engleski

INHIBITORY EFFECT OF COMPOUNDS ISOLATED FROM LAUREL AND BEARBERRY ON ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ENZYME

Acetylcholine (ACh) is one of the most important neurotransmitters in animal systems. Increasing the levels of acetylcholine by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme responsible for its hydrolysis at the cholinergic synapses, serves as a strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), senile dementia, ataxia, myasthenia gravis and Parkinson’s disease. There are a few synthetic medicines, e.g. tacrine, donepezil, and the natural based-products rivastigmine and eserine for treatment of cognitive dysfunction and memory loss associated with AD. These compounds have been reported to have adverse effects including gastrointestinal disturbances and problems associated with bioavailability, which reinforces the interest in finding better AChE inhibitors from natural resources. The aim of this work was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory properties of the compounds isolated from typical Dalmatian plants laurel and bearberry. AChE inhibitory activities have tested by a spectrophotometric method of Ellman using SUNRISE microplate-rider. We also determined previously the essential oil chemical compositions by capillary gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC–MS) as well as the ethanolic extract total phenol content by Folin-Ciolcalteu method. Among tested mix of volatile and nonvolatile compounds the best inhibitory activity was exhibited by the laurel essential oil. 1.8-cineole was considered the main contributor of the AChE inhibitory activity of that oil. Something lower activities were shown by bearberry essential oil as well as by ethanolic extracts of these plants. For comparison the eserine AChE inhibitory activity was also tested.

acetylcholinesterase AChE; inhibitory activities; laurel (Laurus nobilis L.); bearberry (Arbutus unedo L.); essentail oils; ethanolic extracts.

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