Preliminary screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of Anatolian Heptaptera species.

The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts prepared from the fruits, aerial parts, and roots of Heptaptera anatolica (Boiss.) Tutin, (Umbelliferae), H. anisoptera (DC.) Tutin, H. cilicica (Boiss. & Balansa) Tutin (endemic), and H. triquetra (Vent.) Tutin were tested for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and antioxidant activities. AChE inhibition was evaluated using ELISA microplate reader at 500, 1000, and 2000 microg mL(-1). Antioxidant activity was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test and Fe(+2)-ferrozine test system for metal chelating power at the same concentrations. Total phenol contents of the extracts were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent. At 2000 microg mL(-1), only the aerial parts and fruits of H. anatolica showed moderate anti-AChE effect (61.97% and 49.80%, respectively), while the aerial parts and fruits of H. triquetra had the highest DPPH scavenging effect (80.48% and 86.19%, respectively). All of the methanol extracts exhibited significant ferrous ion-chelating effect varying between 72.97% and 92.36%, whereas only four of the ethyl acetate extracts exerted chelating effect over 70%. These results indicate that Heptaptera species could be a good source for antioxidant compounds.