Cassia tora prevents Aβ 1-42 aggregation, inhibits acetylcholinesterase activity and protects against Aβ 1-42 -induced cell death and oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma cells

Alzheimer's is a complex neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by extraneuronal accumulation of β-amyloid peptide. Because of its complex nature, multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) are increasingly being considered as promising anti-Alzheimer therapeutic agents. This study is aimed at determining the effects of Cassia tora ethyl acetate fraction on several Alzheimer-associated deleterious events in test tubes as well as in human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y cell lines. Ethyl acetate fraction of C. tora was purified by chromatography, characterized by H and C NMR, and tested for its ability to prevent Aβ aggregation by thioflavin-T fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. We also analyzed the intracellular ROS level and cytotoxicity in SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y cell lines. The extract inhibits the formation of Aβ aggregation from monomers and oligomers, as also acetylcholinesterase activity, Aβ -induced cell death, and Aβ -dependent intracellular ROS production in both SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y cells. In-depth chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of the extract revealed that the active molecules are most likely triglycerides of oleic acid (C H O ). We demonstrate for the first time that Cassia tora fraction prevents Aβ aggregation, inhibits acetylcholinesterase and alleviates Aβ -induced oxidative stress in human neuroblastoma cells. We further suggest the possible use of triglycerides of oleic acid as efficient anti-Alzheimer agents.