Single herb and its active ingredients have a high selectivity and specific characteristics in the prevention and treatment of vascular dementia (VD)

so more and more attention have been paid to the studies on single herb and its active ingredients. These studies mainly focus on the following kinds of herbs

such as: herbs with tonic effects Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma

Polygoni Multiflori Radix

Acanthopanacis Senticosi Radix et Rhizoma Seu Caulis

Astragali Radix

Rhodiolae Crenulatae Radix et Rhizoma

herbs wtih blood circulation-activating and stasis-dissolving effect Ginkgo Folium

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma

Chuanxiong Rhizoma

Curcumae Longae Rhizoma

Erigerontis Herba

herbs with Heat-clearing effect Astragali Radix

Anemarrhenae Rhizoma

Rehmanniae Radix

Gardeniae Fruetus

and other types Lycopodium serratum Thunb.

Puerariae Lobatae Radix

Caryophylli Flos. Their efficacy mechanisms are mostly involved in: ①increasing the active material(for example ATP enzyme) to restrain from oxidative stress (OS). ②promoting the activity of the cerebral cholinergic system

such as protein

gene and so on.③inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system

calcium influx and the metabolism of free radicals to prevent neurons from cerebral damage. It was concluded that most studies on the treatment of VD were related to herbs with tonic effects or with blood circulation-activating and stasis-dissolving effects

and these herbs and their active ingredients showed wider effect-profiles on VD through regulating diverse pathological or physiological pathways of VD. These findings may provide useful information for future research and development of new drugs and clinical application in the treatment for VD.