Anticholinesterse and antioxidant investigations of crude extracts, subsequent fractions, saponins and flavonoids of atriplex laciniata L.: potential effectiveness in Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders

BACKGROUND: Atriplex laciniata L. was investigated for phenolic, flavonoid contents, antioxidant, anticholinesterase activities, in an attempt to explore its effectiveness in Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders. Plant crude methanolic extract (Al.MeF), subsequent fractions; n-hexane (Al.HxF), chloroform (Al.CfF), ethyl acetate (Al.EaF), aqueous (Al.WtF), Saponins (Al.SPF) and Flavonoids (Al.FLVF) were investigated for DPPH, ABTS and H(2)O(2) free radical scavenging activities. Further these extracts were subjected to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) & butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities using Ellman’s assay. Phenolic and Flavonoid contents were determined and expressed in mg Gallic acid GAE/g and Rutin RTE/g of samples respectively. RESULTS: In DPPH free radicals scavenging assay, Al.FLVF, Al.SPF and Al.MeF showed highest activity causing 89.41 ± 0.55, 83.37 ± 0.34 and 83.37 ± 0.34% inhibition of free radicals respectively at 1 mg/mL concentration. IC(50) for these fractions were 33, 83 and 82 μg/mL respectively. Similarly, plant extracts showed high ABTS scavenging potential, i.e. Al.FLVF (90.34 ± 0.55), Al.CfF (83.42 ± 0.57), Al.MeF (81.49 ± 0.60) with IC(50) of 30, 190 and 70 μg/ml respectively. further, H(2)O(2) percent scavenging was highly appraised in Al.FLVF (91.29 ± 0.53, IC(50) 75), Al.SPF (85.35 ± 0.61, IC(50) 70) and Al.EaF (83.48 ± 0.67, IC(50) 270 μg/mL). All fractions exhibited concentration dependent AChE inhibitory activity as; Al.FLVF, 88.31 ± 0.57 (IC(50) 70 μg/mL), Al.SPF, 84.36 ± 0.64 (IC(50) 90 μg/mL), Al.MeF, 78.65 ± 0.70 (IC(50) 280 μg/mL), Al.EaF, 77.45 ± 0.46 (IC(50) 270 μg/mL) and Al.WtF 72.44 ± 0.58 (IC(50) 263 μg/mL) at 1 mg/mL. Likewise the percent BChE inhibitory activity was most obvious in Al.FLVF 85.46 ± 0.62 (IC(50) 100 μg/mL), Al.CfF 83.49 ± 0.46 (IC(50) 160 μg/mL), Al.MeF 82.68 ± 0.60 (IC(50) 220 μg/mL) and Al.SPF 80.37 ± 0.54 (IC(50) 120 μg/mL). CONCLUSIONS: These results stipulate that A. laciniata is enriched with phenolic and flavonoid contents that possess significant antioxidant and anticholinestrase effects. This provide pharmacological basis for the presence of compounds that may be effective in Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.