Abstract
<p class="Abstract">The present study was carried out to explore the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and anti-oxidant effect as well as content of phenolic compounds of various extracts from Zygophyllum album. It was observed that dichloromethane and ethanol extracts were endowed with a powerful anti-acetylcholinesterase activity with IC<sub>50</sub> values of 40 and 58 µg/mL, respectively. These two extracts exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC<sub>50</sub>=0.2 mg/mL), the highest total anti-oxidant capacity (185.2 and 222.4 mg vitamin E/mg extract, respectively), the highest reducing power effect, and the highest β-carotene bleaching capacity. The findings showed that the extents of anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of Z. album extracts as well as their anti-oxidant capacity are in accordance with their phenolic contents. Hence, Z. album leaves would be useful against Alzheimer's disease.</p><p> </p><p><strong>VIDEO CLIP</strong></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/M03zi4Mzh6k">Determination of flavonoids content:</a> 2 min 50 sec</p><p> </p>
Highlights
Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is known to result in the oxidation of biomolecules, thereby leading to cellular damage and it plays a key pathogenic role in the aging process (Su et al, 2008)
The extraction yields obtained with methanol (18.3%), butanol (10.0%), ethanol (10.0%) and ethyl acetate (8.6%) were higher than those obtained with acetone (1.0%), dichloromethane (0.4%) and n-hexane (0.3%)
N-hexane extract tested positive for the presence of sterols, while dichloromethane, ethanol and methanol extracts were positive tested for quinones, flavonoids and alkaloids (Table I)
Summary
Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS), is known to result in the oxidation of biomolecules, thereby leading to cellular damage and it plays a key pathogenic role in the aging process (Su et al, 2008). There has been growing interest in finding natural anti-oxidants in plants because they inhibit oxidative damage and may prevent aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Fusco et al, 2007). The flora of Tunisia represents one of the richest areas in the mediterranean and comprises a very important resource of medicinal plants. Zygophyllum album belonging to the family Zygophyllaceae (Mnafgui et al, 2012) is widespread in the deserts and salt marshes of southern Tunisia. The leaf, stem and fruit of this plant are used as a drug active against rheumatism, gout, asthma, diuretic, antidiabetic, antihistaminic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-oxidant (Mnafgui et al, 2012; Tigrine et al, 2011; Mnafgui et al, 2014; Ghoul et al, 2012; Ksouri et al, 2013), anti-septic, antispasmodic, anti-eczema, antidiarrheal, and anti inflammatory agents (Viqar et al, 2006; Smati et al, 2004; Tahraoui et al, 2007)
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