Screening of Oxystelma esculentum R.BR extracts for acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

The loss of memory is considered to be the result of deficiency of nerve transmitter acetylcholine. The acetyl cholinesterase responsible for the breakdown of neurotransmitter acetylcholine leading to decline in cognitive function. The Currently available AchE inhibitors are reported to be ineffective in treating mild cognitive impairments because of side effects. Therefore, current work focused on acetylcholinesterase enzyme. A wide variety of medicinal plants are available as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors as they are rich source of bioactive compounds like poly phenolic compounds. Owing to these background research, various extracts of Oxystelma esculentum were screened for acetylcholinesterase inhibiting assay. The present study revealed that ethanol extract of oxystelma esculentum showed effective AchE inhibition activity compared with other extracts. However further studies on investigation of active principles from the ethanol extract of Oxystelma esculentum as inhibitors of AchE are in process in our laboratory.