Exploiting the Combinatorial Therapeutic Approach in Glutamate toxicity induced neurodegenerative diseases – A mini review

Glutamate toxicity is implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases which share diverse pathological features, and among these oxidative stress, inflammation and excitotoxicity play leading role in their progression. Since glutamate toxicity involves activation of multiple pathways, merely blocking a single component may be ineffective to modulate the process. So, no single drug effectively abates glutamate toxicity associated neurodegeneration. Therefore, combination therapy aimed at inflammatory, stress and non-inflammatory mechanisms involved in various neurodegenerative diseases may prove to be successful and effective therapy to combat these diseases in comparison to monotherapies including anti-inflammatory drugs (AIDs). In conclusion, further studies need to be designed to elucidate the potential of combination therapy to target cross talk between various stress mechanisms to ameliorate glutamate toxicity, in comparison to monotherapies. This mini review evaluates research findings, not only with the aim of recognition of scope of combinatorial therapeutic approach for the cure of various neurodegenerative diseases but also for its translation into the clinical arena.