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Memory-Enhancing and Memory-Related Beneficial Effects of Selected Medicinal Plants from the Nigerian Flora

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Medicinal Plants and Fungi: Recent Advances in Research and Development

Part of the book series: Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World ((MAPW,volume 4))

Abstract

The cholinesterase inhibitory activity and the memory-enhancing effects of 22 Nigerian medicinal plants belonging to 16 different families were investigated. The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory potentials of extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds were evaluated by Ellman colorimetric and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) bioautographic assay techniques. Bioactivity-directed phytochemistry, as well as spectroscopic analysis, was carried out. Morris water maze test was used to assess the cognitive enhancing potential of some of the most active plants. Some plants such as Morinda lucida, Spondias mombin, Pycnanthus angolensis, and Peltophorum pterocarpum showed inhibitory activity on both enzymes, while others exhibited some remarkable selectivity in their actions. Alchornea laxiflora stem bark and root bark, Calophyllum inophyllum root bark, and Crinum jagus leaves were selectively active against AChE, while Antiaris africana, Bombax bromoposenze, Combretum molle, and Garcinia kola were selectively active against BuChE. Activity-directed phytochemistry led to the isolation of bioactive compounds which may lead to drug development. The in vivo effect of four most active plants, S. mombin, P. angolensis, P. pterocarpum, and M. lucida, on scopolamine-induced memory loss was also confirmed.

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Abbreviations

AChE:

Acetylcholinesterase

AD:

Alzheimer’s disease

APT:

Attached proton test

ATCHI:

Acetylthiocholine iodide

BUCHCL:

Butyrylcholine chloride

BuChE:

Butyrylcholinesterase

COSY:

Correlation spectroscopy

DEPT:

Distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer

DMSO:

Dimethyl sulfoxide

DTNB:

5,5′-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)

H2SO4:

Sulfuric acid

HMBC:

Heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation spectroscopy

HMQC:

Heteronuclear single quantum correlation spectroscopy

IMRAT:

Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training

NMR:

Nuclear magnetic resonance

NOESY:

Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy

OAU:

Obafemi Awolowo University

PTLC:

Preparative thin-layer chromatography

TLC:

Thin-layer chromatography

VLC:

Vacuum liquid chromatography

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Taiwo O. Elufioye

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  1. Taiwo O. Elufioye
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Correspondence to Taiwo O. Elufioye .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan

    Dinesh Chandra Agrawal

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, Chaoyang University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan

    Hsin-Sheng Tsay

  3. Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan

    Lie-Fen Shyur

  4. Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Yang-Chang Wu

  5. Department of Forestry, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan

    Sheng-Yang Wang

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Elufioye, T.O. (2017). Memory-Enhancing and Memory-Related Beneficial Effects of Selected Medicinal Plants from the Nigerian Flora. In: Agrawal, D., Tsay, HS., Shyur, LF., Wu, YC., Wang, SY. (eds) Medicinal Plants and Fungi: Recent Advances in Research and Development. Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of the World, vol 4. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5978-0_15

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