Potential anticholinesterase of plants of the Caatinga biome / Potencial anticolinesterásico de plantas do bioma Caatinga

Abstract

The caatinga is the only exclusive biome in Brazil, characterized by arboreal or arbusive vegetation, composed of small trees and shrubs of xerophytic peculiarities. This biome is located in the northeast region and occupies an area of 844,453 km2 totaling 11% of the Brazilian territory. This biota presents several plant species with medicinal power, with the potential to inhibit enzymes responsible for the emergence of degenerative diseases. The study aimed to carry out a survey of the literature on the anticholinesteric potential of plants of the caatinga in the Google Academic and Schielo databases. Twelve articles published between 2000 and 2017 were analyzed. In all, it was identified studies with 25 botanic families and 38 species, the Fabaceae family being the most cited with six species. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition assays were performed in vitro and in vivo by qualitative and quantitative CCD methods. The different studies demonstrate the ability of extracts and isolated substances in the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. We conclude that there are few studies on this subject with plants of this potential biome.

Keywords

• Alzheimer's
• inhibition
• extracts