Cited by 111Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative DiseasesAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsMedicinal Plants and Neuroprotection

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 164 of the 167 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 3 of the 141 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Potential of Various Sesquiterpene Analogues for Alzheimer’s Disease Therapy

Open access
Arya, Ashwani, Chahal, Rubal, Rao, Rekha, Rahman, Md. Habibur, Kaushik, Deepak, Akhtar, Muhammad Furqan, Saleem, Ammara, Khalifa, Shaden M. A., El-Seedi, Hesham R., Kamel, Mohamed, Albadrani, Ghadeer M., Abdel-Daim, Mohamed M., Mittal, Vineet·2021·Biomolecules

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a gradually growing irreversible illness of the brain that almost affects every fifth person (aged > 80 years) in the world. World Health Organization (WHO) also revealed that the prevalence of this disease will enhance (upto double) significantly upto 2030. The poor cholinergic transmission at the synapse is considered to be one of the main reasons behind the progression and occurrence of this disorder. Natural inhibitors of acetylcholine (ACh) such as galanthamine and rivastigmine are used commercially in the treatmentof AD. The biomolecules such assesquiterpenes, possess a great structural diversity and are responsible for a plethora of pharmacological properties. The potential of various sesquiterpenes as anticholinesterase has been reviewed in this article. For this purpose, the various databases, mainly PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were investigatedwith different keywords such as “sesquiterpenes+acetylcholinesterase” and “sesquiterpenes+cholinesterase+inhibitors” in the surveyed time frame (2010–2020). A vast literature was evident in the last decade, which affirms the potential of various sesquiterpenes in the improvement of cholinergic transmission by inhibiting the AChE. After data analysis, it was found that 12 compounds out of a total of 58 sesquiterpenes were reported to possess IC50 < 9 μM and can be considered as potential candidates for the improvement of learning and memory. Sesquiterpene is an important category of terpenoids, found to possess a large spectrum of biological activities. The outcome of the review clearly states that sesquiterpenes (such as amberboin, lipidiol, etc.) from herbs could offer fresh, functional compounds for possible prevention and treatment of AD.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This narrative review surveys sesquiterpenes and sesquiterpene-containing extracts as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease, drawing on literature from 2010–2020. It reports that 12 of 58 sesquiterpenes had AChE IC50 <9 µM and highlights amberboin and lipidiol as promising leads, while noting assay and safety caveats.

Key findings

  • Across 58 sesquiterpenes reviewed, 12 had AChE IC50 <9 µM and were considered potential candidates for improving learning and memory.
  • Amberboin and lipidiol from *Volutaria abyssinica* inhibited AChE with IC50 = 0.8 ± 0.03 µM and 0.5 ± 0.01 µM, respectively; amberboin also inhibited BChE (IC50 = 0.6 ± 0.13 µM), compared with galanthamine (AChE IC50 = 3 ± 0.2 µM; BChE IC50 = 47 ± 1 µM).
  • Volvalerenic acid K had in vitro AChE IC50 = 0.16 µM and improved learning/memory in APPswe/PS1E9 mice; Huperzine-A showed reversible AChE inhibition (IC50 = 22 µM) and is described as the only sesquiterpene alkaloid clinically established and USFDA-approved for AD.
  • Sesquiterpenes were also linked to alternate AD targets: Stigmene A and B reduced Aβ aggregation by 82.9 ± 2.52% and 70.1 ± 3.01% vs 69.8 ± 1.55% for positive control; bilobalide antagonized GABA_A receptors (IC50 = 4.6 ± 0.5 µM); nootkatone and ambrosin reduced NF-κβp65 expression.

Methods

  • Narrative review; PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched with keywords “sesquiterpenes+acetylcholinesterase” and “sesquiterpenes+cholinesterase+inhibitors” for 2010–2020.
  • Synthesized studies on sesquiterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, coumarins, agarofuran, and alkaloids; AChE inhibition was commonly assessed by Ellman’s method, with some docking and in vivo mouse studies.
  • Qualitative synthesis; the paper reports counting 58 sesquiterpenes and identifying 12 with IC50 <9 µM.

Limitations

  • Stated: IC50 alone should not determine anti-Alzheimer potential; Ellman assays with carbonyl-containing compounds can produce false positives; most plant actives were not evaluated for unwanted side effects; animal-model and clinical confirmation are needed; galliardin has cytotoxic properties.
  • Evident: as a narrative review, it lacks a formal systematic protocol, explicit inclusion/exclusion criteria, risk-of-bias assessment, or meta-analysis; evidence is heterogeneous (in vitro IC50 values, essential-oil mixtures, docking, and mouse models) and IC50 units vary (µM, µg/mL, mg/mL).
  • Evident: many compounds are discussed without blood-brain barrier permeability, bioavailability, or toxicity data, though the paper notes lipophilicity may aid bioavailability and calls for toxicological profiling.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3390/biom11030350

Cites

164 of 164 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Acetylcholine (Ach) transmission through synapse (cholinergic transmission) and action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) on acetylcholine. ACh: acetylcholine; AChE: acetylcholinesterase; PAS: peripheral anionic site; CAS:catalytic active site; TRY: tryptophan; SER: serine; HIS: histidine; GLU: glutamate.
Figure 1 Acetylcholine (Ach) transmission through synapse (cholinergic transmission) and action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) on acetylcholine. ACh: acetylcholine; AChE: acetylcholinesterase; PAS: peripheral anionic site; CAS:catalytic active site; TRY: tryptophan; SER: serine; HIS: histidine; GLU: glutamate.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 Various sesquiterpenoids moieties with AChE/BChE inhibitory potential.
Figure 2 Various sesquiterpenoids moieties with AChE/BChE inhibitory potential.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 Sesquiterpene lactones/their derivatives for AChE inhibition.
Figure 3 Sesquiterpene lactones/their derivatives for AChE inhibition.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 Structure of miscellaneous sesquiterpenes found effective against acetylcholinesterase.
Figure 4 Structure of miscellaneous sesquiterpenes found effective against acetylcholinesterase.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Percentage of various categories of sesquiterpenes with AChE inhibitory potential.
Figure 5 Percentage of various categories of sesquiterpenes with AChE inhibitory potential.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

102 Not checked yet · 18 Own interpretation · 13 No basis given · 2 Partly supported · 1 Own result · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 138 references — free account

Show all 58 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 22
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 62
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
78 of 78
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    An IC50 below 9 μM is an appropriate threshold for considering a sesquiterpene a potential candidate for improving learning and memory.

    “After data analysis, it was found that 12 compounds out of a total of 58 sesquiterpenes were reported to possess IC50 < 9 μM and can be considered as potential candidates for the improvement of learning and memory.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In vitro AChE inhibition by a sesquiterpene is sufficient to indicate potential for treating AD or improving learning and memory.

    “The outcome of the review clearly states that sesquiterpenes (such as amberboin, lipidiol, etc.) from herbs could offer fresh, functional compounds for possible prevention and treatment of AD.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Molecular docking scores predict binding affinity and AChE inhibitory activity.

    “Docking study of both compounds confirms the affinity of them towards the active sites of AChE, which indicated inhibitory activity against AChE at IC50 = 0.8 ± 0.03 µM and 0.5 ± 0.01 µM, respectively.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    AChE lyses acetylcholine at a very fast rate, up to 10,000 molecules per second.

    “AChE is assumed to lyse the acetylcholine at a very fast rate (up to 10,000 molecules per second).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Structural features such as double bonds at C1–10, C3–4, and C11–12 with a ketone group at C2 increase AChE inhibitory activity.

    “this property might be attributed to its structural configuration where two double bonds at C1–10 and C3–4 and C11–12with a ketone group at C2 are supposed to increase the inhibitory activity.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In vitro AChE inhibitory activity of sesquiterpenes predicts clinical efficacy in Alzheimer's disease.

    “Therefore, it was observed that the agarofuran compounds isolated from the aerial parts of Maytenus disticha and seeds of Maytenus boaria have good signs for their further use in the treatment of AD or as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Agarofuran compounds have low toxicity.

    “It was concluded from the above-cited examples that the selective inhibitory potential of agarofuran compounds for AChE and low toxicity might lead to the development of novel therapeutic agents for possible AD management.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Findings from animal models of AD translate to humans.

    “This study confirmed that ARD, HDS, and PDA, the constituents of H. brasiliense, are efficient in inhibiting the cognitive deficits of animals and may be used in treating AD.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    AChE inhibition is a valid therapeutic strategy that delays AD progression and relieves AD-associated symptoms.

    “Improvement in cholinergic transmission by inhibiting the AChE was considered to delay the AD progression and relieve the AD-associated symptoms.”
9 of 9

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 167 references

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Metadata

Authors
Arya, A., Chahal, R., Rao, R., Rahman, M. H., Kaushik, D., Akhtar, M. F., Saleem, A., Khalifa, S. M. A., El-Seedi, H. R., Kamel, M., Albadrani, G. M., Abdel-Daim, M. M., & Mittal, V.
Affiliations
  • Maharshi Dayanand University (IN)
  • Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (IN)
  • Yonsei University (KR)
  • Riphah International University (PK)
  • Government College University, Faisalabad (PK)
  • Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
  • Jiangsu University (CN)
  • Cairo University (EG)
  • Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (SA)
  • Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
Corresponding author
Mittal, Vineet
Venue
Biomolecules
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2021-02-25
Volume
11
Issue
3
Pages
350
ISSN
2218-273X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3133291488
Cited by
111
References
167
Citations by year
2026: 15 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 9
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Biomolecules (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Uppsala University Publications (Uppsala University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (Fast-track Research Funding Program.)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Cholinesterase and Neurodegenerative Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plants and Neuroprotection
Keywords
sesquiterpenes, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, Alzheimer's disease, cholinergic neurotransmission, anticholinesterase activity, terpenoids, learning and memory, natural product drug candidates
MeSH terms
Rivastigmine, Acetylcholinesterase, Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Cholinesterase Inhibitors, Galantamine, Humans, Sesquiterpenes

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-10-10, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).

A second model labelled each claim on 2026-10-10 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).

Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review