Potential Neuroprotective Activity of Essential Oils in Memory and Learning Impairment

Abstract

Memory and learning is negatively affected by many factors. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive and irreversible neurological disorder that occurs gradually, a sickness that is increasingly common, and multiple scientific articles suggest that essential oils improve memory and learning and are useful in the treatment of various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. This review aims to conduct a critical collection of current information on research into both memory and learning impairment, as well as essential oils that are able to avoid this neurodegenerative disease. Currently, different animal models have been useful for the study of neurodegenerative problems that alter memory and learning, experimental pharmacological, genetic and toxicological models that can simulate specific cognitive deficit syndromes. In addition, research in this review show several essential oil compounds that present positive results in animal studies, but still lack human clinical trials. Therefore, the assessment of the safety and efficacy of these phytochemical compounds in diseases that cause memory impairment and learning, remain a promising area for future research. Key words: Essential oil, Alzheimer disease, Neurodegenerative diseases, Animal model, Memory, Learning