The Inhibitory Effect of Some Plant Extracts on Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Mice

Abstract

The results of the phytochemical analysis of the crude aqueous and methanolic extracts of Myrtle (Myrtus communis), peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) contain active compounds : Phenols, Flavonoids and Tannins and missing of Steroids and Coumarines in all extract but Saponins and Alkaloids found in methanolic extract only, while terpens were present in peppermint and basil and absent in Myrtle. Administrating to animals with different extracts showed no effect on serum Acetylcholinesterase (AchE) compared with these fed on ethanol liquid diet, Methanolic and aqueous extracts of Myrtle, peppermint and basil in the serum of decreased Acetylcholinesterase level significantly(p≤0.05) [(1.25 ∆pH/30 min, 1.23 ∆pH/30 min, 1.28 ∆pH/30 min, 1.20 ∆pH/30 min, 1.26 ∆pH/30 min, 1.28 ∆pH/30 min), liver (0.35 ∆pH/30 min, 0.34 ∆pH/30 min, 0.34∆pH/30 min, 0.36∆pH/30 min, 0.42∆pH/30 min, 0.39∆pH/30 min) and brain (0.32∆pH/30 min, 0.37∆pH/30 min, 0.39∆pH/30 min, 0.36∆pH/30 min, 0.34∆pH/30 min, 0.37∆pH/30 min)] respectively compared with animals fed on ethanol liquid diet [(1.37 ∆pH/30 min), (0.47 ∆pH/30 min), (0.45 ∆pH/30 min)] respectively.