In Vitro Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Detarium Microcarpum, Epipremnum Aureum, and Prosopis Africana

BCHE Inhibitory Activity of Selected Plants

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/t2b8cp44

Keywords:

Detarium microcarpum, Alzheimer’s disease, butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory, Epipremium aureum, Prosopis africana

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, is primarily associated with reduced cholinergic neurotransmission and notable memory loss. Cholinesterase inhibitors are considered valuable in the discovery of anti-Alzheimer’s agents. Recently, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors garnered significant attention in the development of anti-Alzheimer’s drugs due to their role in modulating cholinergic neurotransmission, and they are believed to hold promise in Alzheimer’s drug development, offering a complementary approach to traditional acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors.

Objective: The study investigates the anti-Alzheimer’s potential of Detarium microcarpum, Epipremnum aureum and Prosopis africana extracts.

Method: Extracts from the three medicinal plants were evaluated using an in vitro BChE inhibitoryassay, and the most active extract was fractioned to identify the activity-rich fraction.

Result: All extracts exhibited varying degrees of BChE inhibition. D. microcarpum demonstrated the most potent activity, with 87.26 ± 2.67% inhibition at 1 mg/mL and an IC50 of 0.10 ± 0.04 μg/ mL. In contrast, E. aureum and P. africana showed weaker inhibitory effects (16.15 ± 1.37% and 23.62 ± 1.91%, respectively) compared to D. microcarpum and were not pursued further. Among the fractions of D. microcarpum, the ethyl acetate and hexane fractions exhibited strong BChE inhibition (87.32 ± 2.06% and 72.18 ± 1.33%, respectively), with IC50 values of 0.10 ± 0.04 μg/mL and 0.27 ± 0.08 μg/mL, comparable to galantamine (90.37 ± 1.62%, IC50: 0.10 ± 0.07 μg/mL).

Conclusion: The stem bark of Detarium microcarpum demonstrates potent BChE inhibitory properties, suggesting its potential as an anti-Alzheimer agent.

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Author Biographies

  • Kayode Muritala Salawu, University of Ilorin

    Dr. Kayode Muritala Salawu is a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. His research focuses on natural products chemistry and phytochemistry, with particular emphasis on the isolation, purification, and structural elucidation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. He employs advanced spectroscopic techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry (MS), to identify and characterize pharmacologically active secondary metabolites. His work is driven by the discovery of bioactive natural products with potential therapeutic applications and their contribution to drug discovery and development. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Salawu is actively engaged in teaching, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students, and collaborating on interdisciplinary scientific projects that advance pharmaceutical sciences and natural products research.

  • Ngaitad Stanislaus Njinga, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Dr. Ngaitad Stanislaus Njinga is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. He obtained a B.Sc. degree in Chemistry and subsequently earned both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry. His research interests are centered on natural products chemistry, with particular emphasis on the isolation, characterization, and biological evaluation of bioactive compounds for drug discovery and development. His work aims to identify novel natural compounds with therapeutic potential and to contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences. As an academic, Dr. Njinga teaches courses in medicinal chemistry, pharmaceutical analysis, organic chemistry, and drug design and development. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in reputable national and international journals and is actively involved in postgraduate supervision, research collaboration, and academic administration.

  • Abiodun Shittu, Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria

    Dr. Abiodun O. Shittu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. He holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy. His research specializes in drug preformulation studies and dosage form development, with a particular focus on optimizing pharmaceutical formulations and enhancing drug delivery systems. His work contributes to the design and development of safe, effective, and high-quality pharmaceutical products. In addition to his research activities, Dr. Shittu is actively engaged in teaching, mentoring undergraduate and postgraduate students, and conducting research in pharmaceutical formulation, drug delivery, and industrial pharmacy. He is also committed to fostering collaborative research and advancing pharmaceutical education through scholarly and professional contributions.

  • Yan Wang, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi, China

    Prof. Yan Wang is a Professor in the School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guangxi, China. She obtained her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Her research interests focus on natural products chemistry, with particular emphasis on the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants and other natural sources for drug discovery and development. Her work is dedicated to identifying novel natural products with therapeutic potential and advancing the understanding of their chemical and pharmacological properties. Prof. Wang has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals and actively collaborates on interdisciplinary research projects in natural products chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences. She is also committed to mentoring students and promoting international scientific collaboration in the field of drug discovery from natural sources.

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Published

2026-07-16

Issue

Online first articles

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Articles

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How to Cite

In Vitro Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Detarium Microcarpum, Epipremnum Aureum, and Prosopis Africana: BCHE Inhibitory Activity of Selected Plants. (2026). Journal of Science and Technology, 31-39. https://doi.org/10.4314/t2b8cp44