The transmission of acetylcholine (ACh) is critically important for memory, learning, and behaviour. The most promising approaches for the treatment of cholinergic dysfunction involve the enhancement of ACh via nootropic phytomolecules. In the same line, the present study identifies the active molecule Bakuchiol derived from Psoralea corylifolia. Bakuchiol demonstrated significant elevation of ACh transmission, reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and extension of lifespan. Further investigation indicated that modulation of mRNA expression of genes encoding choline transporter, choline acetyltransferase, and acetylcholine transporter as possible effectors of amassed neural transmission. Moreover, Bakuchiol showed efficacy in reducing amyloid β and lipid levels, possibly through the upregulation of heat shock transcription factor 1 (hsf-1) and autophagy (lgg-1) genes. Overall, our findings establish the efficacy of Bakuchiol in modulating cholinergic dysfunction.
Keywords: Bakuchiol; Caenorhabditis elegans; ROS; amyloid beta; cholinergic transmission.