A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ANTI-ALZHEIMER ACTIVITY IN INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Yashasvi Sharma*, Shivani Siwach, Swajil Gupta, Dinesh Upadhyay, Subhranshu Panda

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline, memory loss, and neuronal degeneration, primarily associated with oxidative stress, amyloid-β aggregation, and neuroinflammation. The limitations of current pharmacological therapies, which are mainly symptomatic and associated with adverse effects, have driven interest toward plant-based neuroprotective agents. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and potential anti-Alzheimer activity of selected medicinal plants, namely Psidium guajava, Anthocephalus cadamba, and Carissa carandas. Plant materials were collected, authenticated, shade-dried, and extracted using maceration and Soxhlet extraction methods. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of key bioactive constituents such as flavonoids, phenols, alkaloids, and saponins in all extracts. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups corresponding to polyphenols, aromatic compounds, and glycosides, supporting the phytochemical findings. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) analysis demonstrated distinct Rf values, indicating variation in polarity and diversity of phytoconstituents among the extracts. Among the studied plants, Psidium guajava exhibited a higher abundance of phenolic and flavonoid compounds, suggesting strong antioxidant potential. Anthocephalus cadamba and Carissa carandas also showed significant phytochemical presence, indicating their possible therapeutic relevance. The presence of these bioactive compounds suggests potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities, which may contribute to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and reduction of oxidative stress implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. In conclusion, the studied plant extracts demonstrate promising phytochemical profiles and potential anti-Alzheimer activity. These findings support further in vitro and in vivo investigations to validate their efficacy and explore their development as natural therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative disorders.