Neuroprotective and pro-cognitive effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extracts and its biologically active compounds on induced neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory processes in vitro and in vivo. Current knowledge

SummaryThe prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases are a critical global public health concern. The search for novel therapeutic strategies, including the development of new, innovative, effective, and safe medicinal products, as well as the elucidation of their mechanisms of action, represents a rapidly expanding area of scientific research. A promising medicinal plant that has generated renewed therapeutic interest in recent years is rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), which exhibits a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. This review provides a concise summary of the current state of knowledge regarding the neuroprotective potential of rosemary and its bioactive constituents, which include rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, ursolic acid, carnosol, as well as essential oil fractions and aqueous–ethanolic and ethanolic extracts. These effects are mediated through multiple mechanisms at the molecular, biochemical, and cellular levels, including inhibition of cholinesterases, modulation of the dopaminergic system, and regulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory mediators. Furthermore, rosemary has been shown to counteract the deleterious effects of β-amyloid, attenuate scopolamine-induced amnesic effects, and exert cytoprotective activity against numerous neurotoxic compounds of endogenous or environmental origin (xenobiotics), such as aluminium chloride, bisphenol, lipopolysaccharides (LPS; e.g. from Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.), ibotenic acid (from Amanita muscaria), chlorpyrifos (an organophosphate pesticide), 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP⁺), paraquat (1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride), and acrylamide (ACR). Available clinical studies have also been analysed, indicating improvements in various types of memory following rosemary administration. The current state of knowledge was analysed using a selective review of the literature from PubMed, SCOPUS, and ScienceDirect (Elsevier), selecting relevant keywords and restricting the scope to the past ten years.