Antioxidant potentials and inhibitory activities of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and acetylcholinesterase of different fractions from Salsola tetragona Delile

Abstract

ABSTRACT The medicinal use of Salsola tetragona Delile (Amaranthaceae) aerial parts is a longstanding tradition. This study delved into the plant’s potential as an antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-Alzheimer agent. The aerial portion extracted and evaluated four fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol) for their antioxidant activity using DPPH, FRAP, and anti-hemolysis tests, as well as the inhibitory activity of cholinesterase and carbohydrate digesting enzymes. The results showed that the dichloromethane fraction (St.DCM) of S. tetragona had a significant ability to scavenge DPPH• radicals. The ethyl acetate fraction (St.EtOAc) had the best reduction power test activity compared to other solvent fractions. The n-hexane fraction (St.Hex) was most effective in the anti-hemolysis test. The ethyl acetate fraction also had inhibitory activities (p < .05) with IC50 values of 70 ± 1.80 µg/ml for α-glycosidase, equivalent to the n-butanol fraction (St.n-BuOH), which had very significant activity (p < .05) in the α-amylase inhibition test with an IC50 of 64 ± 1.80 µg/ml. The ethyl acetate fraction also had a considerable concentration of total phenolic compounds and flavonoids and exhibited significant (p < .05) inhibitory effects on acetylcholinesterase with an IC50 of 30 ± 0.30 µg/ml. Therefore, the aerial parts of S. tetragona contained high levels of biologically active compounds, making it a potential source for developing new plant-based pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals to enhance human health.