The extract samples, catechin dilutions and blanks (with methanol) were incubated for 15?min. and 279.99?g?mL?1, respectively). The highest levels of Rabbit Polyclonal to PDXDC1 phenolics and condensed tannins were found in the seed extract (1564.88 molGAE g-1extract and 170.00 molcE g-1extract, respectively) whereas the leaf extract was the richest in flavonoids (139.88 molQE g-1extract). HPLC-DAD analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids) in the leaf and pulp extracts. A high correlation was found between the total condensed tannins content and the antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities, suggesting these compounds are responsible for the biological activity of the extracts. Overall, our results indicate that extracts may provide a new and alternate source of brokers for medical and industrial applications. L. (Arecaceae) is usually a dwarf palm that grows around the European Mediterranean coast and in North Africa (Dufa? and Anstett 2004). is the most northerly palm species in Europe and is also one of the most cold-tolerant (Giovino et al. 2014). The species is usually cultivated in many Mediterranean countries as an ornamental because it is usually strong and has decorative characteristics. Moreover, some components of the herb are consumed as food and used in traditional medicine. The husk (higa) is usually eaten in southern Spain, the fruits in Morocco and the young suckers in Italy (Merlo et al. 1993; Haynes and Mc-Laughlin 2000). In Algeria, the spadices and the heart of the palm are used to treat several disorders of the digestive tract (Hasnaoui et al. 2013), whereas the leaves used in Morocco and Algeria for the treatment of diabetes (Bnouham et al. 2002; Hasnaoui et al. 2013), and the fruits used in several countries as an astringent agent due to their bitterness (Merlo et al. 1993). The phytochemical properties of are not well characterized although several studies have reported the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, and terpenoids, which may explain its pharmacological effects (Benmehdi et al. 2012; Benahmed-Bouhafsoun et al. 2013; Hasnaoui et al. 2013). A more recent study showed that seed oil Diosgenin glucoside is usually rich in bioactive compounds that are resistant to Diosgenin glucoside warmth and oxidation (Nehdi et al. 2014). Leaf extracts also possess antioxidant activity and the ability to inhibit lipoxygenase (Benahmed-Bouhafsoun et al. 2013; Miguel et al. 2014). Neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimers disease (AD) and Parkinsons disease (PD), are major health problems especially in industrialized countries (Metzler-Baddeley 2007; Uc and Rizzo 2008). The pathogenesis of AD includes the depletion of acetylcholine in Diosgenin glucoside the brain, and cholinomimetic drugs are therefore used to temporarily improve cognitive function (Francis et al. 1999). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitors are widely used for the treatment of AD because they slow down the rate of acetylcholine depletion. Tyrosinase (TYR), an enzyme that converts l-tyrosine to l-DOPA and oxidizes l-DOPA to form dopachrome, induces the production of melanin (Seo et al. 2003). This pigment helps to prevent UV damage to the skin, hair and eyes, but excess production is usually associated with hyperpigmentation and neurodegenerative disorders such as PD. TYR is also responsible for browning in fruits and vegetables and therefore TYR inhibitors are frequently applied to plant-based foods. Issues over the toxicity and side effects of synthetic inhibitors of these enzymes have led to the search for safe and effective inhibitors of natural origin (Zengin et al. 2015). Oxidative stress is also involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and other chronic diseases, but progression can be delayed by minimizing redox imbalances that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants scavenge ROS and other free radicals and therefore plants rich in antioxidants could help to reduce the impact of age-related chronic diseases (Krishnaih et al. 2007). Recent investigations have focused on the identification of plants rich in natural products that scavenge ROS and inhibit enzymes, because these may provide a natural therapeutic approach to prevent or manage diseases such as AD and PD. The.
