Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities and LC-MS analysis of the antioxidant Ferula caspica M. Bieb. and F. halophila Peşmen extracts

Abstract

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the biological activity of F. caspica M. Bieb. which is used forthe treatment of diabetes in traditional Turkish medicine and to compare with F. halophila Peşmen. Antioxidantcapacities and total phenolic contents of the plants’ extracts were tested by DPPH radical scavenging assay and FolinCiocalteu assay, respectively. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of the extracts were investigated with the aim ofindicating whether there was a correlation with their antioxidant capacities. Different quinic acid and flavonoidderivatives which may be responsible for the activities of the extracts were detected using LC-MS screening in themethanol extracts. The methanol extract from the aerial parts of F. caspica was found to show most antioxidant capacityand acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.