Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

In Vitro Anticholinesterase and Inhibitory Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Combretum molle (Combre-taceae) Leaf on Rabbit Breathing

Yéo Dodehe¹ , Koffi Ernest², Bidié Alain dit Philippe¹, Tako Némé Antoine³, Bahi Calixte¹, Méité Souleymane¹, Djaman Allico Joseph¹, Guéde Guina Frédéric¹

¹Laboratoire de Pharmacodynamie Biochimique; ²Laboratoire de Biochimie et Sciences des Aliments; ³Laboratoires de Neurosciences, UFR Biosciences, UniversitÃ© de Cocody-Abidjan, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

For correspondence:- Yéo Dodehe Email: dodeheyeo@yahoo.fr

Received: 29 December 2009 Accepted: 14 June 2010 Published: 17 October 2010

Citation: Dodehe Y, Ernest K, Philippe BA, Antoine TN, Calixte B, Souleymane M, et al. In Vitro Anticholinesterase and Inhibitory Effects of the Aqueous Extract of Combretum molle (Combre-taceae) Leaf on Rabbit Breathing. Trop J Pharm Res 2010; 9(5):469-473 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v9i5.7

© 2010 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: In previous studies, the aqueous extract of Combretum molle was shown to inhibit disturbances of breathing induced by acetylcholine. The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism of this inhibition.

Methods: The aqueous extract of Combretum molle and an anti-asthmatic, salbutamol (reference), were tested at varying concentrations for their inhibitory effects on breathing. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) was extracted from rabbit duodenum and its activity determined by Ellman’s assay using acethylthiocholine iodide (ACTH) as substrate. The rate of hydrolysis of acetylcholinesterase was spectrophotometrically monitored at 412 nm.

Results: The results indicate that in the presence of C. molle extract, a considerable reduction in the variation of breathing amplitudes occurred. Furthermore, the extract probably contains anti-AChE substances. C. molle exerted non-competitive inhibition of acetylcholinesterase with Michaelis-Menten constant (K_M) of 192 μM and velocity at maximal concentration of substrate (V_max) of 4444 µM/min.

Conclusion: These results support the use of C. molle leaf in the Pharmacopoeia of Ivory Coast as an anti-asthmatic, in view of its inhibitory effect on breathing disturbances.

Keywords: Combretum molle, Acetylcholinesterase, Breathing disturbances, Salbutamol, Anti-asthmatic