Digestibility and Bioavailability of the Active Components ofErica australisL. Aqueous Extracts and Their Therapeutic Potential as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Abstract

Erica australis L. (Ericaceae) is used in traditional medicine to treat many free-radical related ailments. In the present work, the stability and biological activity of the plant aqueous extracts submitted to an in vitro digestive process were investigated. Chemical stability was monitored by HPLC-DAD and LC-MS/MS, while the bioactivities were evaluated through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Both extracts, whose main components were flavonol glycosides, inhibited AChE, showing IC50 values of 257.9 ± 6.2 µg/mL and 296.8 ± 8.8 µg/mL for the decoction and for the infusion, respectively. Significant radical scavenging activities were also revealed by both extracts, as denoted by the IC50 values for the decoction, 6.7 ± 0.1 µg/mL, and for the infusion, 10.5 ± 0.3 µg/mL. After submission to gastric and pancreatic juices, no remarkable alterations in the composition or in the bioactivities were observed, suggesting that the extracts may pass through the gastrointestinal tract, keeping their composition and therefore their biological properties. Moreover, the bioavailability of the components of both extracts, as studied in a Caco-2 cell model, showed that compounds can permeate the membrane, which is a condition to exert their biological activities. Our results add further support to the potential of E. australis for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties.

In vitro digestion, antioxidant and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of two species of Ruta : Ruta chalepensis and Ruta montana

“…The observed decreases of 10 and 20% of the activity could be due to interference with the test reagents, which are corroborated by HPLC analysis. Our results are in accordance with those reported for Lavandula viridis L'H er (Lamiaceae) extracts (Costa et al 2014) and Erica australis L. (Ericaceae) extracts (Dias et al 2015).…”

Triterpenoid and Steroid Content of Lipophilic Extracts of Selected Medicinal Plants of the Mediterranean Region

“…Erica species (Ericaceae) are used in folk medicine for their therapeutic properties including antimicrobial, antiviral, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antiulcer activities [ 21 ]. Erica arborea L. (tree heath) is an evergreen shrub or small tree, native to south-west Europe, the Mediterranean region and northern Africa.…”

Anticholinesterase activities from aqueous extract of different plant parts of Erica manipuliflora

“…Extracts of several medicinal plants have been reported to be effective in the inhibition of BChE and AChE [17]. Several plants from Ericaceae family have shown a very strong inhibitory activity against AChE and BChE [18].…”