Anti-Cholinesterase and Anti-α-Amylase Activities and Neuroprotective Effects of Carvacrol and p-Cymene and Their Effects on Hydrogen Peroxide Induced Stress in SH-SY5Y Cells

Abstract

Several researchers have demonstrated the health and pharmacological properties of carvacrol and p-cymene, monoterpenes of aromatic plants. This study investigated these compounds’ possible anti-cholinesterase, anti-α-amylase, and neuroprotective effects. We evaluated the anti-acetylcholinesterase and anti-α-amylase activities at different concentrations of the compounds. The maximum non-toxic dose of carvacrol and p-cymene against SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells was determined using an MTT assay. The neuroprotective effects of the compounds were evaluated on H2O2-induced stress in SH-SY5Y cells, studying the expression of caspase-3 using Western blotting assays. Carvacrol showed inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 3.8 µg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 32.7 µg/mL). Instead, the anti-α-amylase activity of carvacrol resulted in an IC50 value of 171.2 μg/mL After a pre-treatment with the maximum non-toxic dose of carvacrol and p-cymene, the expression of caspase-3 was reduced compared to cells treated with H2O2 alone. Carvacrol and p-cymene showed in vitro anti-enzymatic properties, and may act as neuroprotective agents against oxidative stress. Further studies are necessary to elucidate their possible use as coadjutants in preventing and treating AD in diabetic patients.

Trachyspermum ammi Bioactives Promote Neuroprotection by Inhibiting Acetylcholinesterase, Aβ-Oligomerization/Fibrilization, and Mitigating Oxidative Stress In Vitro

“…The IC 50 value for Carvacrol obtained in our experiment was similar to previously obtained values of 288.26 µM (43.29 µg/mL) [46] and 91.7 µg/mL [29]. However, a recent study reported a lower IC 50 value (3.8 µg/mL) for Carvacrol and Galantamine (0.6 µg/mL) [47].…”

“…µg/mL [29]. However, a recent study reported a lower IC50 value (3.8 µg/mL) for Carvacrol and Galantamine (0.6 µg/mL) [47]. The mode of inhibition of the Carom extracts, Carvacrol, and Thymol was analyzed using the Lineweaver-Burk plot.…”

Antidepressant and anxiolytic potential of Citrus reticulata Blanco essential oil: a network pharmacology and animal model study

“…Compared with other compounds, terpinene-4-ol had a comparable (−7.2 kcal/mol) while linalool had a superior affinity (−8.1 kcal/mol) with PTGS2. A previous study explored the protective effect of p-cymene in H 2 O 2 -induced SH-SY5Y cells ( Caputo et al, 2023 ). In our study, pretreatment with this compound can enhance cell viability and LDH over-release in CORT-induced PC12 cells, confirming the neuroprotective potential of p-cymene in different in vitro models of neurodegenerative diseases.…”

Phytochemical Constituents and Biological Activity of Wild and Cultivated Rosmarinus officinalis Hydroalcoholic Extracts

“…The AChE and BChE inhibitory assays were performed according to a described spectrophotometric method [ 23 ] with some modifications [ 24 ]. The α-amylase assay was carried out following Bernfeld’s protocol [ 25 ] with some modifications.…”