Isolation and Characterizations of Bergenin from Peltophorum pterocarpum Leaves and Its Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activities

Aims: The study identified a cholinesterase inhibitory constituent in P. pterocarpum, a medicinal plant used in Nigerian ethno-medicine for the management of memory loss.

Study Design: Activity directed phytochemical investigation of P. pterocarpum using in vitro anti cholinesterase assay and spectroscopic analysis of isolated compound.

Methodology: Combined chromatographic (VLC and CC) and spectroscopic (NMR and MS) analyses revealed bergenin as the major constituent of the most active ethyl acetate fraction of P. pterocarpum.

Results: The extract, fractions and pure isolated bergenin tested for their AChE and BuChE inhibitory activities showed significant inhibition of both enzymes with bergenin having an IC50 of (13.17 µM) towards AChE and (14.60 µM) towards BuChE.

Conclusion: We conclude that Peltophorum pterocarpum may be good in traditional management of memory loss associated with AD and bergenin may be a good drug candidate for the treatment of AD after further investigations in AD models.