engleski

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects of the essential oil of <i>Nigella sativa</i> L. seeds and its selected components

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common progressive form of dementia exhibited as progressive loss of memory and reduction of crucial neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Increase of acetylcholine can be achieved by inhibition of its metabolic enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE inhibitors are still the best available pharmacotherapy for AD patients. Plants are potential source of bioactive compounds and offer a promising strategy for the treatment of neurological disorders such as AD. The aim of this study is to isolate essential oil from <i>Nigella Sativa</i> L. seeds, determine its chemical composition, identify main components and investigate AChE inhibition of both essential oil and its components. Inhibitory activity of essential oil and some of its components were evaluated using simple colorimetric assay based on Ellman’s method. Kinetic studies were also performed for selected compounds and kinetic parameters were determined. As main constituents of the essential oil thymoquinone, <i>p</i>-cymene, isolongifolene, <i>α</i>-thujene and carvacrol were identified. The results of the Ellman assay showed that carvacrol was the strongest inhibitor, followed by <i>p</i>-cymene, thymoquinone and last essential oil. Further research should be addressed to indigenous plant <i>Nigella damascena</i> L. and compare it to <i>Nigella sativa</i> L. in all aspects.

Acetylcholinesterase; Nigella sativa; essential oils; carvacrol; thymoquinone

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