Medicinal Plants with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity: Therapeutic Potential of Brazilian Plants for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Pharmacognosy Reviews,2019,13,26,45-49.
Published:November 2019
Type:Review Article
Authors:
Author(s) affiliations:

Fernanda Granja da Silva Oliveira1, Bruno de Oliveira Veras2, Juliane Maria Dos Santos Silva3, Deyzi Caroline da Silva Barbosa3, Tayane de Cássia Dias Mendes Silva3, Luciclaudio Cassimiro de Amorim3, Caio Rodrigo Dias de Assis3, Elisabete Regina Fernandes Ramos Ribeiro4, Alexandre Gomes da Silva4, Márcia Vanusa da Silva3, Jackson Roberto Guedes da Silva lmeida1

1Federal University of San Francisco Valley, Center for Studies and Research of Medicinal Plants, Petrolina, BRAZIL.

2Post-Graduation in Tropical Medicine, BRAZIL.

3Department of Antibiotics, Laboratory of Microbiology, Federal University of Pernambuco, BRAZIL.

4Department of Biochemistry, Laboratory of Natural Products, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, BRAZIL.

Abstract:

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by persistent impairment of cognitive and psychomotor functions, resulting in reduced short‑term memory. In current pharmacotherapy, some available acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEi) have side effects, such as hepatotoxicity. Hence, it is necessary to investigate other sources to obtain compounds inhibiting AChE. In this context, the objective of this study was to review the main publications involving plants collected in Brazil tested for the inhibition of AChE, which may lead to new phytotherapeutic inhibitors. This review was carried out by searching the PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct databases during September 2018, using several combinations of the following keywords: extract, AChE, Brazil and Alzheimer’s. Inclusion criteria were articles with plant studies collected in Brazil for the inhibition of AChE (in vivo and/or in vitro), with keywords in the title, abstract, or full text. Articles with studies of purified, synthetic, or semi‑synthetic compounds were excluded. In this research, 298 articles were identified and 31 articles were selected. More than forty species of the families Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Annonaceae, Malvaceae, Myrtaceae, Arecaceae and Lauraceae were found, and the most cited substances were the phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Alkaloids and steroids were also found in some active plants. The relevance and importance of this work lies in the review of new potential herbal drugs for the treatment of AD, and this survey could collaborate for the development of new medicinal alternatives for this and other neurodegenerative problems related to cerebral availability of acetylcholine.

Cite This Article

Vancouver Style ::
F. Granja da Oliveira, Veras, Bde Oliveir, Silva, J. Maria Dos, Barbosa, D. Caroline d, Silva, Tde Cássia, de Amorim, L. Cassimiro, de Assis, C. Rodrigo Di, Ribeiro, E. Regina Fer, da Silva, A. Gomes, da Silva, M. Vanusa, and Almeida, J. Roberto Gu, Medicinal Plants with Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity: Therapeutic Potential of Brazilian Plants for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease, Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol. 13, no. 26, pp. 45-49, 2019.