Planta Med 2007; 73(3): 283-285
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967114
Letter
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In vitro Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of the Essential Oil from Acorus calamus and its Main Constituents

Pulok Kumar Mukherjee1 , 2 , Venkatesan Kumar1 , Mainak Mal1 , Peter J. Houghton2
  • 1School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India
  • 2Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Franklin-Wilkins Building, King’s College London, London, UK
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 3, 2006

Accepted: January 7, 2007

Publication Date:
07 February 2007 (online)

Abstract

The in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potential of the hydroalcoholic extract and of the essential oil from Acorus calamus (AC) rhizomes and that of its major constituents were evaluated based on the Ellman’s method. GC/MS analysis of the oil revealed that the major constituents were β-asarone (79.54 %) and α-asarone (8.47 %). The IC50 values were obtained for the hydroalcoholic extract, the essential oil, β-asarone and α-asarone and were 182.31 ± 16.78 μg/mL, 10.67 ± 0.81 μg/mL, 3.33 ± 0.02 μM and 46.38 ± 2.69 μM, respectively. Physostigmine was used as standard inhibitor with an IC50 value of 0.28 ± 0.015μM. The experimental observations revealed that the AC essential oil and its constituents have significant AChE inhibitory potential. β-Asarone, the major phytoconstituent present in the essential oil, showed the maximum inhibitory potential.

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Dr. Pulok K. Mukherjee

School of Natural Product Studies

Department of Pharmaceutical Technology

Jadavpur University

Kolkata - 700032

India

Phone: +91-33-2429-8313

Fax: +91-33-24146046

Email: pknatprod@yahoo.co.in

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