Insight into acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of Eryngium foetidium L. leaves

Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEi) and antioxidant activities of natural sources are explored in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Eryngium foetidium L. (Apiaceae) “Andhu” is used as a traditional culinary and a medicine globally. The objective of this study was to determine the AChEi and antioxidant activities of ethanol extract of E. foetidium leaves. Plant material was extracted using ethanol by cold extraction technique. AChEi and antioxidant activities were determined according to Ellman’s method and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, Ferrous Iron Chelating Activity (FICA), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Potential (FRAP) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays, respectively. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. Assays were carried out in triplicates using Spectra Max microplate-reader. The leaf extract showed moderate AChEi activity (IC50 243.65 ± 5.24 µg/mL) in

comparison to Galanthamine, (IC50 scavenging activity (IC50 737.94 ±

0.14 µg/mL), moderate DPPH radical 19.29 µg/mL) in comparison to Trolox

(IC50 4.6 ± 0.0 µg/mL), lower FICA (IC50 1395.88 ± 43.77 µg/mL) in comparison to EDTA (12.74 ± 0.21 µg/mL), low reducing power (62.73 ± 1.83 mg TE/gram of extract) and ORAC (53.74 ± 0.15 mg TE/g of extract) in comparison to green tea (IC50 1362.82 ± 0.22 mg TE/g). The total phenolic and flavonoid content was found to be 10.19 ± 0.07 GAE/g of extract and 26.39 ± 0.34 QE/g of extract respectively. This is the first report of in-vitro AChEi, FICA and ORAC activity for the ethanolic leaf extract of E. foetidium. Results exhibit relatively moderate AChEi and antioxidant properties for the ethanol extract of Eryngium foetidium leaves. Further studies are required on biological activity.