Herbal Remedies for Parkinson's Disease in Under-Resourced Settings

This chapter delivers an overview of the potential of medicinal plants in managing Parkinson's disease in under-resourced settings where access to conventional therapies is limited. Beginning with PD pathophysiology and inadequacies of conventional therapies, it establishes the rationale for herbal multi-target mechanisms, including oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and dopaminergic neuron loss. Key medicinal plants, such as Mucuna pruriens, Ginkgo biloba, Withania somnifera, Curcuma longa, and Panax ginseng, were referenced for their anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and antioxidant properties, in conjunction with emerging candidates and their associated phytochemical mechanisms. Historical applications in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine systems, their relevance and multi-target therapeutic potential are highlighted. The chapter further addresses indications from preclinical studies using experimental PD models alongside findings from clinical trials, highlighting promising outcomes and challenges related to safety, dosage, and standardization of herbal formulations.