title: Salvia leriifolia Benth (Lamiaceae) extract demonstrates in vitro antioxidant properties and cholinesterase inhibitory activity.
abstract: The object of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antioxidant properties and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of Salvia leriifolia Benth extracts and fractions. The functional role of herbs and spices and their constituents is a hot topic in food-related plant research. Salvia species have been used since ancient times in folk medicine for cognitive brain function and have been subjected to extensive research. Thus, we hypothesize that S leriifolia, because of its functional properties, would be a good candidate to use as a nutraceutical product for improving memory in the elderly or patients affected by Alzheimer disease (ad). To test this hypothesis, we examined the cholinesterase inhibitory activity using the modified colorimetric Ellman's method against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The n-hexane exhibited the highest activity, with inhibitory concentration 50% (IC(50)) values of 0.59 and 0.21 mg/mL, for AChE and BChE, respectively. This extract was fractionated, and 9 of these fractions (A-I) were obtained and tested. Fraction G, characterized by the presence of sesquiterpenes as major components, was the most active against AChE (IC(50) = 0.05 mg/mL). Because oxidative stress is a critical event in the pathogenesis of AD, we decided to screen the antioxidant activity (AA) using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test, β-carotene bleaching test, and bovine brain peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid) assay. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity, with IC(50) values of 2 and 33 μg/mL on β-carotene bleaching test and thiobarbituric acid test, respectively. These results suggest potential health benefits of S leriifolia extracts. However, this finding requires additional investigation in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Nutrition, University of Calabria, I-87036 Rende (CS), Italy. mr.loizzo@unical.it
authors.forename: Monica R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Loizzo
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tundis
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Conforti
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonesi
authors.forename: Farsad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nadjafi
authors.forename: Natale Giuseppe
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Frega
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Menichini
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003124:Colorimetry; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D035261:Plant Components, Aerial; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013858:Thiobarbiturates / Q000378:metabolism; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D013858:Thiobarbiturates; D019207:beta Carotene; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; C029684:thiobarbituric acid