Activity of Selected Group of Monoterpenes in Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms in Experimental Model Studies—A Non-Systematic Review

• Main Authors: Karolina Wojtunik-Kulesza, Monika Rudkowska, Kamila Kasprzak-Drozd, Anna Oniszczuk, Kinga Borowicz-Reutt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-07-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: monoterpenes; Alzheimer’s disease; memory; anxiolytic activity; sleep regulatory; insomnia
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/14/7366

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia and cognitive function impairment. The multi-faced character of AD requires new drug solutions based on substances that incorporate a wide range of activities. Antioxidants, AChE/BChE inhibitors, BACE1, or anti-amyloid platelet aggregation substances are most desirable because they improve cognition with minimal side effects. Plant secondary metabolites, used in traditional medicine and pharmacy, are promising. Among these are the monoterpenes—low-molecular compounds with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, analgesic, sedative, as well as other biological properties. The presented review focuses on the pathophysiology of AD and a selected group of anti-neurodegenerative monoterpenes and monoterpenoids for which possible mechanisms of action have been explained. The main body of the article focuses on monoterpenes that have shown improved memory and learning, anxiolytic and sleep-regulating effects as determined by in vitro and in silico tests—followed by validation in in vivo models.