In-Vitro Assessment of Cholinesterase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Plant Pterocarpus santalinus

Abstract

Abstract Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, and the most predominant cause of dementia in the elderly. Traditionally Pterocarpus santalinus (L.) has widely known for its medicinal use. Our aim is to investigate the cholinesterase inhibitory activities, and antioxidant properties of the plant extracts in the treatment of AD. The crude methanol extract was prepared by cold extraction method and four fractions namely petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water fraction were assessed for acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity by the Ellman method, and their antioxidant properties were assessed by several assays including reducing power, scavenging of DPPH and hydroxyl radicals together with quantitative analyses of endogenous substances. The extracts are found moderately active against the Acetylcholinesterase enzyme. The results revealed that methanol extract, possibly due to its phenolic compounds, exerts moderate antioxidant and cholinesterase inhibitory activities which may be useful in the treatment of AD.