European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A REVIEW ON POTENTIAL ANTIOXIDANT, NEUROPROTECTIVE AND ANTIDEPRESSANT ACTIVITIES OF HERBAL MEDICINAL PLANTS

Neha Bharti, Prity Yadav, Suman Kumari, Ashish Kumar Kansotiya and Pratap Chand Mali*

ABSTRACT

Exposure to several chemical and environmental pollutants has risen due to the increased influence of western diets and modern lifestyle among peoples. It is playing a key role in chances of developing a neurodegenerative disorders and depression in this 21st century. Neurodegeneration, it is death of neurons in Central Nervous System and it is becoming the most growing cause of mortality. Depression, a mood disorder, leading to severe mental illness due to decrease in brain monoamines, becoming 2nd most devastating cause of death in a very early age. Despite of having plenty of standard drugs, limitations of pharmacotherapy make it urgent to shift towards an herbal source. Drugs from herbal matter can be more effective, as it has been used from ancient time, are cheaper, show less adverse effects and work for a longer time in body. These are rich source of several phytocompounds as flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, saponins and many essential oils, which provide a source of antioxidants that work also as neuroprotective agents and some other which may raise the brain monoamines, thus can work as antidepressant too. This review compiles the list of medicinal plants exhibiting neuroprotective, antioxidative and antidepressant activities with their botanical name, common name and basic phytochemical constituents.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, neuroprotection, antidepressant, antioxidant, radicals.