The potential role of herbal products in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial disorder of the nervous system in which there is a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. There is a disturbance in the movement in PD and these include resting tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia or akinesia, disturbance, posture and freezing (motor block). The substantia nigra and other parts of the brain are commonly affected. The disorder could be related to oxidative stress and there is an important role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A number of herbal products contain active components which are known to possess antioxidant action. Hence, the potential role of herbal products in treating PD cannot be undermined. In the present narrative review, the main aim is to discuss the pathogenesis of PD, define the role of different potential herbal extracts on its pathogenesis which may form the basis of treatment. We also discuss in detail the active chemical compounds present each herb which are effective in the treatment of PD. These herbs include Baicalei, Erythrina velutin, Resveratrol, Peganum Harmal, Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae), Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower), Pueraria lobate, Juglandis Semen (Walnut), Tianma Gouteng Yin (TGY), Lycium barbarum L fruit, Mucuna pruriens (Velvet bean), Chunghyuldan (CHD), Paeoniae Alba Radix. The present review may be beneficial for designing future drugs for effective treatment of PD.