Mechanistic investigation on compounds from Amorpha fruticosa L. targeting acetylcholinesterase

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the enzyme targeted by drugs used for the symptomatic treatment of cognitive decline associated with Alzheimer's disease. While in vitro data suggest the AChE inhibitory potential of A. fruticosa extracts and components such as rotenoids, in-depth mechanistic investigations are missing. A wide array of computational techniques, including ligand-based approaches, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and machine learning-assisted toxicity prediction were enrolled in the current study, highlighting the rotenoid 6α,12α-dehydrodeguelin as a promising lead for the development of AChE inhibitors.