Composition comprising the extract of herbs for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders

Abstract

This invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition and a health functional food for preventing or improving neurodegenerative disorders comprising mixed herb extracts of Dioscorea Rhizoma and Dioscorea nipponica in a weight ratio of 3.5:1 (w/w). The herb extracts mixed Dioscorea Rhizoma and Dioscorea nipponica in a weight ratio of 3.5:1 have the synergetic effects on increasing the amount of nerve growth factor in vivo, increasing the neural cell proliferation, promoting the formation of neuritis and enhancing cognitive abilities. Thus, the herb extracts of the present invention may be used for a pharmaceutical composition and a health functional food for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders.

1 . A pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders, comprising:
 mixed herb extracts of  Dioscorea Rhizoma  and  Dioscorea nipponica  in a weight ratio of 3.5:1 (w/w) as an active ingredient; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disorders of  claim 1 , wherein the neurodegenerative disorder is selected from the group consisting of Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, paralytic dementia caused by gradual nerve cell death and diseases caused by progressive incontinentia. 
     
     
         3 . A health functional food composition for preventing or improving neurodegenerative disorders, comprising mixed herb extracts of  Dioscorea Rhizoma  and  Dioscorea nipponica  in a weight ratio of 3.5:1 (w/w). 
     
     
         4 . The health functional food composition of  claim 3 , wherein the herb extracts are the crude extracts extracted by using 50% of ethanol. 
     
     
         5 . The health functional food composition of  claim 3 , wherein the herb extracts are prepared into a form selected from the group consisting of a powder, a granule, a tablet, a capsule, a syrup and a beverage.