Neuropharmacological Potential of Gastrodia elata Blume and Its Components
Jang JH, Son Y, Kang SS, Bae CS, Kim JC, Kim SH, Shin T, Moon C · Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine · 2015 January
DOI 10.1155/2015/309261
Objective
Research has been conducted in various fields in an attempt to develop new therapeutic agents for incurable neurodegenerative diseases. Gastrodia elata Blume (GE), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used in neurological disorders as an anticonvulsant, analgesic, and sedative medication. The present review discusses the neuroprotective potential of GE and its components and the related mechanisms; we also provide possible preventive and therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders using herbal resources.
Conclusions
In this review, we summarized the protective effects of GE against neurodegenerative disorders and proposed the underlying mechanisms of the neuropharmacological potential of GE and its components. In addition, we confirmed that administration of vanillin, an active component of GE, ameliorates TMT-induced seizures, which may be related to the reduced neuronal death and microglial activation. Therefore, this review encourages the identification of specific GE components for use in possible preventive or therapeutic strategies for various neurodegenerative disorders and may also be helpful for the development of new treatments for incurable disorders.
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