Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Effect of
Pseuderanthemum palatiferum in Albino Rats
Wararut Buncharoen, Supap Saenphet, Kanokporn Saenphet*
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University,
Muang, Chiang Mai, 50200 Thailand
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease is commonly treated by Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) drug therapy.
Because of the varying side effects of Alzheimer’s drugs, interest in the exploitation of medicinal plants as an
alternative to AChEIs has greatly increased in recent years. This study aimed to determine whether the aqueous
extract form the medicinal plant, Pseuderanthemum palatiferum, could inhibit AChE in normal rats. Male albino
rats were given an oral extract at the doses of 0.3, 0.7 and 1.0 g/kg BW for 30 days. These were compared to
controls which received only distilled water. AChE activity was then evaluated from the brains, serum, and red
blood cells of the rats. The results showed that only AChE activity in the hippocampus was significantly inhibited
by the extract at the doses of 0.7 and 1.0 g/kg BW (p < 0.05). However, AChE activity in the serum and red
blood cells of treated rats showed no significant differences from that of controls. These results suggest that the
extract could reduce the synthesis of AChE in the rat’s brain. The marked inhibitory effect of aqueous extract
from P. palatiferum against AChE indicates the potential of this plant in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.