Impairment of the central nervous system (CNS) or the nerves conducting messages results in CNS disorders. These CNS disorders could be mild or severe depending on the type of disorder. CNS disorders include depression, anxiety, Huntington’s disease, epilepsy, and others. Over the years, natural medicine has been used globally in the management of disorders related to the CNS. These herbal interventions are sometimes used as substitutes for orthodox agents used in the management of CNS disease. Examples of these plants include Desmodium adscendens, Cleome rutidosperma, Withania somnifera, Baccopa monnieri, Rauvolfia serpentina, Acorus calamus, Emblica officinalis , and Strychnos nux-vomica . The mechanisms of action they employ include binding to CNS receptors with pharmacologic and therapeutic effects, normalization of hormones such as corticosterone, amelioration of depressive-like
behaviors, anti-inflammatory effects, acetylcholinesterase activity, stimulation of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, reactive oxygen scavenging properties, and abrogation of monoamine oxidase activity.
