New Resveratrol Derivatives Exhibit Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Properties and Decrease Reactive Oxygen Species Production in the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors constitute a pharmacotherapeutic strategy for AD treatment. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anticarcinogenic, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to evaluate the AChE inhibitory properties and the protective role against oxidative stress damage of five resveratrol analogs (M1 to M5) in SH-SY5Y cells. The studied compounds were not cytotoxic in a wide range of concentrations. The treatment of SH-SY5Y cells at the AChE’s IC50s concentration significantly decreased the AChE enzyme activity in live cells. Through the dichlorofluorescein (DCF) assay, three compounds decreased the endogenous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results demonstrate that, in addition to their action as biologically active AChE inhibitors, some resveratrol derivatives exhibit neuroprotective effects against endogenous ROS production.