Biological Activities of the Methanol Extracts of Smyrnium connatum Boiss. and Kotschy

Smyrnium connatum Boiss. and Kotschy is known as "yabani kereviz" in Turkey and its roots are used to treat asthma. Smyrnium species are used by people in different regions as diuretic, depurative and laxative. The aim of this analysis was to test the biological activities of methanol extracts obtained from aerial parts and roots of S. connatum using a Soxhlet extractor, ultrasonic assisted extraction, and maceration procedures. The extracts of S. connatum aerial parts and roots were tested for their acetylcholinesterase, butrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities, radical scavenging activity, and iron chelating activities at various concentration using microplate reader. In this study, significant differences were found in acetylcholinesterase, and butrylcholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant determinations between plant extracts prepared using different extraction methods. S. connatum aerial parts generally was detected to be more active in terms of antioxidant activity assay. S. connatum aerial parts and roots showed high inhibition activity against both cholinesterase enzymes. All extracts showed moderate inhibitory activity against tyrosinase. The biological activity of the aerial parts of S. connatum was generally found to be more active than roots of S. connatum. It was assumed that the determination of enzyme inhibitor and antioxidant capacity of the plant had remarkable potentials on the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.