Polyherbal and Multimodal Treatments: Kaempferol- and Quercetin-Rich Herbs Alleviate Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder impairing cognition and memory in the elderly. This disorder has a complex etiology, including senile plaque and neurofibrillary tangle formation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and damaged neuroplasticity. Current treatment options are limited, so alternative treatments such as herbal medicine could suppress symptoms while slowing cognitive decline. We followed PRISMA guidelines to identify potential herbal treatments, their associated medicinal phytochemicals, and the potential mechanisms of these treatments. Common herbs, including Ginkgo biloba, Camellia sinensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Cyperus rotundus, and Buplerum falcatum, produced promising pre-clinical results. These herbs are rich in kaempferol and quercetin, flavonoids with a polyphenolic structure that facilitate multiple mechanisms of action. These mechanisms include the inhibition of Aβ plaque formation, a reduction in tau hyperphosphorylation, the suppression of oxidative stress, and the modulation of BDNF and PI3K/AKT pathways. Using pre-clinical findings from quercetin research and the comparatively limited data on kaempferol, we proposed that kaempferol ameliorates the neuroinflammatory state, maintains proper cellular function, and restores pro-neuroplastic signaling. In this review, we discuss the anti-AD mechanisms of quercetin and kaempferol and their limitations, and we suggest a potential alternative treatment for AD. Our findings lead us to conclude that a polyherbal kaempferol- and quercetin-rich cocktail could treat AD-related brain damage.

Investigating the Neuroprotective and Cognitive-Enhancing Effects of Bacopa monnieri: A Systematic Review Focused on Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Apoptosis

“…Medicinal plants and herbal remedies are also becoming relevant as complementary interventions, providing a valuable source for drug development for neurodegenerative diseases [27][28][29]. This global use is driven by a strong interest in younger and older generations to improve cognitive performance and achieve healthy aging [30][31][32][33][34].…”

Quercetin improves homocysteine-induced learning and memory impairment in rats via AMPK/mTOR

“…At present, many studies on the pharmacological effects of Quercetin are not mature, the drugs with Quercetin as the main component are relatively few, and can not be widely used in clinical treatment (Paula et al, 2019). Quercetin and its active components can inhibit Aβ toxicity, Tau protein hyperphosphorylation and neuronal apoptosis through a variety of mechanisms, thus preventing and treating AD (Alexander et al, 2023). Recent studies have found that Quercetin can enhance autophagy and accelerate the clearance of Tau protein, thus protecting the nervous system (Vaiserman et al, 2020).…”

Menthol-Modified Quercetin Liposomes with Brain-Targeting Function for the Treatment of Senescent Alzheimer’s Disease

“…Quercetin (Qu), a flavonoid commonly present in traditional Chinese herbs as well as everyday fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, onions, and leeks, exhibits promising potential for various applications due to its wide availability in various foods . The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of Qu have prompted extensive research into its therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases .…”