Abstract
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), which breakdown acetylcholine and butyrylcholine, are considered as a promising strategy in the management of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Traditional accounts of indigenous plant Jatopha gossypyfolia suggest presence of important medicinal activities including improvement of memory functioning. To establish correlation of its use as anti-Alzheimer, AChE and BuChE inhibitory activity of extracts obtained from different parts of plant Jatropha gossypyfolia belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae were tested. Extracts from leaves, stem bark and roots were prepared by maceration. Enzyme inhibitory activity was carried out by using standard in vitro AChE and BuChE inhibition assays (Ellman's assay method) and the percentage inhibition was calculated. The results showed that roots dichloromethane fraction (65.43 ± 0.11), roots methanol fraction (62.79 ± 0.34) and leaves dichloromethane fraction (57.71 ± 0.15) showed significant acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity compared to other fractions when compared with standard serine (91.29 ± 1.17). Similarly, butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory results showed that roots dichloromethane fraction (80.46 ± 0.44), JGLE (77.34 ± 0.34) showed significant BuChE enzyme inhibitory activity as compared to other fractions when compared with standard eserine (82.82 ± 1.09). Dichloromethane extracts showed higher enzyme inhibition comparatively. Highest AChE and BuChE inhibition was observed with leaf extracts of ethyl acetate fraction. In conclusion, the plant extracts exhibited presence of bioactive compounds with significant AChE and BuChE inhibition supporting traditional use of this herb in the management of AD. However, further investigation of the plant is required.