Potential therapeutic use of plant flavonoids in AD and PD

BACKGROUND: Millions of people suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) worldwide. Due to their complex pathology, no effective pharmacological treatment has been found to date, despite extensive research. Developing new, effective therapeutic agents to cure these disease remains a major challenge. Although the cause of AD and PD remains illusive, numerous studies indicates that oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation lead to neurodegeneration in the central nervous system and play vital role in AD and PD morbidity and progression. Flavonoids, which are found widely in nature, exhibit anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutative, anti-microbial, and neuroprotective properties, so have potential to treat these two kinds of diseases. METHODS: In this review, we focus on the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective action of flavonoids in attenuating Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, and how they might be harnessed in the development of new pharmacological agents to treat these two diseases. RESULT: Some flavonoid compounds, like hesperidin, naringin, naringenin, tangeretin, nobiletin, silibinin, Epigallocatechin-3-gallate, displayed to be effective in both AD and PD. CONCLUSION: Considerable studies have demonstrated the anti-AD and anti-PD effects of flavonoids through various in vitro and in vivo models. However, more rigorous studies are needed to be done for flavonoids to develop into effective drugs and apply them to clinical practice.