Battling Parkinson's and Alzheimer's: The Neuroprotective Power of Carnosic Acid

ABSTRACT

Neurodegenerative disorders have recently emerged as one of the most difficult worldwide health challenges. Neuronal cell injury is a major factor in neurodegenerative diseases. There seems to be rising interest in developing effective neuroprotective drugs from natural sources. Nutraceuticals, or compounds produced from natural sources have shown neuroprotective effects in both in vitro and in vivo models of neuronal cell death and neurodegeneration. Carnosic acid (CA), a natural compound majorly obtained from rosemary and other herbs, has emerged as a promising neuroprotective agent in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. This review covers the latest findings on the methods by which carnosic acid mitigates key pathological features such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and protein aggregation as well as other pathways related to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease induction. Furthermore, we describe preclinical and clinical research that demonstrates the ability of carnosic acid to improve cognitive function and motor performance. This study will give a detailed overview of carnosic acid as a possible therapeutic agent, opening the path for future research into viable therapies for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disorders.