Research Journal of Pharmacy and Technology

The breakdown of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) causes loss of acetyl cholinergic phenotypes, leading to altered cognitive functions. Current available AChE inhibitors are reported to be ineffective in treating mild cognitive impairments and associated with higher rates of adverse effects. Therefore, the current study focuses on inhibitors of AChE. In addition, marine algae have been widely used in traditional medicine, as it is a rich source of bioactive molecules. Considering this background, various extracts of Gracilaria corticata were screened for AChE inhibitors using zebrafish as a model system. Our Results have demonstrated that ethyl acetate extract of Gracilaria corticata showed an effective AChE activity. However, further studies on the investigations of active principles from the active fractions of Gracilaria corticata as inhibitors of AChE are now underway in our laboratory.