Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Effects of Traditional Herbal Medicines used in the Management of Neurodegenerative Diseases in Mauritius
Dhayana Mottay1, Vidushi S Neergheen-Bhujun2
Author Affiliations
1Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
2Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and ANDI Centre of Excellence for Biomedical and Biomaterials Research, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius
correspondence to
Vidushi S Neergheen-Bhujun; v.neergheen@uom.ac.mu
Received: June 22, 2015
Revised: August 21, 2015
Accepted: August 31, 2015
Abstract
Bioactive plant constituents from traditional herbal medicines can simultaneously protect neurons against oxidative stress and act as cholinesterase inhibitors, two key factors involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. This study thus aimed at investigating the antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of five herbal medicines, including 3 polyherbal formulas (F1, F2, F4) and 2 single-herb formulas (F3 and F5), currently used in Mauritius. Antioxidant activities were determined by the reducing potential, scavenging and chelating properties while the pro-oxidant effects was characterized by the copper-phenanthroline assay. While all extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, different extent of such property was observed in each assay. F3 containing Gingko biloba L. demonstrated a higher ferric reducing antioxidant potential (1654 ± 37.8 μmol Fe (II) equivalent/g dry weight) compared to the other extracts. The elixir F2 consisting of Gingko biloba L., Hypericum perforatum L. and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was a potent scavenger of hypochlorous acid and hydroxyl radical and was a strong iron (II) chelator. All extracts inhibited acetylcholinesterase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner, which correlated strongly with total phenolics (r=0.894, p<0.01) and total proanthocyanidins (r=0.937, p<0.01). These findings suggested that activities of the locally available herbal drugs used to slow the progression of neurodegenerative disorder might be partly ascribed to their antioxidant and anticholinesterase activity.
KEY WORDS: Cholinesterase inhibitors; Oxidative stress; Pro-oxidant activities; Traditional herbal medicine; Neurodegenerative diseases |
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