Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from plants

Mukherjee, Pulok K.; Kumar, Venkatesan; Mal, Mainak; Houghton, Peter J.

doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.02.002

« PreviousPhytomedicine
Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 289-300, 10 April 2007

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from plants

Pulok K. Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Franklin-Wilkins Building, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK
- School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
- Corresponding author. School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India. Tel./fax:+913324146046.
Venkatesan Kumar
- School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
Mainak Mal
- School of Natural Product Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
Peter J. Houghton
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Franklin-Wilkins Building, King's College London, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK

Abstract

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the key enzyme in the breakdown of acetylcholine, is considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, ataxia and myasthenia gravis. A potential source of AChE inhibitors is certainly provided by the abundance of plants in nature. This article aims to provide a comprehensive literature survey of plants that have been tested for AChE inhibitory activity. Numerous phytoconstituents and promising plant species as AChE inhibitors are being reported in this communication.

Keywords: Plants, Botanicals, Acetylcholinesterase inhibition, Acetylcholine, Alzheimer's disease