Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant properties of Euphorbia characias latex

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity and the antioxidant properties of extracts of Euphorbia characias latex, a Mediterranean shrub. We performed a new extraction method involving the use of the trichloroacetic acid. The extract showed high antioxidant activity, was rich in total polyphenolic and flavonoid content and exhibited substantial inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity. Keywords: Euphorbia characias ; acetylcholinesterase inhibitors; antioxidants; flavonoids; free radical-scavenging; polyphenols. 1. Introduction During the last twenty years antioxidants have gained an importance in foods and drug industries due to the action of antioxidant molecules on oxidative damages and, consequently, on various deseases. It is well known that free radicals are one of the causes of several pathological conditions including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, the use of antioxidants in association with inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the fundamental enzyme in the breakdown of acetylcholine, is considered one of the most promising approaches for Alzheimer’s disease treatment [1 and references therein]. Many studies have been issued on natural antioxidants and it is therefore very difficult for us to quote them all. As examples, we can cite a review of the most important ones [2 and References therein]. Plants are considered as natural antioxidant resources and antioxidant molecules have been well characterized in the latex of some plants, e.g. Ficus carica , the common fig [3]. Latex, a milk sap, is contained inside the laticifers, specialized elongated cells or vessel–like series of cells that permeate various aerial tissues of the plant [4]. Latex is an emulsion with a diversified composition, including alkaloids, terpenoid and phenolic compounds, polymeric substances such as resins and gums, starch, oils, and a large number of proteins and enzymatic activities [4, 5]. Latex provides an important