In vitro anti-cholinesterase and anti-oxidant activity of three standardised polyherbal products used for memory enhancing in ethnomedicine of South-East Nigeria

Nwidu, Lucky Legbosi; Elmorsy, Ekramy; Carter, Wayne

Abstract

Background: Polyherbal standardised extracts used in ethnomedicine of Eastern Nigeria for memory improvements were evaluated for anti-cholinesterases and anti-oxidant properties.

Methods: Anti-cholinesterase, anti-oxidant, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents were established using standard procedures.

Results: The three polyherbal extracts exhibited significant concentration dependent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (P = 0.001). The highest AChE inhibition was observed with the Neocare Herbal Tea (NHT) with 99.7% (IC50 = 324 μg/mL); whereas the Herbalin Complex Tea (HCT) and Phytoblis Herbal Tea (PHT) exhibited 73.8% (IC50 = 0.2 μg/mL) and 60.6% (IC50 = 0.7 μg/mL) inhibition, respectively, relative to eserine at 100% inhibition (IC50 = 0.9 μg/mL) at 200 μg/mL. The order of percentage increase in inhibition of AChE was NHT > HCT > PHT; while the order of decrease in potency was HCT > PHT > NHT.

Radical scavenging activities of HCT, NHT and PHT were 82.13% (IC50 = 0.08 μg/mL), 77.43% (IC50 = 0.01 μg/mL) and 76.28% (IC50 = 0.3 μg/mL), respectively, at 1 mg/mL concentrations. The reducing power revealed a dose-dependent effect, with NHT > PHT > HCT. The order of total phenolics content in the extracts were PHT > HCT > NHT, and for total flavonoids content: PHT > NHT > HCT.

Conclusion: The three polyherbal standardised products possess significant acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and secondary metabolites that could collectively contribute to their memory-enhancing effects.

Citation

Nwidu, L. L., Elmorsy, E., & Carter, W. (2018). In vitro anti-cholinesterase and anti-oxidant activity of three standardised polyherbal products used for memory enhancing in ethnomedicine of South-East Nigeria. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 25(2), https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2018.25.2.4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 17, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 27, 2018
• Deposit Date: May 8, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 8, 2018
• Journal: Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
• Electronic ISSN: 2180-4303
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2018.25.2.4
• Keywords: Anti-cholinesterases; Anti-oxidants; Memory improvement; Phenolics; Polyherbal
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/929228
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.21315/mjms2018.25.2.4
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mjms.usm.my/default.asp
• Contract Date: May 8, 2018