Antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase activities of three species of the family Lamiaceae

Abstract

Antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the three species namely, Endostemon obtusifolius (E. Mey. ex benth.) N. E. Br, Plectranthus zuluensis (T. Cooke) and Tetradenia riparia (Hochst.) Codd. were evaluated. Maximum antioxidant activity was exhibited by E. obtusifolius (IC50 130 μg/ml) followed by T. riparia (IC50 142 μg/ml) and P. zuluensis (IC50 169 μg/ml). Acetylcholinesterase inhibition (AChEI) was highest in P. zuluensis (IC50 290 μg/ml) followed by E. obtusifolius (IC50 470 μg/ml) and T. riparia (IC50 750μg/ml). The results suggest that these three species possess natural antioxidants and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which may be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, that require high concentration of these compounds.