Medicinal plants as a sources of terpenoids and their impact on Central Nervous System disorders: A review

Abstract

Medicinal plants are rich sources of secondary metabolites which are commonly used in treating and preventing various diseases. Among different secondary metabolites, terpenoids play an important role as signaling compounds and growth regulators in plants. Besides these, terpenoids also have medicinal properties which are effectively used in treating common Central Nervous System disorders such as anti-Parkinson´s disease, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, anti-malarial, anti-ulcer, hepaticidal, etc. Terpenoids were also known for their potential role in improving intelligence, memory-enhancing, and exerting antidepressant and antianxiety effects. The availability of medicinal plants in nature is an indication for combating various diseases since synthetic drugs have serious side effects that negatively affect the treatment outcome. Thus, the need to strengthen the research on reservoirs of phytochemicals that are present abundantly in medicinal plants is important for their identification, isolation, and characterization of particular drug-yielding compounds against several diseases. In this review, we have summarised the important potential of medicinal plants’ terpenoids and their effects on Central Nervous System disorders.