Abstract:
Pistacia lentiscus (Anacardiaceae) known as mastic tree, one of the many
evergreen bushes found in the east ern Mediterranean region. It has been used for a long time in human
food and in the pharmaceutical industry.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the anticholinesterase, antioxidant and antihemolytic
activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Pistacia Lentiscus (AELPL) from the Jijel region.
Methods: The contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids were quantified by the Folin
Ciocalteu and trichloroaluminum methods, respectively. The inhibition activity of acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) is evaluated by a spectrophotometric method. The in vitro antioxidant activity was determined
by the reducing power assay, the hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity OH˙ and the DPPH radical
scavenging capacity. The antihemolytic activity was evaluated by a spectrophotometric assay on human
erythrocytes.
Results and discussion: The results obtained show that EAPL has a high content of polyphenols
and flavonoids. The study of the anti-AChE activity shows that the extract exhibits an inhibitory effect
on AChE, with IC50 value of 45.6 μg/ml. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the extract demonstrated
its ability to effectively scavenge hydroxyl radicals (OH˙) and DPPH radicals, as well as a significant
reducing power with IC50 values of 32.62±5.32 μg/ml, 4.30±0.27 μg/ml, and 13.64±0.51 μg/ml,
respectively. The findings also show that the maximum hemolytic activity of EAFPL is 3.907±1.75%
at a concentration of 400 μg/ml.
Conclusion: These results suggest that EAPL can be considered as a source of natural bioactive
principles for pharmacological, dietary and medicinal applications
