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Innovative Test Strip-Based Colorimetric Sensors Integrated With Affinity Chromatography: Acetylcholinesterase
Yuping Sa1,2, Hui Yuan1,2, Jingui Ma1,2
1School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
Advanced Science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)
|July 29, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to find acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in herbs. N-caffeoylputrescine (NCP) from Lycium barbarum showed promise as a multi-target Alzheimer's disease therapy.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Drug Discovery and Development
Background:
- Existing Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatments have limited efficacy, necessitating novel multi-target therapeutic strategies.
- Herbal medicines represent a rich source of potential therapeutic compounds, but efficient screening methods are needed.
- Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key target in AD pharmacotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an innovative screening platform for identifying AChE inhibitors from complex herbal matrices.
- To isolate and characterize potent AChE inhibitors from Lycium barbarum leaves.
- To evaluate the therapeutic potential of identified compounds, particularly N-caffeoylputrescine (NCP), in an AD mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Development of a screening platform integrating hydrogen peroxide test strip colorimetric sensing and affinity chromatography.
- Isolation and identification of AChE inhibitors from Lycium barbarum extracts.
- In vivo efficacy testing of NCP in a D-galactose and AlCl3-induced AD mouse model, including behavioral, biochemical, and histological analyses.
Main Results:
- Identified chlorogenic acid, N-acetyl-N'-caffeoylputrescine (NANCP), and N-caffeoylputrescine (NCP) as potent AChE inhibitors.
- NCP treatment significantly improved cognitive deficits in AD mice, reduced amyloid-beta (Aβ) levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress.
- NCP demonstrated multi-target effects by modulating glycerophospholipid metabolism, gut microbiota, and the proteasome-autophagy pathway.
Conclusions:
- The developed screening platform is efficient for identifying AChE inhibitors from natural sources.
- NCP is a promising natural multi-target therapeutic candidate for Alzheimer's disease.
- NCP's efficacy is attributed to its ability to reduce Aβ burden, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal damage via multiple mechanisms.
