Heracleum maximum (HM), commonly known as cow parsnip, is a plant native to North America. Historically, it has been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples to treat a plethora of ailments including topical application to sores and bruises and upset stomach.<br/>HM is rich in furanocoumarins, a class of compounds well known for having a myriad of biochemical properties. These properties include stimulation of melanogenesis, inhibition of cytochrome P450 enzymes, toxicity and phototoxicity. The purpose of this study was to extract the seeds of HM with different solvents and evaluate these extracts for inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, since this enzyme has been linked to the progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. The cholinesterase activity in these extracts was evaluated using Ellman’s assay which is the most commonly used method to examine the cholinesterase activity. Results of this study will be presented.

Evaluation of Heracleum maximum extracts as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors

2019 Spring National Meeting

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