Screening of selected Indian medicinal plants for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 19;109(2):359-63. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.06.014. Epub 2006 Aug 4.

Abstract

Seventy-six plant extracts including methanolic and successive water extracts from 37 Indian medicinal plants were investigated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (in vitro). Results indicated that methanolic extracts to be more active than water extracts. The potent AChE inhibiting methanolic plant extracts included Withania somnifera (root), Semecarpus anacardium (stem bark), Embelia ribes (Root), Tinospora cordifolia (stem), Ficus religiosa (stem bark) and Nardostachys jatamansi (rhizome). The IC(50) values obtained for these extracts were 33.38, 16.74, 23.04, 38.36, 73.69 and 47.21mug/ml, respectively. These results partly substantiate the traditional use of these herbs for improvement of cognition.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / drug effects*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
  • India
  • Medicine, East Asian Traditional
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Plants, Medicinal

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Plant Extracts
  • Acetylcholinesterase