Phytochemical Components of Snowdrops & Their Use in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract

Natural populations of Galanthus (Snowdrop) species are common in many parts of Europe, Southern Europe, the Balkans, Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus mountain range. Galanthus is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, and alkaloids such as galantamine produced by some of the plants of this group have long-acting, selective, reversible and competitive inhibitory properties. It has been known since ancient times, especially by the local people living in the Caucasus, that the active phytochemicals contained in snowdrops are effective against aging, curing polio and dementia. Based on these observational studies, as a result of scientific studies that started in the 1950s, alkaloid derivative components effective on a large number of neurons from snowdrop (Galanthus) species were isolated. These components are currently being studied for different purposes in experimental and clinical studies. Galantamine, one of these components, is currently used in the treatment of diseases caused by neurological degeneration such as Alzheimer's and dementia. In this study, the possible therapeutic effects of snowdrop components, which are rich in some alkaloids such as galantamine, on Alzheimer's disease and dementia were examined.