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Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Alzheimer's Disease | Research

Evaluation of cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of Wedelia chinensis and isolation of apigenin as an active compound

Authors: Md. Aminul Islam, Shahed Zaman, Kushal Biswas, Md. Yusuf Al-Amin, Md. Kamrul Hasan, A. H. M. K. Alam, Toshihisa Tanaka, Golam Sadik

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Wedelia chinensis has been reported as a folk medicine for the treatment of different diseases including neurodegenerative disease. Although the plant has been studied well for diverse biological activities, the effect of this plant in neurological disorder is largely unknown. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant potential of W. chinensis.

Methods

The extract and fractions of the plant were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity by modified Ellman method. The antioxidant activity was assessed in several in vitro models/assays such as reducing power, total antioxidant capacity, total phenolic and flavonoid content, scavenging of 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and hydroxyl radical, and inhibition of brain lipid peroxidation. Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods were used to isolate and identify the active compound from the extract.

Results

Among the fractions, aqueous fraction (AQF) and ethylacetate fraction (EAF) exhibited high inhibition against acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 40.02 ± 0.16 μg/ml and 57.76 ± 0.37 μg/ml) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50: 31.79 ± 0.18 μg/ml and 48.41 ± 0.05 μg/ml). Similarly, the EAF and AQF had high content of phenolics and flavonoids and possess strong antioxidant activity in several antioxidant assays including DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activity. They effectively inhibited the peroxidation of brain lipid in vitro with IC50 values of 45.20 ± 0.10 μg/ml and 25.53 ± 0.04 μg/ml, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between total flavonoids and antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. Activity guided chromatographic separation led to the isolation of a major active compound from the EAF and its structure was elucidated as apigenin by spectral analysis.

Conclusions

The potential ability of W. chinensis to inhibit the cholinesterase activity and peroxidation of lipids suggest that the plant might be useful for the management of AD.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation of cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activity of Wedelia chinensis and isolation of apigenin as an active compound
Authors
Md. Aminul Islam
Shahed Zaman
Kushal Biswas
Md. Yusuf Al-Amin
Md. Kamrul Hasan
A. H. M. K. Alam
Toshihisa Tanaka
Golam Sadik
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-021-03373-4

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