Anticholinesterase and Anti-inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils of Naturally Grown Daucus L. Species in Turkey

Objective: This present study was conducted to determine the interspecific chemical variability and evaluate the biological effects of the essential oils of Daucus L. species growing naturally in Turkey. The species were D. carota, D. broteri, D. guttatus, D. littoralis, D. involucratus and D. conchitae (endemic).Methods: The essential oils were obtained from fruit samples by distillation method and were analyzed both by GC-FID and GC-MS. The anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase effects of the essential oils were investigated. The anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated by in vitro LOX enzyme inhibition activity. The anticholinesterase effect was tested on AChE and BChE enzymes. Results: The components, ratios, and yields of D. carota essential oils differed depending on the locations where the samples were collected. The main components were detected as carotol (1-74.6%), 13-bisabolen (0.9-62.4%), 11 alpha H-himachal-4-en-113- ol (0.3-49.4%), trans-methylisoeugenol (1-45.7%). The main volatile compounds were found in D. broteri, D. guttatus, D. involucratus, D. littoralis, D. conchitae as 13-sinensal (30.4%), methyleugenol (30.5%), methyleugenol (40.9%), alpha-humulene (29.4%), methyleugenol (29.6%) respectively. The essential oils didn't exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Two essential oil samples of D. carota showed high anticholinesterase effects compared to the standard. The AChE IC50 was calculated as 6.04 +/- 0.30 mu g/mL, 2.15 +/- 0.10 mu g/mL (Galantamine IC50 1.13 +/- 0.02 mu g/mL) and BChEIC50 11.32 +/- 0.20 mu g/mL, 31.03 +/- 0.02 mu g/mL (Galantamine IC50 12.15 +/- 0.36 mu g/mL). These essential oils contained high levels of 11 alpha H-himachal-4-en-113-ol (25.04%, 49.42%).Conclusion: Because of their anticholinesterase potential, some D. carote essential oils can be evaluated in the preparation of pharmaceutical or nutraceutical products as a complementary therapy for Alzheimer's disease by standardizing their components.