between the physiological generation of ROS and their normalization. These constitute a major portion of drugs that are presently under investigation for AD pathology. Herein, we have summarized the therapeutic nature of natural antioxidants towards AD. A variety of dietary antioxidants have been chosen to discuss their basic chemical properties, potential towards ROS scavenging, and inhibition of Aβ aggregation. Role of these antioxidants in the management of neurodegenerative disorders have been reviewed on the basis of preclinical and clinical evidences. It has been proved that dietary antioxidants certainly play a crucial role in treatment of AD but strong clinical evidences are still lacking.