SCREENING OF ANTICHOLINESTERASE AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF CARISSA CARANDAS L. FRUIT EXTRACT FOR ALZHEIMER’S TREATMENT

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) c inhibitory and antioxidant activity of unripened fruits of Carissa carandas extract to introduce new source for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. Methods: Preliminary phytochemical screening identified the existence of flavonoids, phenolics, alkaloids, sterols, and saponins. The evaluation of antioxidant activity was led through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) capacity, and anti-cholinesterase activity by the Ellman method. Results: According to the obtained results, the extract contained a valuable source of flavonoids and phenolic compounds and has also shown AchE inhibition activity, which reveals the good inhibition potential with half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 95.92±1.05 μg/mL and significant antioxidant activity in DPPH assay and FRAP assay compared to the respective standards. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the C. carandas fruit extract showed potential AchE inhibition and antioxidant activity. However, further investigations on the identification of active components in the extracts are needed.