Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Vascular Dementia: An Overview of Scientific Evidence

Overview

Journal Evid Based Complement Alternat Med

Specialty Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2017 Jan 25

PMID 28115971

Citations 26

Authors

Dennis Chang

Jianxun Liu

Kellie Bilinski

Li Xu

Genevieve Z Steiner

Sai W Seto

Alan Bensoussan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Dementia is a leading cause of mental and physical disability. Vascular dementia (VaD) is the second most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease (AD) constituting 10-15% of the dementia population. Currently there are no approved pharmaceutical options for VaD and the conventional anti-AD therapies provide only modest, short-term relief of symptoms associated with VaD. Herbal medicines have been used for the management of dementia-like symptoms for centuries and may provide viable therapies for VaD due to their multicomponent and multitarget approach. This review is designed to provide an updated overview on the current status of herbal medicine research, with an emphasis on Chinese herbal medicine, for the treatment of VaD or dementia. A case study is also provided to demonstrate the development process of a novel standardized complex herbal formulation for VaD. The article reveals some preliminary evidence to support the use of single and complex herbal preparations for VaD and dementia. Multiple issues in relation to clinical and preclinical research have been identified and future research directions are discussed.

Citing Articles

Huperzine A ameliorates neurological deficits after spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage through endothelial cell pyroptosis inhibition.

Hu Q, Zhang R, Dong X, Yang D, Yu W, Du Q Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai). 2024; 56(4):645-656.

PMID: 38529553 PMC: 11090845. DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024037.

Early intervention and adding effective doses of EGb761 like extract slow down dementia progression: insights to the neurovascular unit.

Ozge A, Ghouri R, Oksuz N, Tasdelen B Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1240655.

PMID: 38156089 PMC: 10754526. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1240655.

Notoginsenoside R1 ameliorates the inflammation induced by amyloid‑β by suppressing SphK1‑mediated NF‑κB activation in PC12 cells.

Wang X, Li B, Yu X, Zhou Y, Wang K, Gao Y Mol Med Rep. 2023; 29(1).

PMID: 38063180 PMC: 10716814. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2023.13139.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group 12-week pilot phase II trial of SaiLuoTong (SLT) for cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Steiner-Lim G, Bensoussan A, Andrews-Marney E, Al-Dabbas M, Cave A, Chiu C Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2023; 9(4):e12420.

PMID: 37830013 PMC: 10565903. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.12420.

The Protective Effect of Vitamin D on Dementia Risk in Hemodialysis Patients.

Lin C, Chen W, Jao A, Shia B, Wu S Life (Basel). 2023; 13(8).

PMID: 37629597 PMC: 10455756. DOI: 10.3390/life13081741.

References

Goel A, Kunnumakkara A, Aggarwal B . Curcumin as "Curecumin": from kitchen to clinic. Biochem Pharmacol. 2007; 75(4):787-809. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2007.08.016. View

Cong W, Liu J, Xu L . [Effects of extracts of Ginseng and Ginkgo biloba on hippocampal acetylcholine and monoamines in PDAP-pV717I transgenic mice]. Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2007; 27(9):810-3. View

Adams S, Hoppel C, Lok K, Zhao L, Wong S, Minkler P . Plasma acylcarnitine profiles suggest incomplete long-chain fatty acid beta-oxidation and altered tricarboxylic acid cycle activity in type 2 diabetic African-American women. J Nutr. 2009; 139(6):1073-81. PMC: 2714383. DOI: 10.3945/jn.108.103754. View

Jessie S, Krishnakantha T . Inhibition of human platelet aggregation and membrane lipid peroxidation by food spice, saffron. Mol Cell Biochem. 2005; 278(1-2):59-63. DOI: 10.1007/s11010-005-5155-9. View

Xing S, Zhu C, Zhang R, An L . Huperzine a in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia: a meta-analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014:363985. PMC: 3930088. DOI: 10.1155/2014/363985. View

Kennedy D, Scholey A, Wesnes K . Differential, dose dependent changes in cognitive performance following acute administration of a Ginkgo biloba/Panax ginseng combination to healthy young volunteers. Nutr Neurosci. 2002; 4(5):399-412. DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2001.11747376. View

Xu L, Liu J, Cong W, Wei C . [Effects of Weinaokang capsule on intracephalic cholinergic system and capability of scavenging free radicas in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion rats]. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2008; 33(5):531-4. View

Ide K, Yamada H, Takuma N, Kawasaki Y, Harada S, Nakase J . Effects of green tea consumption on cognitive dysfunction in an elderly population: a randomized placebo-controlled study. Nutr J. 2016; 15(1):49. PMC: 4855797. DOI: 10.1186/s12937-016-0168-7. View

Gu P, Chen H . Modern bioinformatics meets traditional Chinese medicine. Brief Bioinform. 2013; 15(6):984-1003. DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbt063. View

10.

Kalaria R, Maestre G, Arizaga R, Friedland R, Galasko D, Hall K . Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia in developing countries: prevalence, management, and risk factors. Lancet Neurol. 2008; 7(9):812-26. PMC: 2860610. DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70169-8. View

11.

Schneider L . Ginkgo biloba extract and preventing Alzheimer disease. JAMA. 2008; 300(19):2306-8. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2008.675. View

12.

Gui Q, Yang Y, Ying S, Zhang M . Xueshuantong improves cerebral blood perfusion in elderly patients with lacunar infarction. Neural Regen Res. 2014; 8(9):792-801. PMC: 4146085. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.09.003. View

13.

Tan M, Yu J, Tan C, Wang H, Meng X, Wang C . Efficacy and adverse effects of ginkgo biloba for cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Alzheimers Dis. 2014; 43(2):589-603. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-140837. View

14.

Howes M, Houghton P . Plants used in Chinese and Indian traditional medicine for improvement of memory and cognitive function. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2003; 75(3):513-27. DOI: 10.1016/s0091-3057(03)00128-x. View

15.

Amin B, Abnous K, Motamedshariaty V, Hosseinzadeh H . Attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis by ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Crocus sativus L. stigma after chronic constriction injury of rats. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2015; 86(4):1821-32. DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765201420140067. View

16.

Yao Z, Han Z, Drieu K, Papadopoulos V . Ginkgo biloba extract (Egb 761) inhibits beta-amyloid production by lowering free cholesterol levels. J Nutr Biochem. 2004; 15(12):749-56. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2004.06.008. View

17.

Wang Y, Huang L, Tang X, Zhang H . Retrospect and prospect of active principles from Chinese herbs in the treatment of dementia. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2010; 31(6):649-64. PMC: 4002969. DOI: 10.1038/aps.2010.46. View

18.

Kanowski S, Herrmann W, Stephan K, Wierich W, Horr R . Proof of efficacy of the ginkgo biloba special extract EGb 761 in outpatients suffering from mild to moderate primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer type or multi-infarct dementia. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1996; 29(2):47-56. DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-979544. View

19.

Shi J, Zhang S, Tang M, Liu X, Li T, Wang Y . The 1239G/C polymorphism in exon 5 of BACE1 gene may be associated with sporadic Alzheimer's disease in Chinese Hans. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2003; 124B(1):54-7. DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.20087. View

20.

Li W, Wu W, Huang H, Wu Y, Yin Y . Protective effect of bilobalide on learning and memory impairment in rats with vascular dementia. Mol Med Rep. 2013; 8(3):935-41. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2013.1573. View