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As doenças neurodegenerativas, como a Doença de Alzheimer e a Doença de Parkinson, assim como distúrbios emocionais, como a depressão, englobam um conjunto de condições incuráveis que perturbam a qualidade de vida dos indivíduos afetados. Esta condição tem como características o declínio da capacidade cognitiva e motora que se agrava com o passar dos anos. Apesar destas doenças serem incuráveis, estudos têm vindo a ser realizados de modo a compreender of mecanismos por detrás do agravamento destas condições, de tal modo a suprimir ao máximo a sua propagação. Até hoje, as hipóteses e teorias mais discutidas revolvem a volta de processos enzimáticos, do agonismo e antagonismo de recetores neuronais, de stress oxidativo, e da citotoxicidade de complexos proteicos, portanto, terapias eficazes têm vindo a ser desenvolvidas de modo a suprimir a progressão destas doenças. As terapias já existentes centramse na administração de fármacos que atuam nos mecanismos inerentes de cada condição neurodegenerativa. Neste aspeto, as plantas medicinais surgem como fortes candidatos a integrarem estas terapias, uma vez que, no passado, eram administradas para tratar diferentes doenças inflamatórias, por exemplo. Cada planta apresenta uma panóplia de compostos bioativos que, em alguns casos, compõe alguns fármacos especificados para este tipo de doenças. De todas as terapias existentes, a Medicina Tradicional Chinesa surge como uma das mais antigas, praticadas, e mais bem documentadas do mundo. Esta dissertação tem como principal objetivo averiguar o potencial de algumas das mais utilizadas plantas medicinais (e um fungo) na Medicina Tradicional Chinesa, na intervenção benéfica dos mecanismos inerentes de cada doença neurodegenerativa.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and disorders, like depression, belong to a group of incurable conditions that affect the quality of life of those that are affected by them. The most characteristic clinic features include cognitive and motor symptoms, in which, a significant loss of memory and reduction of motor ability is observed, respectively. Despite these kinds of diseases are considered incurable, numerous studies have suggested that symptoms can be controlled, and disease’s progression can be delayed. The most discussed theories and hypotheses show that neurodegenerative conditions involve enzymatic processes, receptor agonist and antagonist interactions, oxidative stress, and protein cytotoxicity, therefore, therapies have been designed to act at these specific mechanisms. The available therapies require the administration of different pharmaceuticals that act at the inherent mechanisms of each neurodegenerative condition. Medicinal plants appear as strong candidates to integrate therapies, as they have been utilized as medication for treating all kinds of ailments for over 4000 years. Each plant presents a wide variety of bioactive compounds, which have already been integrated into pharmaceuticals designed to treat said neurodegenerative conditions. Out of all known natural therapies, Traditional Chinese Medicine is at the forefront of the medicinal plant industry as one of the oldest practiced therapies in the world, as well as being one of the most well-documented. The primary objective of this dissertation aims is to evaluate the potential of some of the most predominant medicinal plants (and one fungus) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to positively intervene in the most known mechanisms that contribute towards neurodegenerative disease progression.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and disorders, like depression, belong to a group of incurable conditions that affect the quality of life of those that are affected by them. The most characteristic clinic features include cognitive and motor symptoms, in which, a significant loss of memory and reduction of motor ability is observed, respectively. Despite these kinds of diseases are considered incurable, numerous studies have suggested that symptoms can be controlled, and disease’s progression can be delayed. The most discussed theories and hypotheses show that neurodegenerative conditions involve enzymatic processes, receptor agonist and antagonist interactions, oxidative stress, and protein cytotoxicity, therefore, therapies have been designed to act at these specific mechanisms. The available therapies require the administration of different pharmaceuticals that act at the inherent mechanisms of each neurodegenerative condition. Medicinal plants appear as strong candidates to integrate therapies, as they have been utilized as medication for treating all kinds of ailments for over 4000 years. Each plant presents a wide variety of bioactive compounds, which have already been integrated into pharmaceuticals designed to treat said neurodegenerative conditions. Out of all known natural therapies, Traditional Chinese Medicine is at the forefront of the medicinal plant industry as one of the oldest practiced therapies in the world, as well as being one of the most well-documented. The primary objective of this dissertation aims is to evaluate the potential of some of the most predominant medicinal plants (and one fungus) used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to positively intervene in the most known mechanisms that contribute towards neurodegenerative disease progression.
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Medicina Tradicional Chinesa Neurónio Doenças neurodegenerativas Doença de Alzheimer Doença de Parkinson Depressão Plantas medicinais Toxicologia Chinese Traditional Medicine Neuron Neurodegenerative disease Alzheimer’s Disease Parkinson’s Disease Depression Medicinal plants Toxicology