Dihuang Yinzi comes from Huangdi Neijing·Suwen·Xuanming Lunfang

and consists of 15 herbs. The king herbs

including Cistanches Herba

Morindae Officinalis Radix

Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata

Corni Fructus

are capable of tonifying kidney-yin and nourishing the bone marrow. Ministerial herbs

including Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia

Cinnamomi Cortex

Ophiopogonis Radix

Dendrobii Caulis

Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus

could maintain vitality

nourish yin

and converge liquid. Adjuvant herbs

Polygalae Radix

Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma

Poria have the functions of eliminating phlegm and inducing resuscitation. Conductant herbs

including Menthae Haplocalycis Herba

Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens

Jujubae Fructus could consolidate the vitality. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and belongs to the category of dementia in Chinese medicine. The pathogenesis of AD is complex and involves multiple pathological processes. Since the onset of AD is occult

and the process is irreversible

AD has enormous damages and very high mortality and morbidity. Chinese herbal compounds based on traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) theory have unique advantages in the treatment of AD. Studies in recent years have shown that Dihuang Yinzi has definite curative effects in the treatment of AD

and its pharmacological mechanisms include multiple factors such as protection of mitochondria

improvement of energy metabolism

antioxidation

regulating the process of beta amyloid precursor protein (APP) and metabolism of amyloid β protein (Aβ)

anti-apoptosis

regulation of neurotransmitters

protection of synapses and anti-inflammatory effects. The recent research progress on pharmacological mechanism of Dihuang Yinzi for AD was reviewed in the present article.