Paeoniflorin is a major bioactive compound isolated from the root of Paeonia lactiflora, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. While paeoniflorin has a long history of use in traditional medicine for various ailments, its application in Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is supported by emerging preclinical scientific evidence rather than historical tradition. Animal and cell studies have shown that paeoniflorin may have neuroprotective effects relevant to AD, including reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting neuroinflammation, decreasing neuronal apoptosis, and modulating amyloid-beta aggregation. Several studies in rodent models of AD have reported improvements in cognitive function after paeoniflorin administration, alongside reductions in markers of neurodegeneration. The mechanisms proposed include inhibition of microglial activation, downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and protection against mitochondrial dysfunction.

However, there is a lack of high-quality human clinical trials directly evaluating paeoniflorin for AD. Most evidence comes from in vitro or animal research, which, while promising, does not guarantee efficacy or safety in humans. Thus, the current scientific validation is limited, with a low-to-moderate level of evidence (rated 2/5), and further well-designed clinical studies are needed before paeoniflorin can be recommended as a treatment or supportive agent for Alzheimer's Disease.