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

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 IC(50) 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. SUMMARY: The aerial parts and roots of Corchorus depressus (Cd) were extracted in dichloromethane and methanol. The extract of roots of Cd showed free radical scavenging activity 99% at concentration 16.1 mg/ml, Ach inhibition by aerial parts of dichloromethane fraction by 46.07%, and 79% inhibition against a-glucosidase enzyme activity with IC(50) 62.8 ± 1.5 mg/ml. The dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of Cd exhibited antioxidant inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and a-glucosidase activities. [Image: see text] Abbreviations used: DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, Cd: Corchorus depressus, AChE: Acetylcholinesterase, BChE: Butyrylcholinesterase, AD: Alzheimer's disease.