Anticholinesterase activity of an endemic Atlantic rain forest bamboo species

F Anselmo-Moreira; J Gagliano; CM Furlan

doi:10.1055/s-0039-3399956

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1512
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3399956

Main Congress Poster

Poster Session 2

Anticholinesterase activity of an endemic Atlantic rain forest bamboo species

F Anselmo-Moreira

¹Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo,, Rua do Matão 277, São Paulo, Brazil

,

J Gagliano

¹Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo,, Rua do Matão 277, São Paulo, Brazil

,

CM Furlan

¹Department of Botany, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo,, Rua do Matão 277, São Paulo, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Full Text

Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by cognitive and memory disturbances. It is associated with a reduction of acetylcholine levels. Thus, it is interesting to find drugs that inhibit the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) [1]. Asian bamboos are reported to improve spatial memory capacity and to reduce AChE activity [2]. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the anticholinesterase potential of Merostachys neesii Rupr., an endemic Brazilian woody bamboo. Leaves and culms of M. neesii (n=3) were collected during the dry (August/2016) and rainy (February/2017) seasons. Plant material was submitted to two extraction processes: serial maceration using hexane and 70% ethanol; and infusion. AChE and BChE inhibitory activity was evaluated by Ellman’s colorimetric method using a microplate reader. Results were expressed as minimal inhibitory concentration to reach 50% inhibition (MIC₅₀). MIC₅₀ values were compared by the t-test or Wilcoxon test for two samples (non-parametric data) using R software to verify if there was a significant difference (p 0.05) caused by seasonality. In general, hexane extract of leaves (HE-L: 376.92 ± 48.14 μg mL^-1) and culms (HE-C: 592.24 ± 164.14 μg mL^-1) from the rainy season showed the lowest MIC₅₀, but still higher than that of neostigmine (33.84 ng mL^-1). AChE inhibition has also been reported for M. magellanica [3]. Also, HE-L showed a significant difference between the seasons, with lower MIC₅₀ value in the rainy season [Fig. 1]. No inhibition of BChE was observed. In conclusion, seasonality influenced the AChE inhibitory activity of HE-L; however, no extract showed promising anticholinesterase activity.

Fig. 1 Seasonality effect on inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by Merostachys neesii Rupr. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (n=3). Means were compared between seasons of the same extract. Different letters represent significantly different means (p 0.05). MIC₅₀: minimal inhibitory concentration to reach 50% inhibition. HE-L: hexane extract of leaves; EE-L: ethanolic extract of leaves; AE-L: aqueous extract of leaves; HE-C: hexane extract of culms; EE-C: ethanolic extract of culms; AE-C: aqueous extract of culms.

References

References
1 Anand P, Singh B. A review on cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease. Arch Pharmacol Res 2013; 36: 375-399
2 JX Liu, MY Zhu, CY Feng, HB Ding, Zhan Y, Zhao Z, YM Ding. Bamboo leaf extract improves spatial learning ability in a rat model with senile dementia. Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B 2015; 16: 593-601
3 Grombone-Guaratini MT, Torres LB, Faria DA, Jose CM. Chemical and biological evaluation of native bamboo species from Atlantic rain forest. Planta Med 2012; 78: PA4

Figures

Fig. 1 Seasonality effect on inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by Merostachys neesii Rupr. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (n=3). Means were compared between seasons of the same extract. Different letters represent significantly different means (p 0.05). MIC₅₀: minimal inhibitory concentration to reach 50% inhibition. HE-L: hexane extract of leaves; EE-L: ethanolic extract of leaves; AE-L: aqueous extract of leaves; HE-C: hexane extract of culms; EE-C: ethanolic extract of culms; AE-C: aqueous extract of culms.