title: Antioxidant activity, acetylcholinesterase inhibition, iridoid content and mutagenic evaluation of Leucosidea sericea.
abstract: Leucosidea sericea is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine in southern Africa. Leaf and stem petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM) and 50% aqueous methanol (MeOH) extracts were investigated for antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The safety of the extracts was evaluated using the Ames test. In addition, the iridoid content of L. sericea stems and leaves were quantified. For DPPH radical-scavenging activity, the stem MeOH extract (EC(50) value: 1.6 μg/ml) was more potent than ascorbic acid (EC(50) value: 1.7 μg/ml). In the β-carotene-linoleic acid model system, antioxidant activity of the leaf DCM extract (89.8%) was not significantly different to that of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (98.9%). All extracts showed a dose-dependent acetylcholinesterase inhibition; in terms of the IC(50) value, the leaf DCM extract (0.14 mg/ml) was the most potent sample. Total iridoid content was 35% higher in the stem extract than in the leaf extract. Based on the Ames test, L. sericea extracts were not mutagenic, either with or without S9 metabolic activation. These findings suggest the safety as well as the potential of L. sericea as a possible source of novel/alternative antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory compounds.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Biological and Conservation Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Pietermaritzburg, Private Bag X01, Scottsville 3209, South Africa.
authors.forename: Adeyemi O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Aremu
authors.forename: Stephen O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Amoo
authors.forename: Ashwell R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ndhlala
authors.forename: Jeffrey F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Finnie
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000378:metabolism; D039823:Iridoids / Q000032:analysis*; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism*; D010851:Picrates / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D039823:Iridoids; D009153:Mutagens; D010851:Picrates; D010936:Plant Extracts; C004931:1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; D001205:Ascorbic Acid