title: Screening of plants used in the European traditional medicine to treat memory disorders for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and anti amyloidogenic activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Plants used in the traditional medicine of Europe to treat memory dysfunction and/or to enhance memory were investigated for activity against the underlying mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate 35 ethanolic extracts of plants, selected using an ethnopharmacological approach, for anti-amyloidogenic activity as well as an ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase.
  
  
  METHODS
  The anti-amyloidogenic activity of the extracts against amyloid beta was investigated by Thioflavin T fibrillation assays and the ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase was evaluated monitoring the hydrolysis of acetylthiocholine RESULTS: Under the experimental conditions investigated, extracts of two plants, Carum carvi and Olea sylvestris, inhibited amyloid beta fibrillation considerably, eight plant extracts inhibited amyloid beta fibrillation to some extent, 16 plant extracts had no effect on amyloid beta fibrillation and nine extracts accelerated fibrillation of amyloid beta. Furthermore, five plant extracts from Corydalis species inhibited the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase considerably, one plant extract inhibited the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase to some extent and 29 plant extract had no effect on the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An optimal extract in this study would possess acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity as well as anti-amyloidogenic activity in order to address multiple facets of Alzheimer's disease, until the molecular origin of the disease is unraveled. Unfortunately no such extract was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: eva.lobbens@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Eva S B
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Lobbens
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: karina.vissing@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Karina J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Vissing
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: lene.jorgensen@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jorgensen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: marco.vandeweert@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van de Weert
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark. Electronic address: Anna.jager@sund.ku.dk.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Jäger
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase