Screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in herbal medicines

Abstract

The pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked to a deficiency in the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Subsequently, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors were used for the treatment of mild to moderate AD. The goal of this study was determine the candidate therapeutic herbal medicines on AD through AChE inhibition. In the present study, the AChE inhibitory effects of 255 herbal medicines were evaluated using an AChE assay. 14 herbal medicines increased the AChE activity but 8 herbal medicines inhibited the AChE activity more than 50 %. When we analyzed the AChE activity of each herbal medicine on the based of therapeutic category on Herbalogy, the category of collecting dispersed essence energy had the highest number of herbal medicines (2 out of 9) among of 8 herbal extracts which have AChE inhibition activities. However, the category of warming inside had the highest number of herbal medicines among of 14 herbal extracts which have AChE increasing activities (2 out of 7). When we compared our results with other researchers' results, the correlation was significantly high (p=0.0003). Our results provide the potential drug candidates for further studies by unbiased screening.

Veronica persica Poir. extract – antibacterial, antifungal and scolicidal activities, and inhibitory potential on acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase

“…AD influences memory and other features of human mind and is characterized by the loss of activities referring to the acetylcholine in the cerebral cortex. Noteworthy, most of the AChE inhibitors such as galanthamine were originally isolated from plants (56). Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that TYR might be related to the damaged neurons typical for another progressive neurological disorder, Parkinson's disease (57).…”

Chemical Profiling and Assessment of Antineurodegenerative and Antioxidant Properties of Veronica teucrium L. and Veronica jacquinii Baumg.

“…The most widely used treatment against Alzheimer 's disease is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme that hydrolyses acetylcholine . Most of the AchE inhibitors such as galanthamine were originally isolated from plants, indicating that herbal medicines are a good source for the search of novel AchE inhibitors . Also, it has been proposed that tyrosinase might be linked with damaged neurons typical for another progressive neurological disease, Parkinson 's disease, pointing to tyrosinase inhibitors as potential medications …”

“…[30] Most of the AchE inhibitors such as galanthamine were originally isolated from plants, indicating that herbal medicines are a good source for the search of novel AchE inhibitors. [31] Also, it has been proposed that tyrosinase might be linked with damaged neurons typical for another progressive neurological disease, Parkinson's disease, pointing to tyrosinase inhibitors as potential medications. [9] In a previous work, [4] our group reported moderate neuroprotective activity of V. jacquinii and V. teucrium extracts on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line by increasing cell survival in cells stressed with sodium nitroprusside and H 2 O 2 , compared to the nonstressed cells.…”