In vitro multiple pharmacological targets of Colutea cilicica Boiss. & Balansa against key enzymes linked to neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and hyperpigmentation

Prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and hyperpigmentation using medicinal plants has attracted increasing attention during the past few decades. In this study, Colutea cilicica Boiss. & Balansa extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) were evaluated against key enzymes involved in neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes, and hyperpigmentation. The antioxidant (free radical scavenging, reducing power, beta-carotene/linoleic acid, and phosphomolybdenum) and metal chelation properties were also investigated. The methanol extracts of C. cilicica vigorously inhibited the activities of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase (1.33 and 0.68 mg galantamine equivalents (GALAE)/g extract, respectively). It was observed that C. cilicica extracts possessed a higher inhibitory potential for a-glucosidase (2.71-1.23 mmol acarbose equivalents (ACAE)/g extract) than that for a-amylase (0.57-0.12 mmol ACAE/g extract). The water extract of C. cilicica showed potent radical scavenging capacity against DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (42.46 and 57.70 mg trolox equivalents (TE)/g extract, respectively). Phytochemical determination showed that C. cilicica water extract (17.26 mg rutin equivalents (RE)/g extract) was rich in flavonoids compared with ethyl acetate and methanol extracts (2.78 and 2.83 mg RE/g extract, for the respective extracts). These findings reveal the interesting potential of C. cilicica as a valuable source of phytochemicals that can be used against common noncommunicable diseases, particularly against enzymes involved in neurodegenerative diseases.