Folliculi sennae Extract: A Multifunctional Approach to Alzheimer's and Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Neuroscience
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) share molecular pathways involving oxidative stress and enzyme dysfunction.
• Natural compounds offer potential therapeutic strategies for complex multifactorial diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the multifunctional therapeutic potential of Folliculi sennae (F. sennae) ethanol extract.
• To investigate its antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effects on key enzymes relevant to AD and T2DM.

Main Methods:

• Phenolic profiling of F. sennae extract using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
• Assessment of antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays.
• Enzyme inhibition assays for acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and α-glucosidase.

Main Results:

• LC-MS/MS identified abundant phenolic compounds, including quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and gallic acid.
• The extract demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity across multiple assays.
• Significant inhibition was observed for AChE (IC50 = 10.34 µg/mL), BChE (IC50 = 7.72 µg/mL), and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 6.66 µg/mL).

Conclusions:

• F. sennae extract exhibits a synergistic combination of antioxidant and enzyme-inhibiting properties.
• These activities suggest potential neuroprotective and antidiabetic effects.
• F. sennae is a promising multitarget natural candidate for managing oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders.