Antioxidant, Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, and α‑glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Corchorus depressus

Abstract

Background: Corchorus depressus (Cd) commonly known as Boa‑phalee belonging to the family Tiliaceae having 50 genera and 450 species. Cd is not among the studied medicinal agent despite its potential in ethnopharmacology.Objectives: The present study investigated antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and α‑glucosidase inhibitory activities of Cd. The dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the Cd were evaluated for biological activities such as antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of AChE, BChE, and α‑glucosidase.Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring free radical scavenging potential of Cd using 1,1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl. Enzyme inhibition activities were done by measuring optical density.Results: The methanol extract of roots of Cd showed potential free radical scavenging activity 99% at concentration 16.1 µg/ml. AChE was inhibited by aerial part of dichloromethane fraction by 46.07% ± 0.45% while dichloromethane extracts of roots of Cd possessed significant activity against BChE with 86% inhibition compared with standard drug Eserine at concentration 0.5 mg/ml. The dichloromethane extract of roots of Cd showed 79% inhibition against α‑glucosidase enzyme activity with IC50 62.8 ± 1.5 µg/ml.Conclusion: These findings suggest Cd as useful therapeutic option as antioxidant and inhibition of AChE, BChE, and α‑glucosidase activities.

Keywords: 1; 1‑diphenyl‑2‑picrylhydrazyl; antioxidant; butyrylcholinesterase; dichloromethane; methanol