中文摘要：

玄参科植物地黄，在我国有1000多年的药用历史，地黄及以地黄为主的复方在神经系统疾病治疗中应用历史久远，现代实验研究发现其主要活性成分梓醇是其在神经系统发挥多重保护作用的主要成分。文章从中西医结合角度将梓醇在神经系统及其相关疾病中的作用及其机制作一综述，内容涉及梓醇通过抗凋亡、抗氧化、抗炎症、神经因子通路及促神经修复和重塑途径可能对神经系统疾病如老年痴呆症、帕金森、年龄相关疾病及脑缺血损伤有一定的改善作用。提示梓醇通过多方位作用实现神经保护功效，在神经系统疾病治疗方面有着独特的优势。如能合理利用我国资源优势，对梓醇在神经系统的多方面功能做深入研究，有望为开发神经系统难治性疾病新的治疗药物奠定基础。

英文摘要：

Rehmannia, a traditional Chinese medical herb, has a long history in nervous system disease therapy. Previous work has indicated that catalpol is a main active ingredient performing neuroprotective effect in rehmannia. The function and mechanism of catalpol was reviewed in nervous system disease,including anti - apoptotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and the recovery and remodeling of nerves in improving Alzheimer＇s disease, Parkinson＇s disease, age -related diseases and cerebral ischemie. Catalpol performing neuroprotective effect has a unique advantage in treating nervous system diseases. The multifaceted functions of catalpol would be studied in nervous system. It prospects to develop new drugs for intractable diseases of the nervous system.