Soheili Masoud, Salami Mahmoud
Physiology Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, I. R. Iran.
J Cell Physiol. 2019 Sep;234(9):16424-16430. doi: 10.1002/jcp.28311. Epub 2019 Feb 19.
Lavender is an aromatic shrub belonging to the Lamiaceae family. The flowers and leaves in different forms of extracts are used as herbal medicine. The accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, reduction of acetylcholine due to hyperactivity of acetylcholinesterase, and glutamate neurotoxicity are known to be involved in decreased level of cognitive function. In our previous study, we proved that the aqueous extract of lavender improves learning and memory. This in vitro study was designed to evaluate antiaggregative, antioxidant, and antiacetylcholinesterase activities of the herbal medicine.
Thin layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, thioflavin, atomic force microscope (AFM), Elleman,and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl techniques were used for qualitative analysis, quantitative analysis, antiaggregative characteristics, anti-acetylcholinestrase activity and antioxidant activity of the lavender extract, respectively.
We found chromatographic peaks of caffeic acid and luteolin-7-glycosid in the lavender extract. Our results indicated that aqueous extract of lavender dose-dependently inhibits the formation of Aβ aggregate. The AFM technique showed that lavender largely diminished the Aβ fibril formation. We also observed a considerable radical scavenging activity of the extract.
Prevention of Aβ plaque formation and antioxidant activity along with nontoxic features of the lavender extract promise possible effectiveness of this plant on improving some neurological disorders including Alzheimer's disease.
薰衣草是一种属于唇形科的芳香灌木。其不同形式提取物中的花和叶被用作草药。已知淀粉样β（Aβ）斑块的积累、乙酰胆碱酯酶活性过高导致的乙酰胆碱减少以及谷氨酸神经毒性与认知功能水平下降有关。在我们之前的研究中，我们证明了薰衣草水提取物可改善学习和记忆。本体外研究旨在评估该草药的抗聚集、抗氧化和抗乙酰胆碱酯酶活性。
分别采用薄层色谱法、高效液相色谱法、硫黄素法、原子力显微镜（AFM）、埃利曼法和2,2-二苯基-1-苦基肼法对薰衣草提取物进行定性分析、定量分析、抗聚集特性、抗乙酰胆碱酯酶活性和抗氧化活性研究。
我们在薰衣草提取物中发现了咖啡酸和木犀草素-7-糖苷的色谱峰。我们的结果表明，薰衣草水提取物剂量依赖性地抑制Aβ聚集体的形成。AFM技术显示薰衣草大大减少了Aβ纤维的形成。我们还观察到提取物具有相当强的自由基清除活性。
薰衣草提取物具有预防Aβ斑块形成和抗氧化活性以及无毒特性，有望对改善包括阿尔茨海默病在内的一些神经疾病具有潜在疗效。
