Terpenoids and Huntington's disease

According to the report published by the WHO, the morbidity due to neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) is projected to be second highest cause of the death in 2040. Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic NDD characterized by the progressive cognitive decline, motor dysfunction and psychiatric disturbance. These pathological abnormalities are mainly due to abnormal gene transcription and the deregulation of various biochemical and molecular processes. Oxidative stress is reported to be an important hallmark of in HD, so treatment with antioxidants along with other therapeutic agents, is gaining more significance in the pharmacotherapy of HD. Terpenoids and terpenes are the naturally occurring organic compounds ubiquitously present in plant resins and essential oils. Numerous experiments have indicated that the herbal oils extracted from medicinal plants exhibit a variety of biological functions and can be utilized as remedy for various diseases. Here we discuss the possible beneficial effect of terpenoids on HD.