Apigenin and Kaempferol from Ficus benjamina Leaves as Potential Inhibitors of Enzymes Relevant to Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology: An In Silico and In Vitro Study

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. In this report, we identified and evaluated polyphenol constituents from the leaves of Ficus benjamina, targeting enzymes relevant to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease. Polyphenols were extracted from the leaves of F. benjamina, subjected to LC-MS and GC-MS analyses. The constituents were subjected to In Silico analyses, targeting acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BUChE), and beta-secretase 1 (BACE1). In vitro antioxidant (ferrous ion-chelating, copper reducing antioxidant, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity), and enzyme inhibitory (AChE, BUChE, and BACE1) assays, were performed using standard procedures. In silico analysis revealed that Apigenin and Kaempferol showed strong functional interactions with AChE, BUChE, and BACE1. Apigenin and Kaempferol showed potent antioxidant capacity with IC₅₀ values of 76.82 ± 0.95 µg/ml and 38.85 ± 0.68 µg/ml (Metal chelating assay); 63.77 ± 2.19 and 81.53 ± 2.54 mg AAE/g (FRAP assay); 166.90 ± 5.02 and 216.28 ± 8.20 mg AAE/g (Total antioxidant capacity); and 64.96 ± 0.80 and 86.09 ± 1.27 mg TE/g (CUPRAC assay) respectively. They also significantly inhibited AChE, BUChE, and BACE1 with IC₅₀ values of 42.67 ± 0.76 µg/ml and 46.76 ± 0.61 µM (Apigenin) respectively. The evaluation of Apigenin and Kaempferol from F. benjamina confirmed their potential usefulness in Alzheimer’s conditions, and this could be due to their inhibitory action against the functional activities of AChE, BUChE, and BACE1.