Antioxidant, Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, and α-glucosidase Inhibitory Activities of Corchorus depressus

Background: Corchorus depressus (Cd) commonly known as Boa-phalee belonging to the family Tiliaceae having 50 genera and 450 species. Cd is not among the studied medicinal agent despite its potential in ethnopharmacology. Objectives: The present study investigated antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities of Cd. The dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the Cd were evaluated for biological activities such as antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities of AChE, BChE, and alpha-glucosidase. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring free radical scavenging potential of Cd using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. Enzyme inhibition activities were done by measuring optical density. Results: The methanol extract of roots of Cd showed potential free radical scavenging activity 99% at concentration 16.1 mu g/ml. AChE was inhibited by aerial part of dichloromethane fraction by 46.07% +/- 0.45% while dichloromethane extracts of roots of Cd possessed significant activity against BChE with 86% inhibition compared with standard drug Eserine at concentration 0.5 mg/ml. The dichloromethane extract of roots of Cd showed 79% inhibition against alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity with IC50 62.8 +/- 1.5 mu g/ml. Conclusion: These findings suggest Cd as useful therapeutic option as antioxidant and inhibition of AChE, BChE, and alpha-glucosidase activities.