Phytochemical investigation and anticholinesterase activity of ethyl acetate fraction of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seeds

Abstract

In this work, n-hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate fractions of the methanol extract of Myristica fragrans Houtt. seeds were evaluated against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) via Ellman’s method. It was found that all fractions depicted no anti-AChE activity, however, they were active toward BChE with IC₅₀ values of 361.8, 215.0, and 145.8 µg/mL, respectively comparing with donepezil as the reference drug (IC₅₀ = 1.97 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fraction which also showed high neuroprotectivity and metal chelating ability was selected for the phytochemical analysis. Our results confirmed the presence of trimyristin and 5,7-diacetyl chrysin (reported for the first time in M. fragrans) in the corresponding fraction.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• AChE
• BChE
• metal chelating
• Myristica fragrans Houtt
• Neuroprotectivity
• Phytochemistry

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by grants from the Research Council of Tehran University of Medical Sciences with project No. 96-03-96-36305.