In-vitro Screening for acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition potential and antioxidant activity of extracts of Ipomoea aquatica Forsk: therapeutic lead for Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a primary degenerative disease of the central nervous system. The progression of Alzheimer’s disease will ultimately lead to dementia, behavioral and cognitive impairments. Increased level of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase AChE plays a key role in hydrolysis of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine (ACh) which worsen the condition of cognitive dysfunction. Several drug of natural origin are known to possess AChE inhibition and antioxidant activity. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate AChE inhibition and antioxidant activity of the plant Ipomoea aquatica Forsk. Leaves of Ipomoea aquatica Forsk was extracted with Chloroform, n-Hexane, Ethanol and mixture of Ethanol: water (6:4) (hydro-alcoholic extract) using soxhlet extraction. All the four extracts were examined for In-vitro anti-cholinesterase by Ellman’s method and antioxidant activity by DPPH and Hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay. Results obtained from the study clearly demonstrates that all four extract has shown promising acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity in hydro alcoholic extract reveals the best inhibition potential with IC50 49.03 μg /ml. Similarly all the extracts projects significant antioxidant activity in DPPH assay with IC50 value ranging from 19.64 to 88.63 μg /ml and in Hydrogen peroxide assay with IC50 value ranging from 56.79 to 137.3 μg /ml.