Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Marine Sponges Against Cholinesterase and 5α-Reductase
June 2019
TLDR Marine sponges from Tabuhan Island can inhibit enzymes linked to Alzheimer's and hair loss.
The study evaluated 15 methanolic extracts of marine sponges from Tabuhan Island, Indonesia, for their cholinesterase and 5α-reductase inhibitory activities. Petrosia sp. showed 61.21% inhibition of 5α-reductase at 100 µg/mL, close to finasteride's 76.70%. Three sponges, Callyspongia sp., Niphates olemda, and Agelas nakamurai, exhibited significant cholinesterase inhibition, with A. nakamurai having the highest potency (IC50 = 1.05 µg/mL). These sponges inhibited both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), with N. olemda showing higher AChE inhibition. Chemical analysis indicated the presence of terpenes and alkaloids, warranting further investigation to identify the active metabolites.