Author(s)

YiWen Zhang

Affiliation(s)

School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.

Corresponding Author

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a senile brain disease characterized by insidious onset and neurodegenerative pathology. According to reports from the World Health Organization, the global population of individuals affected by AD exceeds 55 million, with a new case occurring approximately every three seconds. This number is projected to exceed 150 million by the year 2050. Given the unclear pathogenesis of AD, there are currently no available etiological treatments. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is known for its multi-target therapeutic approach, which provides several advantages, including a variety of treatment methods, minimal side effects, and the capacity to coordinate effects across multiple targets and pathways. This makes TCM particularly significant for research focused on the prevention and treatment of AD. This paper utilizes TCM as a foundation to review recent research findings regarding its treatment of AD, including ganolearins A–D, ulmoidol (30), Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, Ganoderma sinense crude polysaccharide and so on. It identifies newly discovered active ingredients and treatment methods, with the aim of providing a theoretical basis for TCM approaches to AD and serving as a reference for drug development.

KEYWORDS

Alzheimer's disease; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Active ingredient; Mechanism of action; Neuroprotection

CITE THIS PAPER

YiWen Zhang. Recent advances in the neuroprotective effects of traditional Chinese medicine: focus on active ingredients and mechanisms of action in alzheimer's disease. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Medical Research. 2025, 7(2): 59-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.61784/jpmr3047.

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