In vitro screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity of medicinal plants from southern Africa

Objective To determine the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) and antioxidant activity of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of 12 traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of neurological disorders. Methods: AChEI activity was determined spectrophotometrically using the Ellman's colorimetric method. Antioxidant activity was carried out by determining the ability of the extracts to scavenge 2,2 diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DEPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. The levels of total phenols, flavonoids and flavonols were determined quantitatively using spectrophotometric methods. Results: AChEI was observed to be dose dependent. Lannea schweinfurthii (L. schweinfurthii) (Engl.) Engl. and Scadoxus puniceus (S. puniceus) (L.) Friis & I. Nordal. root extracts showed the lowest IC50 value of 0.0003 mg/mL for the ethyl acetate extracts while Zanthoxylum davyi (Z. davyi) (I. Verd.) Watermann had the lowest IC50 value of 0.01 mg/mL for the methanol extracts in the AChEI assay. The roots of Piper capense (P. capense) L.f., L. schweinfurthii, Ziziphus mucronata (Z. mucronata) Willd., Z. davyi and Crinum bulbispermum (C. bulbispermum) (Burm.f.) Milne-Redh. Schweick. showed noteworthy radical scavenging activity findings activity and good AChEI activity. Conclusions: Five plants show good antioxidant and AChEI activity. These support the traditional use of the plants for treating neurological disorders especially where a cholinesterase mechanism and reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved.