Anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of mentha longifolia for treating alzheimer disease

Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common types of dementia in the aging population. We aimed to evaluate anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of M. longifolia extract for treating the disease. alcoholic extract and essential oil of M. longifolia were prepared and tested for their antioxidant activity in in-vitro assays as well as anti Alzheimer effect of extract and essential oil at 10% LD50 was evaluated relevant to their anti-inflammatory effect, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity in aluminium chloride model. In in-vitro study, M. longifolia showed potent antioxidant effects as radical scavenger and inhibitor for lipid peroxidation. In in-vivo study, the essential oil significantly decreased production of hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in brain tissue as compared to AL-intoxicated group. Mint extract and oil increased glutathione concentration, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as well as total antioxidant capacity in brain tissue. Treating intoxicated rats with extract or oil decreased the production of proinflammatory cytokines in sera and brain tissue. Extract and oil decreased (IL-1ß) ,IL-6 and (TNF-a) in intoxicated rats, also inhibited production of to be nearly at the same level of -ve control group. Both extract and oil showed the same effect on IL- 1ß in brain tissue but had low effect on TNF-a while they elevated inhibition percentage of IL-6 concentration in brain tissue with concomitant inhibition of cholinergic biomarker as inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, respectively and cholinesterase . M. longifolia extract and essential oil may have anti Alzheimer effect through their effect as antioxidant agents, anti-inflammatory agents and as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.