A Cholinesterase inhibition potential of endemic Satureja subspicata L. essential oil and extracts

-

Abstract

Medicinal plants are potential sources of bioactive compounds. One of the medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina is endemic Satureja subspicata L. In this work, we examined the ability of Satureja subspicata L. essential oil and hot water and methanol extracts to inhibit the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) using Ellman’s method. The ability of Satureja subspicata L. essential oil in concentration of 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL to inhibit enzymes was moderate: 72.82%, and 76.89% for AChE, and 51.51%, and 27.15% for BChE, respectively. Analyzed hot water and methanol extracts in concentration of 1 mg/mL showed weak ability of cholinesterase inhibition. Extracts were additionally analyzed regarding to ability to protect proteins from oxidation, during 1 h and 24 h incubation periods. After incubation for 1 h hot water extract showed a very good protective effect (10.61%), while the methanolic extract showed prooxidative activity. After incubation for 24 h, both extracts showed prooxidative activity. The obtained results show that the examined essential oil and extracts of S. subspicata L. contain compounds with cholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant potential, and therefore can be useful in treatment of Alzheimer's disease.