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Abstract

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a member of α/ß hydrolase protein super family, is the key enzyme in the breakdown of acetylcholine (ACh) -an important neurotransmitter. Inhibition of this enzyme has been considered an auspicious strategy for the treatment of various neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this study, crude methanolic Ipomoea muricata seed extract was subjected for analysis of its potential AChE inhibitory activity using a microplate assay based on Ellman's method. I. muricata's inhibitory activity was compared using Donepezil, a prescription drug for AD treatment. Two time intervals were used: 40 minutes and 24 hours. Based on the findings, Donepezil exhibited greater potency (IC50 > 0.005 μg/mL) at both time intervals in contrast to I. muricata (IC50 = 39.67 μg/mL) at 40 minutes and (IC50 > 57.44 μg/mL) at 24 hours. It is important to note that the crude methanolic seed extract of I. muricata has been shown to cause moderate but persistent inhibition of AChE in comparison to Donepezil which has shown a strong but short-lived action. With this concludes that in the near future followed by further studies, I. muricata can be a potential herbal alternative in the symptomatic treatment of AD.