ANTIOXIDANT AND CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITORY ACTIVITY OF GREWIA HIRSUTA VAHL. LEAVES

Objectives: Grewia hirsuta Vahl. is a shrub explored for medicinal applications. It has anti ageing, boosting immunity, prevents loss and grey hair etc. Ethnopharmacological data suggests that the plant is extensively used as a nerve tonic and to enhance the cognitive properties. The basis of these medicinal uses seems to be antioxidant and anti cholinesterase activity. In order to establish the scientific basis between medicinal uses and its mechanism of action, antioxidant and anti cholinesterase activity investigations were carried out. Methods: Evaluation of free radical scavenging and anti cholinesterase activity was carried out using DPPH (1, 1- diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl), hydroxyl radical scavenging and ferric reducing method using ascorbic acid as a standard. Cholinesterase inhibitory potentials were measured by Ellman’s method against Rivastigmine. Results: The inhibitory concentration of hydro ethanolic extract of Grewia hirsuta (HEEGH) (IC₅₀ 27.25) in DPPH. In reducing power assay (IC₅₀ 65.32) and Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity (IC₅₀ 98.28). The inhibitor concentration of acetylcholinesterase by standard (Rivastigmine) was (IC₅₀ 14.40μg/ml), and the extract was (IC₅₀ 133.4μg/ml), whereas, butyrylcholinesterase (IC₅₀ 96.46μg/ml). Conclusion: HEEGH possesses the significant concentration-dependent inhibitory action as an antioxidant and anti acetyl cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activity. This activity might be due to the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins and specific amino acids in significant amount.