Flavoring Extracts of Hemidesmus indicus Roots and Vanilla planifolia Pods Exhibit In vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are important for treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other neurological disorders. Search for potent and safe AChEIs from plant sources still continues. In the present work, we explored fragrant plant extracts that are traditionally used in flavoring foods, namely, Hemidesmus indicus and Vanilla planifolia, as possible sources for AChEI. Root and pod extracts of H. indicus and V. planifolia, respectively, produce fragrant phenolic compounds, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde (MBALD) and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin). These methoxybenzaldehydes were shown to have inhibitory potential against acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Vanillin (IC50 = 0.037 mM) was detected as more efficient inhibitor than MBALD (IC50 = 0.047 mM). This finding was supported by kinetic analysis. Thus, plant-based food flavoring agents showed capacity in curing Alzheimer's disease and other neurological dysfunctions.

Methoxybenzaldehydes in Plants:Insight to the Natural Resources, Isolation, Application and Biosynthesis

“…Both MBALD and vanillin showed mixed type of inhibition against acetylcholinesterase. But vanillin was found to be more potent (IC 50 = 0.037 mmol) than MBALD (IC 50 = 0.047 mmol) as inhibitory agent 2 .…”

“…Methoxybenzaldehydes generally have a characteristic fragrance and contain a single 'methoxy' group in the ortho, para or meta position of the benzene ring of benzaldehyde ( Figure 1). They are regarded as natural products of plants with medicinal and industrial importance 2,3 . For example, vanillin, a popular and widely used flavouring methoxybenzaldehyde was an area of interest for plant biologists in the last decade due to its direct usage in food and beverage industries.…”

“…The root extracts are also used as flavouring agent, mostly in the southern part of India, specially as food and drink ingredient 5,6 . MBALD was reported to exhibit medicinal properties such as anti-acetylecholinesterase, antityrosinase and antileukemic activities 2,3,7,8 . There are many other plants which produce and accumulate different homologous methoxybenzaldehydes in different organs ( Figure 1) and these have to be considered for future research in this area.…”

Phytochemical studies on the roots of Hemidesmusindicus (L.) R. Br. ecotypes

“…Sreelekha et al (2007) reported that the fresh root on steam distillation yielded a volatile oil which contained major component of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde. Beside this, Sircar et al (2007) and Kundu and Mitra (2013) reported the crude extract of H. indicus root to contain the high amount of 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde, responsible for the sweet fragrance. Present study confirms the above observations, because peak area of the 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzaldehyde, compound is prominent in all seven ecotypes.…”

Ethnobotany, Pharmacology and Chemistry of Medicinal Orchids from Veracruz

“…Confirmed biological activities include anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, against cell stress [37][38][39][40], anti-microbial [41], anti-cholesterol [42], anti-nociceptive [43,44], anti-depressing and inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase (Alzheimer) [45].…”