Therapeutic Potential of Natural Products in Neurodegenerative Disorders

This book reviews the potential of natural products in the treatment and management of neurodegenerative disorders.

Ghulam Md. Ashraf is working as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, United Arab Emirates. He holds a Ph.D. degree in biochemistry and has over fifteen years of teaching and research experience in various disciplines of biological, health and medical sciences. His primary research fields are biochemistry and neurology, with a current focus on understanding the molecular and behavioral mechanisms of the effects of anti-diabetic drugs in psychotic and dementia conditions. Dr. Ashraf’s lab is currently investigating the potential attenuation or reversal of weight gain induced by anti-psychotic drugs in psychotic conditions through the use of anti-diabetic drugs. He is also researching the molecular and behavioral mechanisms of novel therapeutic combinations in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Ashraf has published more than 430 research articles and is professionally associated with the Royal Society of Medicine (Fellow), the Royal Society of Biology (Member), the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Member), and the Canadian Association of Neuroscience (Member). In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Ashraf was included as a subject of biographical record in Marquis Who’s Who in the World in 2020. He has also been recognized as an Expertscape World Expert in Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegenerative disorders since 2020 and has been listed as one of the Top 2% Scientists Worldwide since 2022 for his exemplary contributions to scientific research.

Md. Habibur Rahman is a registered pharmacist in Bangladesh and a member of the Novel Global Community Education Foundation (Australia). He earned his Ph.D. in Medical Science from Yonsei University, South Korea, and has contributed his expertise to several leading pharmaceutical organizations. His research is primarily focused on neuroscience, particularly the molecular mechanisms underlying clinical dementia, with emphasis on biomarker discovery and targeted diagnostic strategies. In addition to his neuroscience work, Dr. Rahman is an expert in molecular biology, with extensive experience in gene expression analysis, oxidative stress pathways, and neuroinflammation. He has been recognized among the top 2% of scientists worldwide (Stanford University, citation-based global ranking) for his impactful contributions. Dr. Rahman is also an active scientific communicator and public speaker, frequently presenting at international conferences and academic forums. He serves as a peer reviewer for several high-impact journals and is involved in multiple ongoing research collaborations in neuroscience and molecular medicine.

Karri V. V. S. Narayana Reddy is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics at JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, India. A proud alumnus of the same institution, he completed his B.Pharm, M.Pharm, and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty. Recognized among the Top 2% of Scientists in the World by Stanford University for three consecutive years (2022, 2023, and 2024), Dr. Reddy has made significant contributions to pharmaceutical sciences. His expertise spans nano drug delivery, diabetic wound healing, and biomaterials, with a particular focus on natural products and innovative formulations. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, authored several book chapters, and holds multiple patents related to advanced drug delivery systems. Dr. Reddy also serves as a research coordinator, an active Ph.D. guide, and is on the editorial board and review panels of reputed international journals.

Chenmala Karthika is a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institute of Health in the USA. She completed her Ph.D. at JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty, and has published more than 35 national and international research articles in journals of high repute. Over the past 5 years, her research has focused on cancer and its therapeutic approaches, with an additional interest in aging, COVID-19 and neurodegenerative disorders.

Ali T. Zari is an assistant professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2007 from King Abdulaziz University and completed his Master of Science in Biology in 2014 at Laurentian University in Canada. He earned his Ph.D. in biomolecular sciences from Laurentian University in Canada in 2019. Dr. Zari’s research interests encompass the examination of the effects of medicinal plants and their bioactive components on various cancer cells and other diseases using bio-molecular techniques in vitro and in vivo to investigate their potential effectiveness as pharmaceutical sources. Additionally, he investigates the potential benefits and risks of using nanomaterials for therapeutic purposes. Dr. Zari is also involved in in silico prediction of cancer inhibitors and protein modeling for antitumor activity. He has diverse teaching experiences at the graduate and postgraduate levels in the fields of general biology, molecular biology, cell biology, natural products, and animal physiology at King Abdulaziz University.

K. Gowthamarajan is Professor & Head, Department of Pharmaceutics (DST-FIST Sponsored), JSS College of Pharmacy, Ooty (JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research, Mysuru). He holds M.Pharm (1996) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees from The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai. With over two decades of academic and research experience, he has developed industry-relevant academic programs and led collaborative projects in intranasal and nanotechnology-based drug delivery. His current focus is on optimized and personalized drug delivery systems. He has guided over 50 PG and 18 Ph.D. scholars. He has executed several government-funded projects in areas such as Alzheimer’s, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and space medicine, receiving grants from DST-SERB, AICTE, ICMR, DBT, and SPARC. He has played a significant role in technology transfers and serves as a consultant for multiple pharmaceutical industries. Dr. Gowthamarajan has been consistently listed among the top 2% scientists globally by Stanford University and Elsevier for the past three consecutive years (2022-2024). He has over 150 peer-reviewed publications, 23 patents, and is a member of national academic bodies, editorial boards, and regulatory committees.