Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, antioxidant and phytochemical properties of selected medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family

Molecules. 2014 Jan 9;19(1):767-82. doi: 10.3390/molecules19010767.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Lamiaceae medicinal plants growing wild in Croatia. Using Ellman's colorimetric assay all tested ethanolic extracts and their hydroxycinnamic acid constituents demonstrated in vitro AChE inhibitory properties in a dose dependent manner. The extracts of Mentha x piperita, M. longifolia, Salvia officinalis, Satureja montana, Teucrium arduini, T. chamaedrys, T. montanum, T. polium and Thymus vulgaris at 1 mg/mL showed strong inhibitory activity against AChE. The antioxidant potential of the investigated Lamiaceae species was assessed by DPPH• scavenging activity and total antioxidant capacity assays, in comparison with hydroxycinnamic acids and trolox. The extracts differed greatly in their total hydroxycinnamic derivatives content, determined spectrophotometrically. Rosmarinic acid was found to be the predominant constituent in most of the investigated medicinal plants (by RP-HPLC) and had a substantial influence on their AChE inhibitory and antioxidant properties, with the exception of Teucrium species. These findings indicate that Lamiaceae species are a rich source of various natural AChE inhibitors and antioxidants that could be useful in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's and other related diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Animals
  • Biphenyl Compounds / chemistry
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Chromans
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Chromatography, Reverse-Phase
  • Cinnamates / chemistry
  • Cinnamates / isolation & purification
  • Coumaric Acids / chemistry
  • Depsides / chemistry
  • Depsides / isolation & purification
  • Drug Discovery
  • Eels
  • Fish Proteins / chemistry
  • Free Radical Scavengers / chemistry*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification
  • Free Radicals / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lamiaceae / chemistry*
  • Picrates / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / isolation & purification
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • Rosmarinic Acid

Substances

  • Biphenyl Compounds
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Chromans
  • Cinnamates
  • Coumaric Acids
  • Depsides
  • Fish Proteins
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Free Radicals
  • Picrates
  • Plant Extracts
  • 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid