About Our Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Testing (Anti-Alzheimer)
VISBIO Co., Ltd. offers acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition testing for all types of products in the health and beauty, food and beverage, and pharmaceutical industries.
The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia continues to rise, a growing concern for consumers and health-industry businesses alike. Manufacturers and brand owners are looking for opportunities to develop effective products that support brain health and help delay the onset of dementia. One mechanism that has attracted particular interest is the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), the enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), which is essential for nervous system function. AChE inhibition testing is therefore a key step in screening and evaluating natural or synthetic active compounds with the potential to be developed into dietary supplements, drugs or other brain-health products.
The Role of Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in signaling between nerve cells in the brain and the peripheral nervous system. ACh is involved in learning, memory, muscle movement and the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.
In dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, ACh levels in the brain are significantly reduced, and this reduction is associated with the severity of symptoms such as problems with memory, thinking, decision-making and behavior. ACh declines for several reasons, including degeneration of the nerve cells that produce ACh and the breakdown of ACh by AChE. Inhibiting AChE is therefore an important strategy for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, helping to relieve symptoms and slow their progression.
Extracts and Synthetic Compounds with AChE-Inhibitory Potential
Many natural and synthetic active compounds have been shown to inhibit AChE effectively.
- Plant extracts: many plant extracts have been studied, for example:
Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Studies have found that curcumin can inhibit the formation of β-amyloid plaques, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin binds to these plaques and reduces their size, both in animal models (in vivo) and under controlled laboratory conditions (in vitro). This binding helps prevent β-amyloid from aggregating into larger, more harmful structures and may therefore help reduce the neurodegeneration associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
Studies have also discussed curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which contribute to its neuroprotective effects. By reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, curcumin may help protect nerve cell function and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Ginkgo leaf extract (Ginkgo biloba) has neuroprotective and antioxidant properties that may help reduce brain damage in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological disorders. Ginkgo leaf extract contains compounds such as flavonoids and terpenoids with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may help reduce β-amyloid accumulation and protect brain cells from damage. Ginkgo leaf extract has also been reported to improve blood flow in the brain and to have positive effects on memory and cognitive performance.
- Synthetic compounds: Most drugs currently used to treat Alzheimer’s disease are synthetic AChE inhibitors, such as donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine. Their structures are designed to bind specifically to cholinesterase enzymes, including AChE.
The study and development of natural and synthetic AChE inhibitors remains an important research focus, with the aim of delivering more effective and safer options for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Assay Method
AChE inhibitory activity is evaluated with the Amplex Red Acetylcholine/Acetylcholinesterase Assay Kit, a widely used method for measuring AChE inhibition. In this assay, the prepared sample is reacted with the AChE enzyme and acetylcholine (ACh) substrate in a transparent 96-well plate. After incubation, the detection reagent is added and the enzyme kinetics are measured quantitatively with a microplate reader. The sample’s ability to inhibit AChE is then determined by calculating the percentage inhibition from the slope of the kinetic curve.
Applications and Benefits in Product Development
Test results can be applied as follows:
- Screen active ingredients: Select the extracts or synthetic compounds with the greatest potential to inhibit AChE
- Develop formulations: Determine a suitable concentration of the active ingredient in the product
- Evaluate product efficacy: Test the developed product to confirm its AChE-inhibitory activity
- Support marketing: Use scientific data to communicate the product’s efficacy to consumers
Benefits of AChE Inhibition Testing for Businesses
- Strengthen product credibility and confidence with reliable scientific data
- Differentiate your product and add value
- Meet the needs of consumers who care about brain health
- Reduce the risk of developing ineffective products
Literature:
- Talesa, V. N. (2001). Acetylcholinesterase in Alzheimer’s disease. Mechanism of Ageing and Development, 122(16), 1961-1969.
- Singh SK, Srivastav S, Castellani RJ, Plascencia-Villa G, Perry G. (2019). Neuroprotective and Antioxidant Effect of Ginkgo biloba Extract Against AD and Other Neurological Disorders, Neurotherapeutics. 2019 Jul; 16(3): 666–674.
- Ringman, J. M., Frautschy, S. A., Cole, G. M., Masterman, D. L., & Cummings, J. L. (2005). A potential role of the curry spice curcumin in Alzheimer’s disease. Current Alzheimer Research, 2(2), 131-136.
- Murray, A. P., Faraoni, M. B., Castro, M. J., Alza, N. P., & Cavallaro, V. (2013). Natural AChE inhibitors from plants and their contribution to Alzheimer’s disease therapy. Current Neuropharmacology, 11(4), 388-413.
- Birks, J. (2006). Cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews