title: Antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition studies of four flavouring herbs from Alentejo.
abstract: Essential oils (EOs) and aqueous extracts of aerial parts of four aromatic species, Calamintha nepeta, Foeniculum vulgare, Mentha spicata and Thymus mastichina, from southwest of Portugal were characterised chemically and analysed in order to evaluate their antioxidant potential and cholinesterase inhibitory activities. The main components of EOs were oxygenated monoterpenes, and aqueous extracts were rich in phenol and flavonoid compounds. EOs and aqueous extracts presented a high antioxidant potential, with ability to protect the lipid substrate, free radical scavenging and iron reducing power. Furthermore, EOs and extracts showed AChE and BChE inhibitory activities higher than rivastigmine, the standard drug. Results suggested the potential use of EOs and aqueous extracts of these flavouring herbs as nutraceutical or pharmaceutical preparations to minimise the oxidative stress and the progression of degenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|b Laboratório HERCULES , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|c ICAAM, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: Sílvia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8779-9828
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arantes
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|b Laboratório HERCULES , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piçarra
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|c ICAAM, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Candeias
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|b Laboratório HERCULES , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: A Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: a Departamento de Química, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.|b Laboratório HERCULES , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: M Rosário
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: b Laboratório HERCULES , Universidade de Évora , Évora , Portugal.
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D030001:Foeniculum / Q000737:chemistry; D019686:Lamiaceae; D031337:Mentha spicata / Q000737:chemistry; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010636:Phenols / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011174:Portugal; D046930:Thymus Plant / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D005419:Flavonoids; D005421:Flavoring Agents; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Essential oils; antioxidant; aqueous extracts; aromatic herbs; cholinesterase inhibition