title: Inhibitory effect of ursolic acid purified from Origanum majorana L on the acetylcholinesterase.
abstract: We screened 139 herbal spices in search of the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor from natural resources. AChE inhibitors, which enhance cholinergic transmission by reducing the enzymatic degradation of acetylcholine, are the only source of compound currently approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Among these herbs, edible plants and spices, the ethanol extract from Origanum majorana L. showed the highest inhibitory effect on AChE in vitro. By sequential fractionation of Origanum majorana L. the active component was finally identified as ursolic acid (3 beta-Hydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid). The ursolic acid of Origanum majorana L. inhibited AChE activity in a dose-dependent and competitive/non-competitive type. The Ki value (representing the affinity of the enzyme and inhibitor) of Origanum majorana L. ursolic acid was 6 pM, and that of tacrine was 0.4 nM. The concentration required for 50% enzyme inhibition of the active component (IC50 value) was 7.5 nM, and that of tacrine was 1 nM. This study demonstrated that the ursolic acid of Origanum majorana L. appeared to be a potent AChE inhibitor in Alzheimer's Disease.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002845:Chromatography; D006801:Humans; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016716:PC12 Cells; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D013619:Tacrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013619:Tacrine; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid