Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity by essential oil from Citrus paradisi

Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity by essential oils of Citrus paradisi (grapefruit pink in USA) was studied. Inhibition of AChE was measured by the colorimetric method. Nootkatone and auraptene were isolated from C. paradisi oil and showed 17-24% inhibition of AChE activity at the concentration of 1.62 microg/mL.     

Chemical composition and bioactivity of Citrus medica L. cv. Diamante essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation, cold-pressing and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Citrus medica L. cv. Diamante peel obtained by hydrodistillation, cold-pressing and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction techniques was determined by GC/MS analysis. Forty-six components were fully characterised. Limonene and γ-terpinene were the major components of the oils obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and cold-pressing (CP), while citropten was the major constituent in the oil obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SFE). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities were evaluated. The essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation exerted the highest inhibitory activity against BChE (IC?? value of 154.6 μg mL?1) and AChE (IC?? value of 171.3 μg mL?1. Interestingly, the oil obtained by cold-pressing exhibited a selective inhibitory activity against AChE. The essential oils have also been evaluated for the inhibition of NO production in LPS induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. The oil obtained by hydrodistillation exerted a significant inhibition of NO production with an IC?? value of 17 μg mL?1 (IC?? of positive control 53 μg mL?1).     

Screening for acetylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant activity of selected plants from Croatia

The methanol, ethyl acetate and chloroform extracts of selected Croatian plants were tested for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antioxidant activity. Assessment of AChE inhibition was carried out using microplate reader at 1?mg?mL?1. Antioxidant capacities were determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging test and ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay (FRAP). Total phenol content (TPC) of extracts were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. Out of 48 extracts, only methanolic extract of the Salix alba L. cortex exerted modest activity towards AChE, reaching 50.80% inhibition at concentration of 1?mg?mL?1. All the other samples tested had activity below 20%. The same extract performed the best antioxidative activity using DPPH and FRAP method, too. In essence, among all extracts used in the screening, methanolic extracts showed the best antioxidative activity as well as highest TPC.     

Chemical composition, antimicrobial, antiradical and anticholinesterase activity of the essential oil of Pulicaria stephanocarpa from Soqotra

The chemical composition of the hydrodistilled leaf essential oil from Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. Fil was determined by GC-MS analysis, and its antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticholinesterase (AChE) activities were evaluated. Eighty-three compounds were identified representing 97.2% of the total oil. (E)-Caryophyllene 13.4%, (E)-nerolidol 8.5%, caryophyllene oxide 8.5%, alpha-cadinol 8.2% spathulenol 6.8% and tau-cadinol 4.7%, were the main components. Antimicrobial activity of the oil, evaluated using the disc diffusion and broth dilution methods, demonstrated the highest susceptibility on Gram-positive bacteria and Candida albicans. The free radical scavenging ability of the oil was assessed by the DPPH assay to show antiradical activity with IC50 of 330 microg/mL. Moreover, the oil revealed an AChE inhibitory activity of 47% at a concentration of 200 microg/mL using Ellman's method.     

Acetylcholinesterase based assay of eleven organophosphorus pesticides: finding of assay limitations

The study includes findings about limitations of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) based assay. Eleven organophosphorus pesticides: chlorpyrifos ethyl, chlorpyrifos methyl, DFP, dichlorvos, dimethoate, fenthion, paraoxon ethyl, paraoxon methyl, phosalone, pirimiphos methyl and pirimiphos ethyl were photometrically assayed using AChE as a recognition element. The study was carried out in order to find approachability of AChE based assay. In the first round, common organic solvents were tested for interfering in assay, since samples collection and extraction is a necessary part in samples processing. Isopropanol was found as the most convenient due to minimal inhibition not exceeding 5%. Though all analysed pesticides inhibit AChE in vivo, some of them are toxic after metabolisation. We found AChE based assay approachable for assay of DFP, paraoxons, and dichlorvos. These are oxoforms of organophosphorus pesticides. From thioforms of assayed pesticides, only fenthion was able significantly inhibit AChE in vitro. Electrochemical biosensor with AChE attached on platinum electrode was used for confirmation of interaction pesticide – AChE and complex stability estimation. DFP, paraoxons and dichlorvos were allowed to interact with AChE in biosensor. These pesticides were settled firmly in AChE active site as no spontaneous recovery of AChE activity was observed.     

Interactions of hydrophilic silica nanoparticles and classical surfactants at non-polar oil-water interface

The interfacial and bulk properties of submicron oil-in-water emulsions simultaneously stabilised with a conventional surfactant (either lecithin or oleylamine) and hydrophilic silica nanoparticles (Aerosil?380) were investigated and compared with emulsions stabilised by either stabiliser. Emulsions solely stabilised with lecithin or oleylamine showed poor physical stability, i.e., sedimentation and the release of pure oil was observed within 3 months storage. The formation and long-term stability of silica nanoparticle-coated emulsions was investigated as a function of the surfactant type, charge, and concentration; the oil phase polarity (Miglyol?812 versus liquid paraffin); and loading phase of nanoparticles, either oil or water. Highly stable emulsions with long-term resistance to coalescence and creaming were formulated even at low lecithin concentrations in the presence of optimum levels of silica nanoparticles. The attachment energy of silica nanoparticles at the non-polar oil-water interface in the presence of lecithin was significantly higher compared to oleylamine in line with good long-term stability of the former compared to the sedimentation and release of oil in the latter. The attachment energy of silica nanoparticles at the polar oil-water interface especially in the presence of oleylamine was up to five-times higher compared to the non-polar liquid paraffin. The interfacial layer structure of nanoparticles (close-packed layer of particle aggregates or scattered particle flocs) directly related to the free energy of nanoparticle adsorption at both MCT oil and liquid paraffin-water interfaces.     

Rapid Detection of Irreversible Acetylcholineasterase Inhibitor by Mass Spectrometry Assay

Here we developed a rapid method to detect acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity by matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry (MALDI‐FTMS) for screening irreversible AChE inhibitors. Due to its good salt‐tolerance and low sample consumption, MALDI‐FTMS could facilitate rapid detection, especially detection in real application. AChE activity was determined through calculating abundance of substrate and product in mass spectrometry. By this approach, we investigated the relation of organophosphorous (OP) concentrations and AChE inhibition. Shown in different inhibition curves from different OP pesticides, enzyme inhibitions still kept good correlation with concentration of OPs. Finally, this AChE‐inhibited method was applied to screen whole bloods of four decedents and discuss their death reason. In contrast to healthy persons, three of decedents showed low AChE activity, and probably died for irreversible AChE inhibitors. Through the following detecting in GC‐MS/MS, the possible death reason of these three decedents was confirmed, and another decedent actually died for sumicidin, a non‐AChE inhibitor. It demonstrated that screening irreversible AChE inhibitors by detecting enzyme activity in MALDI‐FTMS provided fast and accurate analysis results and excluded another toxicants not functioning on AChE. This method offered alternative choices for indicating the existence of enzyme inhibitors.     

Olive oil microemulsions: enzymatic activities and structural characteristics

Microemulsions composed of olive oil, either extravirgin (EVOO) or refined (ROO), as the continuous oil phase, water as the dispersed phase, and a mixture of lecithin-propanol as the emulsifier were prepared and investigated as potential biocompatible media for biotransformations. The area of the microemulsion zone increased considerably by increasing the lecithin to propanol weight ratio in both EVOO- and ROO-based systems. However, the nature of the oil used does not seem to affect the ability of the system to incorporate water. The catalytic activities of two oxidizing enzymes that have been detected in virgin olive oil, namely, tyrosinase and peroxidase, and the activity of a proteolytic enzyme such as trypsin were studied in olive oil microemulsions. In all cases a reduced catalytic activity was observed when ROO was considered as the continuous oil phase. The interfacial properties of lecithin layers were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy employing the nitroxide spin probe 5-doxylstearic acid. By varying the weight ratio of lecithin to propanol and the water content of the microemulsions, the mobility of the probe and the rigidity of the interface were altered. Droplet sizes were measured by dynamic light scattering. At higher water content of the system the size of the droplets was increased. When EVOO was considered as the oil phase, smaller aqueous droplets were formed. Lecithin-based olive oil microemulsions were also characterized with regard to the phenomenon of electrical percolation. At a water content above 3% (w/w) and a lecithin/propanol weight ratio of 2, a sharp increase in conductivity was observed, indicating a structural transition in the bicontinuous form.     

Electrochemical Assay of Effects of Organophosphate Poisoning on Acetylcholinesterase from Pheretima via 2,6-Dimethyl-p-benzoquinone

Electroanalytical techniques could be a reliable and promising alternative to classical and sophisticated methods because of their simplicity(small and portable), easy use, the ability to deliver fast response with high sensitivity and selectivity. A square wave voltammetric method was developed for the assessment of organophosphorus(OPs) compound impact on acetylcholinesterase(AChE) of Pheretima with 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone(2,6- DMBQ) as a redox indicator. The substrate of acetylthiocholine is hydrolyzed by AChE and the produced thiocholine reacts with 2,6-DMBQ to give an obvious shift of electrochemical signal. The reduction peak of 2,6-DMBQ is located at around -0.18 V which is far away from the oxidation potential of possible interference components often present in biosample. The decreased rate of reduction current was related with the activity of AChE. The inhibition of parathion-methyl on AChE was assessed. The inhibiton rate of OPs on AChE activity increased quickly during the first 10 min inhibition, and after that the value of inhibition rate approached to be constant. AChE lost almost 29.3% of acti- vity after 10 min incubation with 1 mg/mL parathion-methyl and 67.5% of activity with 10 mg/mL parathion-methyl, while the activity that corresponds to 40 mg/mL parathion-methyl was nearly completely inhibited(94.9%). Compared to cyclic voltammetry and amperometry, Square wave voltammetry(SWV) method is a high sensitive electroanalysis with fast scan-rate(only several seconds for one signal value) which is useful to prevent the electrodes from possible fouling or passivation. This method can be employed to assess the inhibition of organophosphate on AChE and investigate OPs impact on environmental animals.     

一种仿细胞膜聚合物用于碳纳米管表面改性

以新型含有磷酸胆碱基的仿细胞膜两亲聚合物——胆固醇封端的聚(2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酸胆碱)(CPMPC)为表面稳定剂实现碳纳米管的表面改性,利用两亲聚合物中的胆固醇疏水段与碳纳米管表面进行非共价键的稳定结合,通过两亲聚合物中聚(2-甲基丙烯酰氧基乙基磷酰胆碱)(PMPC)亲水段实现其水溶性和生物相容性.并以商业可获得的典型两亲分子,末端为胆固醇的聚氧乙烯(CPEG)和卵磷脂,为对照进行研究.研究表明CPMPC和CPEG均具有比卵磷脂更高的对碳纳米管进行分散的能力.而CPMPC改性的碳纳米管比CPEG改性的碳纳米管具有更优的稳定性和生物相容性,通过新型仿细胞膜聚合物改性的碳纳米管在生物医用领域有潜在应用.     

Determination of Pesticides Based on Their Inhibitory Action on Acetylcholinesterase Using a 2-Phase System

A new and simple method has been developed to allow the direct determination of pesticides in samples of vegetable oils via pH transduction. It is based on the inhibitory effect of the pesticides on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The strategy involves the use of a biphasic system composed of an organic phase (the oil) containing the pesticide (carbofuran) and an aqueous phase containing the AChE. The pesticide is extracted from the oil phase at the interface of the two phases which causes the inhibition of AChE and formation of acetic acid that is monitored with a pH meter. The degree of inhibition observed in the Tris-HCl solution is in the same order of magnitude as the one observed in the 2-phase system. This approach is sensitive, accurate, and does not require tedious extraction and sample clean-up. It is, therefore, well suited for rapid screening.     

An aporphine alkaloid from Nelumbo nucifera as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and the primary investigation for structure-activity correlations

N-methylasimilobine (1), a new-found strong acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor, along with two weakly active aporphine alkaloids, nuciferine (2) and nornuciferine (3) were separated from Nelumbo nucifera. N-methylasimilobine (1) inhibited 50% of AChE activity at the concentrations of 1.5?±?0.2?μg?mL(-1) when the standard IC(50) value of Physostigmine was 0.013?±?0.002?μg?mL(-1). The mode of AChE inhibition by 1 was reversible and non-competitive. In addition, molecular modelling was performed to explore the binding mode of inhibitor 1 at the active site of AChE.     

Preparation of an acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin‐silica hybrid monolithic column and its application in pipette tip solid‐phase extraction and HPLC analysis of methyl parathion and fenthion

An acryloyl β‐cyclodextrin‐silica hybrid monolithic column for pipette tip solid‐phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography determination of methyl parathion and fenthion has been prepared through a sol–gel polymerization method. The synthesis conditions, including the volume of cross‐linker and the ratio of inorganic solution to organic solution, were optimized. The prepared monolithic column was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The eluent type, volume and flow rate, sample volume, flow rate, acidity, and ionic strength were optimized in detail. Under the optimized conditions, a simple and sensitive pipette tip solid‐phase extraction with high‐performance liquid chromatography method was developed for the determination of methyl parathion and fenthion in lettuce. The method yielded a linear calibration curve in the concentration ranges of 15–400 μg/kg for methyl parathion and 20–400 μg/kg for fenthion with correlation coefficients of above 0.9957. The limits of detection were 4.5 μg/kg for methyl parathion and 6.0 μg/kg for fenthion, respectively. The recoveries of methyl parathion and fenthion spiked in lettuce ranged from 96.0 to 104.2% with relative standard deviations less than 8.4%.     

Spontaneous periodic pulsation of contact line in oil/water system--frequency control with divalent cations and applied voltage

Periodic oscillatory change of hydrophilicity (or hydrophobicity) of a glass surface was studied. A glass capillary was immersed normally at an oil/water interface. The water phase contained the cationic surfactant trimethyloctadecylammoniumchloride, and the oil phase contained bis(2ethylhexyl) phosphate. Adsorption of the surfactant molecules and their desorption via anionic chemicals dissolved in the oil generated a gradual wetting by the water, followed by a rapid wetting by oil. The three phase contact line exhibited a pulse-like motion that continued, at least for a few minutes. The frequency depended on the cation species dissolved in water and the applied voltage across the oil/water interface. Four kinds of cations, Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Sr(2+) and Ba(2+) were used. While the frequency order was Ba(2+)>Sr(2+)>Mg(2+), the Ca(2+)-containing interface did not show any motion irrespective of the applied voltage. There was a threshold voltage and concentration of anionic chemical that was necessary for the onset of this motion. The pulsation mechanism and its ion selectivity are also discussed. This interfacial motion was a typical nonlinear oscillation with an ion-selective nature. In this regard, this interfacial motion had biomimetic characteristics.     

Highly Sensitive Fluorometric Assay Method for Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Based on Nile Red‐Adsorbed Gold Nanoparticles

A new sensitive fluorometric assay method for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its inhibitor was developed using a fluorescent dye, nile red (NR). Due to the fluorescence resonance energy transfer between the NR and the gold nanoparticle (AuNPs), the fluorescence was quenched. AChE can break down acetylthiocholine to produce a thiol‐bearing compound, thiocholine. In the presence of thiocholine, the nile red is replaced from the AuNPs surfaces and simultaneously transformed to a derivative of nile red. The fluorescence intensity of the derivative is much stronger than that of the native nile red with the same concentration and its maximum emission wavelength has a blue shift so that the sensor achieves a good signal‐to‐background ratio. In addition, when organophosphate pesticide (OPs) exists, the activity of AChE can be inhibited, the generation of thiocholine will be prevented and no fluorescence enhancement occurs. The results show that the method is sensitive to AChE and paraoxon with the detection limits of 0.2 mU/mL and 0.05 ng/mL, respectively.     

Antihypertensive Effect of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Peptide Obtained from Hen Ovotransferrin

Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide was isolated from the hen ovotransferrin hydrolysate using chymotryptic hydrolysis by two steps of reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The amino sequence of this novel peptide was identified as Lys‐Val‐Arg‐Glu‐Gly‐Thr‐Thr‐Tyr that inhibited ACE activity in vitro in a concentration‐dependent manner with an effective concentration (IC₅₀) of 102.8 μM. Also, this inhibition was identified as noncompetitive using the Lineweaver‐Burk plot. Moreover, the antihypertensive action of this novel peptide was investigated by an intravenous injection into spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). A dose‐dependent reduction of systolic blood pressure by this peptide was observed after 40 min of treatment and it decreased the blood pressure markedly at the maximal dose (1 nmol/mL/kg). The maximal blood pressure lowering activity of this peptide was calculated as 163% of captopril (10 pmol/mL/kg) that was used as positive control. In conclusion, the obtained data suggests that Lys‐Val‐Arg‐Glu‐Gly‐Thr‐Thr‐Tyr has an ability to inhibit ACE activity and decrease the systolic blood pressure in hypertensive animals.     

Ionic liquid-functionalized graphene for fabricating an amperometric acetylcholinesterase biosensor

This work reports a sensitive amperometric biosensor for organophosphate pesticides (OPs) fabricated by modifying a glassy carbon electrode with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immobilized on ionic liquid-functionalized graphene (IL-G). The functionalized graphene sheets had good dispersibility and long-term stability in various solvents. The as-prepared biosensor showed high affinity to acetylthiocholine (ATCl) with a Michaelis-Menten constant (K(m)) value of 0.77 mM. Furthermore, based on the inhibition by OPs of the enzymatic activity of the immobilized AChE, and using carbaryl as a model compound, the inhibition of carbaryl was proportional to its concentration ranging from 0.0025 to 0.48 and 0.48 to 1.42 μg mL(-1) with a detection limit of 0.8 ng mL(-1) (S/N = 3). The developed biosensor exhibited a good performance for OPs detection, including good reproducibility and acceptable stability, which provided a new and promising tool for the analysis of enzyme inhibitors.     

In situ electrodeposited nanoparticles for facilitating electron transfer across self-assembled monolayers in biosensor design

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized in situ and electrodeposited onto Au substrate. The AuNPs modified interface facilitates electron transfer across self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA). After activation of surface carboxyl groups with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide, the interface displayed good stability for immobilization of biomolecules. These modification processes were characterized by contact angle measurement, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectra. The immobilized acetylcholinesterase (AChE), as a model, showed excellent activity to its substrate, leading to a stable AChE biosensor. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the inhibition of malathion on AChE biosensor was proportional to its concentration in two ranges, from 0.001 to 0.1 μg mL⁻¹ and from 0.1 to 25 μg mL⁻¹, with detection limit of 0.001 μg mL⁻¹. The simple method showed good reproducibility and acceptable stability, which had potential application in biosensor design.     

Establishment of an HPLC method for testing acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and compared with traditional spectrophotometry

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity test is one of the important areas of natural product research, which is traditionally tested by spectrophotometry. In this work, a simple high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was developed for testing AChE inhibitory activity in several natural products. Using galanthamine hydrobromide and huperzine A as positive controls, it was found that the optimal conditions for sample preparation are 7.0–8.0 for pH, 30 min for reaction time, 37 °C for reaction temperature, 1.1 × 10^?3 U mL^?1 for concentration of AChE, and 0.625 mM for acetylthiocholine iodide in the final reaction mixture with total volume 2 mL. The Diamonsil C₁₈ column was used and the chromatographic conditions were mobile phase methanol–water–triethylamine (40:60:0.05, v/v/v), flow rate 1.0 mL min^?1, injection volume 5 μL, run time 5 min, column temperature 37 °C, and wavelength 405 nm. The AChE inhibitory activity of anthocyanin with concentration of 10, 20, and 50 μg mL^?1, blueberry extract and purple potato extract with concentration of 20, 100, and 500 μg mL^?1 were further determined under this conditions. The results showed the inhibition ratios obtained from spectrophotometry were nearly adjacent and approximately lower than 10% and the values of absorbance mostly exceed 0.8, but the absorbance should ensure in the range of 0.15–0.8 to guarantee smaller relative error for spectrophotometry. While the inhibition ratios gained from HPLC method were higher than 20% and had greater difference, they had better comparability to the different concentrations of anthocyanin and its extracts. It is revealed that the HPLC method can be used for the evaluation of the AChE inhibitory activity in natural product extracts with deep color or not.     

Acetylcholinesterase immobilised eggshell membrane-based optical biosensor for organophosphate detection

The development of an optical biosensor for the determination of malathion based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition using Ellman’s reagent is reported. The AChE has been immobilised onto the eggshell membrane (ESM) using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent. Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM) studies and Fourier Transformed Infra-Red (FTIR) characterisations have been carried out to affirm the successful immobilisation of AChE onto the ESM. Under optimum conditions, the developed biosensor estimated the pesticide concentration in the range of 0.1–50 ng/mL with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 ng/mL within 30 min. Parameters affecting the biosensor response such as concentration of enzyme, substrate and inhibition time were optimised. The stability and reusability of the AChE/ESM sensor have been observed as 31 days at 4°C and two times, respectively.