Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Preliminary investigation on the effect of methanol leaf extract of Duranta repens on enzymes of cholinergic and monoaminergic systems critical to neurodegeneration in rats in vitro

Sylvester C Ohadoma¹ , Ezechukwu I Nwokoma², Lapah P Takem¹, Ekaette S Udoh¹, Arit Umoren¹

¹Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar; ²RH/FP Department, Society for Family Health, Abuja, Nigeria.

For correspondence:- Sylvester Ohadoma Email: chodraf@yahoo.com Tel:+234-8035081946

Received: 21 September 2024 Accepted: 7 March 2025 Published: 30 March 2025

Citation: Ohadoma SC, Nwokoma EI, Takem LP, Udoh ES, Umoren A. Preliminary investigation on the effect of methanol leaf extract of Duranta repens on enzymes of cholinergic and monoaminergic systems critical to neurodegeneration in rats in vitro. Trop J Pharm Res 2025; 24(3):323-327 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v24i3.4

© 2025 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the neurological effects of Duranta repens leaf extract by assessing its impact on monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Methods: Rat brain homogenates were used as enzyme sources. The activity of MAO-B was determined spectrophotometrically using a kinetic method based on benzylamine as substrate, while the ability of the extract to inhibit AchE activity was assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Compared to the standard drug (donepezil) the extract demonstrated high potency (IC50 = 9.30 mg/dL for the extract and 36.90 mg/dL for donepezil) in inhibiting AchE activity. Similarly, it exhibited a strong inhibitory effect against MAO-B (IC50 = 2.45 mg/dL for the extract and 11.50 mg/dL for donepezil). Conclusion: The findings suggest that D. repens leaf extract has significant potential in reducing neuron loss. Further investigations to identify the specific phytoconstituents responsible for the inhibitory effects of the extract on MAO and AchE would be required.

Keywords: Neurodegenerative diseases, Duranta repens, Chikadoma plant, MAO-B, AchE