Anticholinesterase activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum L. leaf extract

Cinnamomum zeylanicum (C. zeylanicum) is a tropical evergreen tree of Lauraceae family. It is one of the oldest culinary spices known and used traditionally in many cultures for centuries. In addition to its culinary uses, cinnamon also possesses as a folk remedy of many health disease condition including analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, haemostatic, insecticidal, and parasiticide and memory enhancing property. This study was aimed to assess the acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of standardized methanol extract of the C. zeylanicum. Gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis were done to identify the presence of eugenol as chemical component and support the neuroprotective activity in the extract. Anticholinesterase inhibitory activity of crude methanol extract of C. zeylanicum leaves and cinnamon oil were evaluated by 96-well microtiter plate assay and thin layer chromatography bioassay detection methods. This study revealed that cinnamon oil ($IC_{50}:45.88{\pm}1.94{\mu}g/ml$) has better anticholinesterase activity than methanol extract ($IC_{50}:77.78{\pm}0.03{\mu}g/ml$). In HPLC analysis, retention time of eugenol in cinnamon oil was found to be 15.81 min which was comparable with the retention time (15.99 min) of the reference standard, eugenol. Seven chemical compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis, in which eugenol as an important phytoconstituents. Thus the phytochemicals from C. zeylanicum methanol leaves extract could be developed as potential source of anticholinesterase activity, with particular benefit in the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease.