Antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of commercially available medicinal infusions after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Abstract

Cynara cardunculus, Fraxinus angustifolia and Pterospartum tridentatum are plants commercialized in Portugal for digestion-related ailments, among others. The aim of this study was to identify the chemical composition of the infusions and determine the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, the antioxidant activity, and to evaluate if the chemical composition and activities remained after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. These activities can be related with the traditional uses of these plants. The toxicity of the infusions was also tested with Caco-2 cells, a model of intestinal cells. The composition of the plant extracts revealed mainly flavonoids and phenolic acids. The antioxidant activity measured as half maximal effective concentration (EC 50) values ranged from 19 to 120 µg/ml and the acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity of the three extracts determined as half inhibitory concentration (IC 50) was between 1 and 2.5 mg/ml. The composition and the biochemical activities remained after the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The infusions showed no toxicity against Caco-2 cell lines. The antioxidant activity and inhibition of acetylcholinesterase were maintained during the digestive process, and therefore can be important mechanisms for the therapeutic effects attributed to the infusions under evaluation, namely to treat digestive problems. Even though the infusions presented biochemical activities, they were not toxic for the intestine cell line.

Effect of Food Preparations on In Vitro Bioactivities and Chemical Components of Fucus vesiculosus

“…Enzyme inhibitory activity of acetylcholinesterase and HMGR of the ocean and Tagus queous extracts (100 °C, 30 min) and after SPE purified extract. ely 60 ug/mL, value similar to those obtained in infusions from medicinal plants [30]. s well as the Tagus samples dried in the oven showed a very low antioxidant activity,…”

“…The ocean samples extracted at 100 • C and purified by SPE was the extract with a higher antioxidant activity (76.54% ± 0.17) followed by the Tagus samples extracted with the same conditions (41.98% ± 0.55). The results present in Figure 4 demonstrate that although the antioxidant activity even in the best situation is lower than the standard like butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), whose IC 50 is 15.7 ug/mL [35,36], it would be approximately 60 ug/mL, value similar to those obtained in infusions from medicinal plants [30]. Capsules, as well as the Tagus samples dried in the oven showed a very low antioxidant activity, Figure 5.…”

“…The chromatograms were extracted by representing the highest intensity regardless of the wavelength measured. The quantification of the cholesterol for the permeation studies was performed as described in [30].…”

“…Antioxidant activity was measured by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method as described in [30]. To calculate the percentage of antioxidant activity, the following expression was used:…”

Yield, chemical composition and functional properties of essential oils from Mentha spicata (Lamiaceae) in Santiago del Estero, Argentina

“…Some of these have been found in plants (Dohi, Terasaki, & Makino, 2009). Falé et al (2013) also reports that AChE inhibitors can be used to increase gastrointestinal motility, since acetylcholine is the major excitatory neurotransmitter responsible for the peristaltic contractions. The results of these studies highlight the importance of the evaluation of AChE inhibitory activity of Mentha spicata essential oils since plants are used for treatment of gastrointestinal disturbances.…”