Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and its Treatment with Natural Products

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that causes myelination defects and axonal impairment in the central nervous (CNS) system, causing inhibition of electrical transmission. The disease's typical symptoms include stiffness, persistent discomfort, exhaustion, motor and mobility problems, and cognitive deficits. Although immunosuppressive and immune-modulating medications have been the fundamental basis of MS treatment, there is currently no known treatment for the disease. Herbaloriginated therapies are now being considered a possible therapeutic option for MS by using medicinal plant extracts or phytochemicals. Numerous research works have emphasized the medicinal herbs' anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which make them a natural treatment for MS. According to the literature, several plants, such as hemp, turmeric, ginkgo, St. John's wort, black cumin, ginseng, and ginger have been reported to have various therapeutic effects in MS patients. Otherwise, the most promising substances that have been suggested to treat MS symptoms include curcumin, resveratrol, cannabinoids, apigenin, omega 3, and vitamin D. In this chapter, we compiled medicinal plants, and phytochemicals that have potential effects on MS. It is suggested that clinical trials were conducted on MS patients with medicinal plants, which were prominent in vivo findings. We also advise further research in this field to identify the precise active ingredients present in these extracts for the best composition necessary for the intended therapeutic effect.