TANG / www.e-tang.org 2012 / Volume 2 / Issue 2 / e19 1 Original Article Inhibitory effect of Capparis zeylanica Linn. on acetylcholinesterase activity and attenuation of scopolamine-induced amnesia Amrendra Kumar Chaudhary 1* , Ruchi Solanki 2 , Vandana Singh 3 , Umesh Kumar Singh 1 1 Kharvel Subharti College of Pharmacy, S.V. Subharti University, Meerut-250005, UP, India; 2 School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shobhit University, Meerut-250110, UP, India; 3 Translam Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Meerut, -250001, India ABSTRACT Capparis zeylanica Linn. a ‘Rasayana’ drug is used for its memory enhancing effects in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and memory enhancing activities of Capparis zeylanica Linn. The in-vitro and ex-vivo models of AChE inhibitory activity were used along with Morris water maze test to study the effect on memory in rats. The anticholinesterase effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Capparis zeylanica was measured by spectrophotometric Ellman method at 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10 and 30 mg/ml and brain monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B) activity was assessed by Naoi’s method. The results of in-vivo and ex-vivo AChE assay revealed that methanolic and aqueous extracts of Capparis zeylanica inhibit AChE activity, whereas these extracts did not alter MAO activity at any concentration tested as compared to moclobemide and L-deprenyl. The results indicate that Capparis zeylanica improves scopolamine-induced memory deficits through inhibition of AChE activity, and not by direct MAO inhibition. Keywords Capparis zeylanica Linn, Rasayana drug, anticholinesterase, MAO activity, amnesia, scopolamine INTRODUCTION Capparis zeylanica Linn. belonging to family Capparidaceae, is commonly known as Indian caper; found throughout India and has been used as a ‘Rasayana’ drug in the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine. Rasayana plants are said to prevent ageing, re-establish youth, strengthen life, generate power, impart intelligence, aid improper digestion, clear complexion, enhance brain power, vital energy, eye sight, memory and prevent diseases, all of which imply that they increase the resistance of the body against any onslaught (Govindrajan et al., 2005; Puri et al., 2003). The plant Capparis zeylanica is reported to have alkaloids, triterpenes, flavanoids, steroidal substances and saponins. Phytochemical screening of the leaf extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponin glycosides, terpenoids, tannins, proteins and carbohydrates (Sharaf, 1997; Satyanarayan et al., 2008). The roots of Capparis zeylanica contain alkaloid, phytosterol, acids and mucilage. Fatty acids like ricinolenic acid, malvalic acid, sterculic acid, linoeic acid were also obtained (Mahmood et al., 1991; Haque et al., 2004). In Northern India, the leaves of Capparis zeylanica are widely used as counter-irritant, febrifuge and as a cataplasm in swellings, boils and piles (Chopra, 1969; Kirtikar et al., 1987). In Ayurveda, the Capparis zeylanica is used traditionally as cooling, cholagogue, bitter, stomachic, sedative, anti-hydrotic and also used in cholera, neuralgia, hemiplegia and rheumatism. Recent in-vivo and in-vitro studies have indicated antioxidant (Agarwal et al., 2009), anti-microbial (Chopade et al., 2008), analgesic (Upaganlawar et al., 2008), antipyretic (Ghule et al., 2007), anti-inflammatory (Chaudhary et al., 2004), anti-spasmodic (Mishra et al., 2007), immmunomodulatory (Ghule et al., 2006) activities of Capparis zeylanica. In a previous work we have evaluated the effect of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Capparis zeylanica Linn. leaves on spatial learning and memory in rats using Morris water maze task. Results of the previous studies indicated that scopolamine-induced amnesia was reversed by Capparis zeylanica, it is possible that the beneficial effect on learning and memory was due to facilitation of cholinergic-transmission in rat brain (Solanki et al., 2012). However till now, no scientific data is available in support of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory and memory enhancing activities of Capparis zeylanica. Therefore, with the aim to investigate the possible mechanism of its memory enhancing activity, in the present study methanolic and aqueous extracts of Capparis zeylanica Linn. leaves was further evaluated using in-vitro and ex-vivo models of AChE inhibitory activity and brain monoamine oxidase (MAO-A and MAO-B) activity along with Morris water maze test to study the effect on memory. MATERIALS AND METHODS Drugs and Chemicals Scopolamine, galantamine, DTNB (dithiobisnitrobenzoic acid), electric eel acetylcholinesterase, acetylthiocholine iodide, serotonin, benzylamine, L-deprenyl and moclobemide were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, U.S.A. Piracetam was purchased * Correspondence: Amrendra Kumar Chaudhary E- mail: amrendrapharma@gmail.com Received March 2, 2012; Accepted May 23, 2012; Published May 31, 2012 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5667/tang.2012.0008 ©2012 by Association of Humanitas Medicine