Therapeutic options for Huntington's disease: Ayurvedic medicinal plants

Ayurveda is an ancient medical system, one of the world's oldest, originating from India. It is considered as the most recognized and widely practiced alternative medicine. Throughout history, medicinal herbs were used for treating diseases in India. Most of the current pharmacotherapies, mainly targeting the neurotransmitters, yield symptomatic intervention that focus on the motor aspects of Huntington's disease (HD). Ayurvedic herbs and products offer relief without side effects, even with prolonged administration. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are currently considered a major cause of mortality and disability in older people, thus enhancing their life span is a major task in the field of medical research. The symptoms of NDs are described in Ayurvedic texts alongside with the therapeutic potential of numerous plants. In this chapter, the role of the Ayurvedic medicinal plant, Withania somnifera (ashwagandha), on neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease treatment is discussed.