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Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been linked with oxidative stress, acetylcholine deficiency in the brain, and inflammatory processes. In the northeast region of Brazil, various plants are used to treat several diseases associated with these processes; then an antioxidant test was performed with those plants in a previous work and twelve species with higher antioxidant activity were selected for AChE inhibition evaluation. The phenolic compounds content was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu test and flavonoid content with AlCl3 reagent using UV-visible spectrophotometry. The antioxidant activity was assessed analyzing the inhibitory activity against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) and by the β-carotene/linoleic acid system and acetylcholinesterase inhibition using qualitative and quantitative tests. The combination of better acetylcholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities pointed out six species, in descending order, as the best potential sources of therapeutic agents against AD: Hancornia speciosa > Myracrodruon urundeuva > Copaifera langsdorffii > Stryphnodendron coriaceum > Psidium guajava > Mangifera indica. Besides, the phenolic compounds in the species probably contribute to these activities. However, further pharmacological studies to assess the specific applications of these plants against AD are required to confirm these results.

Um novo sesquiterpeno, nomeado trichotomol e compostos conhecidos como cordiacromo C, α-cadinol, ácido oleanólico, oncocalyxona A, β-sitosterol, glicosídeo do β-sitosterol, alantoína e sacarose foram isolados a partir do extrato etanólico do cerne de Cordia trichotoma. Suas estruturas foram determinadas por análises espectroscópicas e comparação com dados publicados para compostos estruturalmente relacionados.A new sesquiterpene, named trichotomol, and known compounds cordiachrome C, α-cadinol, oleanolic acid, oncocalyxone A, β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside, allantoin and sucrose were isolated from the heart wood ethanol extract of Cordia trichotoma. Their structures were assigned unambiguously by spectroscopic analyses and comparison with the published data for structurally related compounds.

Twenty-three honey samples of Apis mellifera L. forged on plants from northeastern Brazil were analyzed to determine total phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and antiacetylcholinesterase activity. The total phenol content was determined by using the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the flavonoid content was analyzed using by the aluminum chloride method. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging test. Honey samples from Lippia sidoides Cham. (mean [±standard deviation] 50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)], 4.20±1.07 mg/mL) and Myracrodruon urundeuva Fr. All. (IC(50), 28.27±1.41 mg/mL) showed better antioxidant activity and presented higher total phenol values (108.50±3.52 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g for L. sidoides and 68.55±1.01 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g for M. urundeuva). Several honey samples had relevant results on antiacetylcholinesterase assay. The biological activity of honeys is related to their floral origin, and medicinal plants constitute a useful resource for the generation of functional foods.

Palavras-chave: farmácias vivas, acetilcolinesterase, antiradical, doença de AlzheimerABSTRACT: Correlation between the anti-radical, anti-acetylcholinesterase activities and phenolic content of some extracts of live herbal pharmacies in the Northeast of Brazil. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phenolic content of 18 medicinal plant extracts of "Live Pharmacies" and correlate them with their free radical scavenging activity and inhibition of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Higher amounts of phenolic compounds were found in the following plants: Eugenia uniflora, Lippia alba, Lippia microphylla, Mentha x villosa, Ocimum gatissimum, and Ocimum selloi. The species that showed higher anti-radical activity were Croton zenhtneri, Lippia alba, Malphigia glabra, and Spondias mombim, similar to quercetin. The plants Cecropia pachystachia, L. alba, L. microplylla, M. glabra, O. gratissimum, and Plectranthus ornatus showed larger inhibition zones of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme. By correlating the two actions L. alba and M. glabra are common as more active to both tests and only L. alba correlates directly with the phenolic content. Through this study, L. alba and M. glabra are considered the most promising plants for further studies to find new compounds with potential action against Alzheimer´s disease.