Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of pigment echinochrome A from sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis

Mar Drugs. 2014 Jun 10;12(6):3560-73. doi: 10.3390/md12063560.

Abstract

Echinochrome A (EchA) is a dark-red pigment of the polyhydroxynaphthoquinone class isolated from sea urchin Scaphechinus mirabilis. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are used in the treatment of various neuromuscular disorders, and are considered as strong therapeutic agents for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although EchA is clinically used to treat ophthalmic diseases and limit infarct formation during ischemia/ reperfusion injury, anti-AChE effect of EchA is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-AChE effect of EchA in vitro. EchA and its exhausted form which lost anti-oxidant capacity did not show any significant cytotoxicy on the H9c2 and A7r5 cells. EchA inhibited AChE with an irreversible and uncompetitive mode. In addition, EchA showed reactive oxygen species scavenging activity, particularly with nitric oxide. These findings indicate new therapeutic potential for EchA in treating reduced acetylcholine-related diseases including AD and provide an insight into developing new AChE inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / isolation & purification
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / toxicity
  • Cell Line
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / isolation & purification
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / toxicity
  • Free Radical Scavengers / isolation & purification
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Free Radical Scavengers / toxicity
  • Naphthoquinones / isolation & purification
  • Naphthoquinones / pharmacology*
  • Naphthoquinones / toxicity
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Pigments, Biological / isolation & purification
  • Pigments, Biological / pharmacology*
  • Pigments, Biological / toxicity
  • Rats
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Sea Urchins / chemistry*
  • Toxicity Tests

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Naphthoquinones
  • Pigments, Biological
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Nitric Oxide
  • echinochrome A