Investigation of Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extract of Propolis from Mila Region

Abstract

The essential oil (EO) obtained by hydrodistillation of the propolis of Grarem located in Mila region (East of Algeria) have been studied by GC/MS. Seventy eight compounds were identified representing 93.52 % of the essential oils. The main constituents were: p-Mentha-1,5-dien-8-ol (23.69 %), α-Pinene (9.50 %), Bornyl acetate (9.13 %), β-Pinene (4.02 %) and Spathulenol (3.47 %). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of propolis methanolic extract were evaluated according to the Folin-Ciocalteu procedure, and a colorimetric method. The total phenolic amount was 279.72 ± 2.07 μg GAE/mg E, whereas the flavonoids were 60.43 ± 0.65 μg QE/mg E. The antioxidant activity of propolis essential oil and methanolic extract were determined using ABTS radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. Anticholinesterase activity was screened against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) which are the chief enzymes of Alzheimer’s disease. Both of EO and MeOH extract had capability to inhibit BChE more than AChE enzyme, whereas propolis methanolic extract exhibited highest inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ value: 20.30 ± 0.52 μg/mL) against BChE, even higher than galantamine (IC₅₀ value: 34.75 ± 1.99 μg/mL).

Key words:

• Propolis
• essential oil
• GC-MS
• methanolic extract
• antioxidant, anticholinesterase