A survey of plants for presence of cholinesterase activity

Cholinesterase (ChE) activity in plants was surveyed by employing an in vice test in 106 species belonging to 53 families of Angiosperms, seven species belonging to five families of Gymnosperms and five species belonging to five families of Pteridophytes. Of the 118 species screened, ChE activity could be detected in 67 species belonging to 41 families. In plants tested positive, not all parts showed ChE activity. All the species of the families Euphorbiaceae and Leguminosae Showed ChE activity. Most of the members of Solanaceae tested positive and leaves of Physalis minima (Solanaceae) were the richest source of ChE in plants reported thus far with ChE equal to one fifth of that present in the giant axon of squid. Most of the Asteraceae tested negative. However, the lack of detection of ChE in a plant may not imply its absence. The results confirm widespread distribution of ChE in plant kingdom and identify rich sources of ChE to be used as model experimental systems. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.