Polyphenol-Rich Medicinal Plants

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory loss, cognitive decline, and β-amyloid plaques in the brain. Current treatments offer only short-term relief. This chapter explores the role of plant-derived polyphenols—flavonoids, phenolic acids, and lignans from Ginkgo biloba, Curcuma longa, Camellia sinensis, and Withania somnifera—in managing AD. It highlights their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective actions through mechanisms like free radical scavenging, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, and modulation of Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. Laboratory, animal, and clinical studies are reviewed, along with bioavailability challenges and advanced drug delivery approaches. The chapter offers insight into polyphenol-based strategies for AD prevention and treatment.