Antifungal Effect of Liposomal α-Bisabolol and When Associated with Fluconazole

Fungal pathologies caused by the genus Candida have increased in recent years due to the involvement of immunosuppressed people and the advance of resistance mechanisms acquired by these microorganisms. Liposomes are nanovesicles with lipid bilayers in which they store compounds. α-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene with proven biological activities, and in this work it was tested alone in liposomes and in association with Fluconazole in vitro to evaluate the antifungal potential, Fluconazole optimization, and virulence inhibitory effect in vitro. Antifungal assays were performed against standard strains of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei by microdilution to identify the IC50 values and to obtain the cell viability. The Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was performed by subculturing on the solid medium, and at their subinhibitory concentration (Matrix Concentration (MC): 16,384 µg/mL) (MC/16), the compounds, both isolated and liposomal, were associated with fluconazole in order to verify the inhibitory effect of this junction. Tests to ascertain changes in morphology were performed in microculture chambers according to MC concentrations. Liposomes were characterized from the vesicle size, polydispersity index, average Zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. The IC50 value of the liposomal bisabolol associated with fluconazole (FCZ) was 2.5 µg/mL against all strains tested, revealing a potentiating effect. Liposomal bisabolol was able to potentiate the effect of fluconazole against the CA and CT strains by reducing its concentration and completely inhibiting fungal growth. α-Bisabolol in liposomal form inhibited the morphological transition in all strains tested at a concentration of MC/8. The liposomes were homogeneous, with vesicles with diameters of 203.8 nm for the liposomal bisabolol and a surface charge potential of −34.2 mV, conferring stability to the nanosystem. Through scanning microscopy, the spherical shapes of the vesicles were observed.

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Derivatization of Rosmarinic Acid Enhances its in vitro Antitumor, Antimicrobial and Antiprotozoal Properties

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24061078 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 1078 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Silvia Bittner Fialová ◽

Martin Kello ◽

Matúš Čoma ◽

Lívia Slobodníková ◽

Eva Drobná ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rosmarinic Acid ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Phosphonium Salts ◽

Ros Scavenging ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Quaternary Phosphonium Salts

On its own, rosmarinic acid possesses multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and antitumor properties, and these are the consequence of its ROS scavenging and inhibitory effect on inflammation. In this study, two quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid were prepared for the purpose of increasing its penetration into biological systems with the aim of improving its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antitumor activity. The synthetized molecules, the triphenylphosphonium and tricyclohexylphosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid, exhibited significantly stronger inhibitory effects on the growth of HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 7.28 or 8.13 μM in comparison to the initial substance, rosmarinic acid (>300 μM). For the synthesized derivatives, we detected a greater than three-fold increase of activity against Acanthamoeba quina, and a greater than eight-fold increase of activity against A. lugdunensis in comparison to rosmarinic acid. Furthermore, we recorded significantly higher antimicrobial activity of the synthetized derivatives when compared to rosmarinic acid itself. Both synthetized quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid appear to be promising antitumor and antimicrobial agents, as well as impressive molecules for further research.

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Novel Iodinated Hydrazide-hydrazones and their Analogues as Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026620666200819155503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (23) ◽

pp. 2106-2117

Author(s):

Martin Krátký ◽

Šárka Štěpánková ◽

Michaela Brablíková ◽

Katarína Svrčková ◽

Markéta Švarcová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Structural Parameters ◽

Covalent Binding ◽

Docking Studies ◽

Potent Inhibition ◽

Brain Barrier Permeability ◽

Electric Eel ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Ellman’S Method

Background: Hydrazide-hydrazones have been known as scaffold with various biological activities including inhibition of acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Cholinesterase inhibitors are mainstays of dementias’ treatment. Objective: Twenty-five iodinated hydrazide-hydrazones and their analogues were designed as potential central AChE and BuChE inhibitors. Methods: Hydrazide-hydrazones were synthesized from 4-substituted benzohydrazides and 2-/4- hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzaldehydes. The compounds were investigated in vitro for their potency to inhibit AChE from electric eel and BuChE from equine serum using Ellman’s method. We calculated also physicochemical and structural parameters for CNS delivery. Results: The derivatives exhibited a moderate dual inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 15.1-140.5 and 35.5 to 170.5 μmol.L-1 for AChE and BuChE, respectively. Generally, the compounds produced a balanced or more potent inhibition of AChE. N'-[(E)-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)methylidene]-4- nitrobenzohydrazide 2k and 4-fluoro-N'-(2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzyl)benzohydrazide 3a were the most potent inhibitors of AChE and BuChE, respectively. Structure-activity relationships were established, and molecular docking studies confirmed interaction with enzymes. Conclusion: Many novel hydrazide-hydrazones showed lower IC50 values than rivastigmine against AChE and some of them were comparable for BuChE to this drug used for the treatment of dementia. They interact with cholinesterases via non-covalent binding into the active site. Based on the BOILEDEgg approach, the majority of the derivatives met the criteria for blood-brain-barrier permeability.

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Evaluating the Effect of Cinnarizine on Promastigotes and Amastigotes forms of Leishmania major

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526518666181113114820 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 550-555 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lima Asgharpour Sarouey ◽

Parvaneh Rahimi-Moghaddam ◽

Fatemeh Tabatabaie ◽

Khadijeh Khanaliha

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

J774 Cells ◽

Mtt Assays

: As an important global disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis is associated with complications such as secondary infections and atrophic scars. The first line treatment with antimonials is expensive and reported to have serious side effects and enhance resistance development. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cinnarizine on standard strains of Leishmania major because of paucity of information on this subject. Methods: In this experimental study, four concentrations of the drug (5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/ml) were added to Leishmania major cultures at 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals. MTT assays were performed to determine parasite viability and drug toxicity. Leishmania major promastigotes were augmented to the in vitro cultured macrophages (J774 cells) and then incubated for 72 hours. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was ascertained by counting parasites. The inhibitory effect of the drug was compared with that of Glucantime. Flow-cytometry was performed to investigate apoptosis. Each test was repeated thrice. Results: The IC50 values of Cinnarizine after 72 hours were calculated to be 34.76 μg/ml and 23.73 μg/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The results of MTT assays showed 48 % promastigote viability after 72 hour-exposure to Cinnarizine at 20 μg/ml concentration. Programmed cell death in promastigote- and amastigote-infected macrophages was quantified to be 13.66 % and 98.7 %, respectively. Flow- cytometry analysis indicated that Cinnarizine induced early and late apoptosis in parasites. All treatments produced results which differed significantly from control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cinnarizine showed low toxicity with anti-leishmanial and apoptosis effects on both promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms. Therefore, we may suggest further assessment on animal models of this drug as candidates for cutaneous leishmaniasis therapy.

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Combined Ensemble Docking and Machine Learning in Identification of Therapeutic Agents with Potential Inhibitory Effect on Human CES1

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24152747 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (15) ◽

pp. 2747 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eliane Briand ◽

Ragnar Thomsen ◽

Kristian Linnet ◽

Henrik Berg Rasmussen ◽

Søren Brunak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Drug Interactions ◽

Scoring Function ◽

Docking Study ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Learning Approaches ◽

Ensemble Docking ◽

Ic50 Values

The human carboxylesterase 1 (CES1), responsible for the biotransformation of many diverse therapeutic agents, may contribute to the occurrence of adverse drug reactions and therapeutic failure through drug interactions. The present study is designed to address the issue of potential drug interactions resulting from the inhibition of CES1. Based on an ensemble of 10 crystal structures complexed with different ligands and a set of 294 known CES1 ligands, we used docking (Autodock Vina) and machine learning methodologies (LDA, QDA and multilayer perceptron), considering the different energy terms from the scoring function to assess the best combination to enable the identification of CES1 inhibitors. The protocol was then applied on a library of 1114 FDA-approved drugs and eight drugs were selected for in vitro CES1 inhibition. An inhibition effect was observed for diltiazem (IC50 = 13.9 µM). Three others drugs (benztropine, iloprost and treprostinil), exhibited a weak CES1 inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 298.2 µM, 366.8 µM and 391.6 µM respectively. In conclusion, the binding site of CES1 is relatively flexible and can adapt its conformation to different types of ligands. Combining ensemble docking and machine learning approaches improves the prediction of CES1 inhibitors compared to a docking study using only one crystal structure.

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Effect of guaianolides in the meiosis reinitiation of amphibian oocytes

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199416000265 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 10-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Zapata-Martínez ◽

G. Sánchez-Toranzo ◽

F. Chaín ◽

C.A.N. Catalán ◽

M.I. Bühler

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Biological Molecules ◽

Plant Metabolites ◽

Major Mechanism ◽

Bufo Arenarum ◽

Asteraceae Family

SummarySesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are a large and structurally diverse group of plant metabolites generally found in the Asteraceae family. STLs exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities and it is generally accepted that their major mechanism of action is the alkylation of the thiol groups of biological molecules. The guaianolides is one of various groups of STLs. Anti-tumour and anti-migraine effects, an allergenic agent, an inhibitor of smooth muscle cells and of meristematic cell proliferation are only a few of the most commonly reported activities of STLs. In amphibians, fully grown ovarian oocytes are arrested at the beginning of meiosis I. Under stimulus with progesterone, this meiotic arrest is released and meiosis progresses to metaphase II, a process known as oocyte maturation. There are previous records of the inhibitory effect of dehydroleucodin (DhL), a guaianolide lactone, on the progression of meiosis. It has been also shown that DhL and its 11,13-dihydroderivative (2H-DhL; a mixture of epimers at C-11) act as blockers of the resumption of meiosis in fully grown ovarian oocytes from the amphibian Rhinella arenarum (formerly classified as Bufo arenarum). The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of four closely related guaianolides, i.e., DhL, achillin, desacetoxymatricarin and estafietin as possible inhibitors of meiosis in oocytes of amphibians in vitro and discuss some structure–activity relationships. It was found that the inhibitory effect on meiosis resumption is greater when the lactone has two potentially reactive centres, either a α,β–α′,β′-diunsaturated cyclopentanone moiety or an epoxide group plus an exo-methylene-γ-lactone function.

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In Vitro Study of Multi-Therapeutic Properties of Thymus bovei Benth. Essential Oil and Its Main Component for Promoting Their Use in Clinical Practice

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm7090283 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. 283 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Sherif Hassan ◽

Kateřina Berchová-Bímová ◽

Miroslava Šudomová ◽

Milan Malaník ◽

Karel Šmejkal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gas Chromatography ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Structural Parameters ◽

Antihypertensive Agents ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Main Component

Thymus bovei Benth. (TB) is an important plant in the traditional medicine of the Mediterranean region. This study investigates the health-promoting properties of TB essential oil (TB-EO) for its possible use in clinical practice with regards to its cytotoxic, anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and antihypertensive (through inhibition of human angiotensin-converting enzyme; ACE) properties. The phytochemical profile of EO (99.9%) was analyzed by Gas Chromatography with Flame-Ionization Detection (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In this study, all biological methods were performed at the level of in vitro studies. The results showed that TB-EO exerted remarked cytotoxic properties against human cervical carcinoma cells, colon cancer cells, and lung adenocarcinoma cells with the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 7.22, 9.30, and 8.62 µg/mL, respectively, in comparison with that of standard anticancer drug cisplatin with IC50 values of 4.24, 5.21, and 5.43 µg/mL, respectively. Fascinatingly, TB-EO showed very weak cytotoxicity on the healthy human fetal lung fibroblast cells with an IC50 value of 118.34 µg/mL compared with that of cisplatin (IC50 = 10.08 µg/mL). TB-EO, its main component geraniol, TB-EO combined with acyclovir (ACV) along with standard ACV, have displayed pronounced inhibitory properties against the replication of HSV-2 with the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values of 2.13, 1.92, 0.81 and 1.94 µg/mL, respectively, with corresponding selectivity indices (SI) 98.59, 109.38, 259.26 and 108.25, respectively. TB-EO and geraniol at a concentration of 15 µg/mL showed prominent inhibitory activities against ACE with % of inhibition 95.4% and 92.2%, respectively, compared with that of standard inhibitor captopril (99.8%; 15 µg/mL). Molecular docking studies were performed to unveil the mechanism of action of geraniol as well as structural parameters necessary for anti-HSV-2 activity (through the inhibition of HSV-2 protease) and ACE inhibition. This is the first report on the chemical composition of Egyptian TB-EO along with the above-mentioned biological activities. Our results may be considered as novel findings in the course of a search for new and active anticancer, anti-HSV-2 and antihypertensive agents, and expand the medicinal value of this plant and its phytochemicals in clinical practice.

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DETERMINATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY IN LEAVES AND FLOWERS OF CHROMOLAENA SCABRA (L. F.) R.M. KING AND H. ROB.

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2020.v13i9.38835 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 53-56

Author(s):

PAULA ALEJANDRA GIRALDO VILLAMIL ◽

ANDRÉS CAMILO ANDRADE BURBANO ◽

LUIS POMBO OSPINA ◽

JANETH ARIAS PALACIOS ◽

ÓSCAR EDUARDO RODRÍGUEZ AGUIRRE

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Petroleum Ether ◽

Petroleum Ether Extract ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Positive Control ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Bacteria And Fungi

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the antimicrobial activity of leaf and flower extract in Chromolaena scabra (L. f.) R.M. King and H. Rob., against selected strains of bacteria and fungi. Methods: The agar diffusion method with plate perforation was developed; the microorganisms used were strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium digitatum. Rifampicin was used as a positive control. The evaluation was performed by measuring the diameter of the growth inhibition zones around the holes. The inhibitory effect of the plant extracts was obtained by its efficiency compared to the positive control. A comparison with fluconazole and ketoconazole was performed to determine how much of the extract is required to cause inhibition of fungal growth from the standard. Results: IC50 was determined by relating the ln of mass evaluated with respect to the square of the inhibition halo; ethanolic extracts of leaves and flowers of petroleum ether with IC50 values of 85.8 mg/ml and 50.3 mg/ml showed the highest inhibitory effect against S. aureus; the extract of petroleum ether and ethanol from leaves with IC50 of 64 mg/ml and 60 mg/ml, respectively. They were effective with A. niger. Leaf petroleum ether extract showed the best relative antifungal activity against A. niger with respect to fluconazole equivalent to 459.51 when fluconazole is 1.0. Conclusion: The extracts with high potential to inhibit the growth of microorganisms were determined to be ether flowers of petroleum and ethanol leaf extracts.

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A new biological contribution of cyclo(His-Pro) to the peripheral inhibition of pancreatic secretion

AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism ◽

10.1152/ajpendo.1997.273.6.e1127 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 273 (6) ◽

pp. E1127-E1132 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Pascal Fragner ◽

Olivier Presset ◽

Nicole Bernad ◽

Jean Martinez ◽

Claude Roze ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pancreatic Secretion ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Systemic Circulation ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Pancreatic Acinar Cells ◽

Exocrine Pancreatic Secretion ◽

Amylase Release ◽

Pancreatic Acini

The tripeptide pyro-Glu-His-Pro-NH2[thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)] was isolated from the hypothalamus as a thyrotropin-releasing factor. It has a broad spectrum of central nervous system-mediated actions, including the stimulation of exocrine pancreatic secretion. TRH is also synthesized in the endocrine pancreas and found in the systemic circulation. Enzymatic degradation of TRH in vivo produces other bioactive peptides such as cyclo(His-Pro). Because of the short half-life of TRH and the stability of cyclo(His-Pro) in vivo, we postulated that at least part of the peripheral TRH effects on the exocrine pancreatic secretion may be attributed to cyclo(His-Pro), which has been shown to have other biological activities. This study determines in parallel the peripheral effects of TRH and cyclo(His-Pro) as well as the putative contribution of other TRH-related peptides on exocrine pancreatic secretion in rats. TRH and its metabolite cyclo(His-Pro) dose dependently inhibited 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG)-stimulated pancreatic secretion. TRH and all the related peptides tested had no effect on the basal and cholecystokinin-stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acinar cells in vitro. These data indicate that cyclo(His-Pro) mimics the peripheral inhibitory effect of TRH on 2-DG-stimulated exocrine pancreatic secretion. This effect is not detected on isolated pancreatic acini. Our findings provide a new biological contribution for cyclo(His-Pro) with potential experimental and clinical applications.

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Momilactones A, B, and Tricin in Rice Grain and By-Products are Potential Skin Aging Inhibitors

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods8120602 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 602 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nguyen Van Quan ◽

Dam Duy Thien ◽

Tran Dang Khanh ◽

Hoang-Dung Tran ◽

Tran Dang Xuan

Keyword(s):

Liquid Chromatography ◽

High Performance ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Skin Aging ◽

Ionization Mass ◽

Rice Grain ◽

Synergistic Activity ◽

Ic50 Values

We previously reported the inhibitory potentials of momilactones A (MA) and B (MB) against key enzymes related to type 2 diabetes and obesity. In this study, antioxidant and anti-skin-aging activities of MA and MB were investigated and compared with tricin, a well-known antioxidant and antiaging flavonoid in rice. MA, MB, and tricin were purified from rice husk by column chromatography and their biological activities were subsequently assayed by in vitro trials. The contents of MA, MB, and tricin of different commercial rice cultivars in Japan were quantified and confirmed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The antioxidant assays revealed a synergistic activity of the mixture MA and MB (MAB, 1:1, v/v). In addition, in 2,2’-azino-bis (ABTS) assay, IC50 values of MAB (0.3 mg/mL) and tricin (0.3 mg/mL) was 4-fold and 9-fold greater than that of individual MB (1.3 mg/mL) or MA (2.8 mg/mL), respectively. The in vitro enzymatic assays on pancreatic elastase and tyrosinase indicated that MA and MB were potential to relief skin wrinkles and freckles. In detail, MA exerted higher inhibition on both enzymatic activities (30.9 and 37.6% for elastase and tyrosinase inhibition, respectively) than MB (18.5 and 12.6%) and MAB (32.0 and 19.7%) at a concentration of 2.0 mg/mL. Notably, MA and the mixture MAB exhibited stronger inhibitions on elastase and tyrosinase in comparison with tricin and vanillin. MA, MB, and tricin in rice are potential to develop cosmetics as well as supplements for skin aging treatments.

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Biological and Computational Studies for Dual Cholinesterases Inhibitory Effect of Zerumbone

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12051215 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1215 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jayeong Hwang ◽

Kumju Youn ◽

Yeongseon Ji ◽

Seonah Lee ◽

Gyutae Lim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Docking Simulation ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Potential Effect ◽

Van Der Waals Interactions ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

Computational Docking ◽

In Silico Docking ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Physiological Benefits

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) mediate the degradation of acetylcholine (ACh), a primary neurotransmitter in the brain. Cholinergic deficiency occurs during the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), resulting in widespread cognitive dysfunction and decline. We evaluated the potential effect of a natural cholinesterase inhibitor, zerumbone, using in vitro target enzyme assays, as well as in silico docking and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) simulation. Zerumbone showed a predominant cholinesterase inhibitory property with IC50 values of 2.74 ± 0.48 µM and 4.12 ± 0.42 µM for AChE and BChE, respectively; however, the modes of inhibition were different. Computational docking simulation indicated that Van der Waals interactions between zerumbone and both the cholinesterases were the main forces responsible for its inhibitory effects. Furthermore, zerumbone showed the best physicochemical properties for both bioavailability and blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability. Together, in the present study, zerumbone was clearly identified as a unique dual AChE and BChE inhibitor with high permeability across the BBB, suggesting a strong potential for its physiological benefits and/or pharmacological efficacy in the prevention of AD.

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