Analysis of the anticholinesterase activity of extracts of Pyrus Malus L

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative illness that affects a large proportion of the world's population. The pathogenesis is based on progressive psychomotor and cognitive neurodegeneration mainly in the hippocampus and frontal cortex whose biochemical basis is believed to be the extracellular deposition of the β-amyloid peptide in senile plaques and the consequent formation of abnormal intracellular neurofibrils. Intracellularly the decrease in cholinergic synapses is a notable factor in the development of the disease. Numerous studies have been carried out in order to discover potential drug candidates for the treatment of this neurodegenerative disorder among which acetylcholinesterase inhibitors stand out. The aim of this study was therefore to understand the possible anticholinesterase action of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of Pyrus malus L. based on spectrophotometric analysis and to identify the possible agents of this activity.