Vitexin, Isovitexin and Other Biochemical Constituent of Ficus Deltoidea Leaf Extract in 80% Methanol Inhibits Cholinesterase Enzymes on Javanese Medaka (Oryzias Javanicus) Model

More than 80% of people in the developing countries rely on phytomedicine for primary healthcare in both human and livestock. Traditionally, herbal medicinal practice and treatment of cognitive disorders or neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other memory-related disorders have been achieved with numerous plant products. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anticholinesterase properties of Ficus deltoidea leaf extract in 80% methanol on Javanese medaka.

Ficus deltoidea leaf was extracted with 80% methanol. Crude extract was then evaluated for toxicity effect on adult Javanese medaka. The neuroprotective effect of the crude extract was also evaluated using anticholinesterase assay. Identification of phytochemical constituents were carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LCMS) techniques.

Results disclosed low toxicity effect of the crude extract with LC50 of 59.34 ± 0.1 (Sub-acute toxicity test) and 44.67 ± 0.7 (Chronic toxicity test). High anti-cholinesterase activities with significant differences at p<0.001 was recorded in this study. Vitexin and isovitexin were identified in the crude extract using HPLC and LCMS.

This study shows that Ficus deltoidea has high neuroprotective potential due to the high vitexin, isovitexin and several other bioactive components that are yet to be identified. Hence, it could be developed and used as new neuroprotective supplement/herbal product.