ABSTRACT
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are an important therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AChE hydrolyzes a neurotransmitter acetyl-choline in choline and acetate, which reduces the amount of acetylcholine. The inhibition of AChE has been studied for a long time not only for AD but also in anxiety treatment. There are some plants with an inhibitory effect on AChE that can be used as an adjuvant in AD in dietary supplements. Extracts from Cucurbita pepo L., Solanum melongena L., and Spinacia oleracea L. contain a considerable number of compounds with inhibition effect on AChE. Evernic acid, usnic acid, atranorin, and vulpinic acid are plant growth inhibitors from Umbilicaria esculenta. Thus, plants seem to be a potential alternative to become a valuable nutraceutical source for the preparation of functional food. The purpose of this chapter consists on describe a great variety of plants with the inhibitory effect on AChE and to provide a broad view of their applications. The fact that naturally occurring compounds from plants are a potential source of new inhibitors has led to the discovery of an essential number of secondary metabolites and plant extracts with the ability to inhibit the enzyme AChE.
