title: A preliminary investigation of anticholinesterase activity of some Iranian medicinal plants commonly used in traditional medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of some commonly used herbal medicine in Iran to introduce a new source for management of Alzheimer's disease. A total of 18 aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v) from the following plants: Brassica alba, Brassica nigra, Camellia sinensis, Cinchona officinalis, Citrus aurantifolia, Citrus x aurantium, Ferula assafoetida, Humulus lupulus, Juglans regia, Juniperus sabina, Myristica fragrans, Pelargonium graveolens, Pistacia vera, Punica granatum, Rheum officinale, Rosa damascena, Salix alba, and Zizyphus vulgaris were prepared and screened for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity using in vitro Ellman spectrophotometric method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the obtained results, the order of inhibitory activity (IC50 values, μg /ml) of extracts from highest to the lowest was: C. sinensis (5.96), C. aurantifolia (19.57), Z. vulgaris (24.37), B. nigra (84.30) and R. damascena (93.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated and confirmed the traditional use of these herbs for management of central nervous system disorders. C. sinensis showed the highest activity in inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. However, further investigations on identification of active components in the extracts are needed.
authors.forename: Seyed Behzad
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Jazayeri
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amanlou
authors.forename: Naghmeh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghanadian
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasalar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicinal Plants Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. amanlou@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amanlou