In vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of the Essential Oil from Acorus calamus and its Main Constituents

Abstract

The in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential of the hydroalcoholic extract and of the essential oil from Acorus calamus (AC) rhizomes and that of its major constituents were evaluated based on the Ellman's method. GC/MS analysis of the oil revealed that the major constituents were beta-asarone (79.54%) and alpha-asarone (8.47%). The IC50 values were obtained for the hydroalcoholic extract, the essential oil, beta-asarone and alpha-asarone and were 182.31+/-16.78 microg/mL, 10.67+/-0.81 microg/mL, 3.33+/-0.02 microM and 46.38+/-2.69 microM, respectively. Physostigmine was used as standard inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.28+/-0.015 microM. The experimental observations revealed that the AC essential oil and its constituents have significant AChE inhibitory potential. beta-Asarone, the major phytoconstituent present in the essential oil, showed the maximum inhibitory potential.

The potential therapeutic role of Fenugreek saponin against Alzheimers disease: Evaluation of apoptotic and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities

“…It has been suggested that the AChE inhibition activity increased with increase the presence of antioxidants in the extracted plant (Sharififar et al, 2012). Depending on this fact, the ability of fenugreek saponin to inhibit AD due to increase AChE inhibition activity might be attributed to increase the antioxidants in this herb (Naidu et al, 2011).…”

“…AChE activity was measured in brain tissues using a 96-well microplatereader (Ellman et al, 1961;Mukherjee et al, 2007). The enzyme hydrolyzes the substrate acetylthiocholine resulting in the product thiocholine which reacts with Ellman's reagent (DTNB) to produce2-nitrobenzoate-5-mercaptothiocholine and 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoate which can be detected at 405nm.…”

“…It has been found that fenugreek seeds have many of compounds such as steroidal saponin, vitamins and oils considered as very important materials for medical applications (Jayaweera, 1981). These compounds and materials have been used against ulcer (Almeshal et al, 1985), CNS degeneration (Natrajan et al, 2007), immune diseases (Bilal et al, 2003), oxidation (Kaviarasan et al,2007). In addition, fenugreek saponin has been reported to have apoptosis activity (Moalic et al, 2001).…”

Effects of acorus calamus rhizome extract on neuromodulatory system in restraint stress male rats

“…It belongs to the araceae family. AC has been used in the Chinese and Indian system of medicine for hundreds of years to cure major CNS anomalies (10,14,19). In ayurvedic medicine, it is used either as component ayurvedic preparations or alone for the management of melancholia, insomnia, hysteria, epilepsy, dementia, and neurosis (19).…”

Traditional Korean East Asian Medicines and Herbal Formulations for Cognitive Impairment

“…Acoraceae) is listed in the Korean Pharmacopeia due to its several pharmacological activities, and has been used for hundreds of years for its beneficial effects on learning and memory, as well as in India and China for its anti-aging effects [68]. The main active compounds α-asarone and β-asarone, are the most promising candidates for eliciting cognitive improvement, and have been reported for their AChE inhibition effects in vitro [69]. Several studies have shown the cognitive enhancing effects of this plant.…”