Kaufmann_2011_J.Pharm.Pharmacol_63_1368

OBJECTIVES: Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a common treatment for early stages of the most general form of dementia, Alzheimer's disease. In this study selected components of essential oils, which carry a variety of important functional groups, were tested for their in-vitro anti-acetylcholinesterase activity. METHODS: In-vitro anti-acetylcholinesterase activity was measured by an adapted version of Ellman's colorimetric assay. KEY FINDINGS: 1,8-cineole, carvacrol, myrtenal and verbenone apparently inhibited AChE; the highest inhibitory activity was observed for myrtenal (IC50 = 0.17 mm). This is the first study showing the AChE inhibitory activity of myrtenal. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigations provided evidence for the efficacy of monoterpenes as inhibitors of AChE.