ABSTRACT
Cholinesterase of living cells is a sensitive enzyme to artificial and natural toxins (Augustinsson et a l, 1963; Budantsev, 2005; Budantsev and Roshchina, 2005). The enzyme similar to sensitive cholinesterase of animals, is found in plants and microorganisms (Roshchina, 2001). Moreover, it is also used a bioreactor for determination of pesticides (Botreef al, 1994). Many allelochemicals, especially pharmaceutical alkaloids, demonstrate the pesticidal characteristics, affecting cholinesterases of plants and animals (Narahashi, 1979; Ulrichova et al., 1983; Atta-urRahman et al, 2001; Roshchina, 2004). The phenomenon is also of interest to understand the allelopathic mechanisms of growth regulation, in particular the acetylcholinesterase stimulates the growth reactions of animals (Stemfeld et al, 1998). These effects may be analyzed using the biotests based on the preparation from either animal or plant cells as well as from pure commercial enzyme cholinesterase (Evtugin et al., 1999). Biotests based on animal and plants cholinesterases to determine alkaloids (known as allelochemicals), pharmaceuticals and pesticides are given in this chapter.
