Aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in animals: an opportunity to find effective phytochemicals for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease – a review

Iranpak, Forough; Khorsand, Marjan; Arabsolghar, Rita; Saberzade, Jamileh; Takhshid, Mohammad Ali

doi:10.22038/ajp.2026.27690

Aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in animals: an opportunity to find effective phytochemicals for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease – a review

Articles in Press

Document Type : Review Article

Authors

¹ Division of Medical Biotechnology, Department of Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

² Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

10.22038/ajp.2026.27690

Abstract

Objective: Aluminum is a non-essential neurotoxic metal. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, apoptosis, alteration in the activity of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and monoamine oxidase (MAO), β-amyloid aggregation, and tau phosphorylation have been attributed to aluminum neurotoxicity. These pathological changes bear a striking resemblance to those observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, animal models of aluminum neurotoxicity have been frequently used to identify effective natural products for AD treatment. This study aims to review studies that evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of plant extracts against aluminum neurotoxicity.
Materials and Methods: PubMed and ScienceDirect were searched for keywords including aluminum, neurotoxicity, plant extract, and animal models. The data extracted from each study encompassed the animal model, dose, duration, and routes of administration of aluminum and plant extracts, as well as markers of neurotransmission, oxidative stress, plaque formation, apoptosis, and inflammation.
Results: The results indicate that the healing effects of phytochemicals on aluminum-induced neurotoxicity are mediated through their metal chelating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-apoptotic, anti-AChE, and anti-MAO activities, as well as their abilities to inhibit amyloid plaque formation.
Conclusion: Animal studies suggest that phytochemicals, either alone or in combination with anti-AD drugs, may have beneficial effects in preventing aluminum-induced neurodegeneration.

Keywords