Abstract
There is evidence that palmatine (PA), an alkaloid isolated from the Guatteria friesiana plant, has some important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects. In this study, the antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) effects of PA were assessed. The antioxidant capacity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo through 7 distinct assays, and the anti-AChE activity was determined in vitro. The standards, trolox and ascorbic acid were used for the in vitro antioxidant test, while hydrogen peroxide was selected as a stressor for the Saccharomyces cerevisiae test. Additionally, PA was also combined with trolox and ascorbic acid to determine the likelihood of synergistic effects occurrence to what concerns to antioxidant potential. PA exhibited a potent and concentration-dependent antioxidant potential, although a stronger antioxidant activity was stated using the PA + trolox combination. PA was also found to inhibit AChE activity when compared to the negative control. Thus, PA may be viewed as a promissory phytotherapeutic agent to manage oxidative stress-mediated neurological diseases, especially the Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
Highlights
The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases is ancient and, by these days, plant-derived compounds and their usages have received an increasing attention
The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to terminate signals across cholinergic synapses, including those at neuromuscular junctions
Being plant-derived molecules widely recognized for their excellent antioxidant effects, dietary supplements-rich in these bioactive substances have increasingly been viewed as promising tools in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) (2)
Summary
The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of various diseases is ancient and, by these days, plant-derived compounds and their usages have received an increasing attention. AChE inhibition is conceived as a strategy for the treatment of NDs, especially AD. Being plant-derived molecules widely recognized for their excellent antioxidant effects, dietary supplements-rich in these bioactive substances have increasingly been viewed as promising tools in the treatment of NDs (2). Costa et al suggested that plants from this genus are rich in alkaloids with promising biological activities (3). Among them a quaternary alkaloid called palmatine (PA) isolated from G. friesiana leaves is reported to have anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects (4). It should be underlined that, phytochemicals having antioxidant capacity may impart an anti-inflammatory activity, such as essential oils (5). This study aims to assess the antioxidant and anti-AChE capacities of PA by adopting a number of pre-clinical (in vitro and in vivo) testing methods
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