Erıca arborea L. bitkisinin asetilkolinesteraz aktivitesinin ve antioksidan kapasitesinin belirlenmesi

Erica arborea L., also known as "wild heather", is an evergreen shrub that grows between one and seven meters tall. It has dark green, needle-shaped leaves and numerous white, bell-shaped flowers. It exhibits antioxidant activity, as it can produce certain phytochemicals, such as flavonoids and phenolic molecules. It has been used in traditional medicine to promote urination and reduce inflammation. In this context, the current study investigates the plant's acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity and antioxidant capacity. For this reason, the ethanolic extract was prepared from the dried aerial parts of the plant, and FRAP, DPPH, total flavonoid content, and total phenolic content were determined to identify these activities of the plant. 50, 100, 150, and 200 μg/mL concentrations were tested for the activity assays. The IC50 value for DPPH free radical scavenging activity was determined to be 82.09719 μg/mL. At 0.1 mg/mL, the extract showed a gallic acid equivalent phenolic content of 5.72 μg/mL. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory action was determined employing the Ellman method, with IC50 calculated as 0.5285±0.025 mg/mL. The cytotoxic and antitumor effects of Erica arborea extract were also evaluated on multiple models (L929, HUVEC, and U87M cells) using the MTT assay. The extract successfully reduced the viability of U87MG cells through selective cytotoxicity, while proliferative responses were observed in both L929 and HUVEC cells. Due to its selective properties, which show low toxicity to non-neuronal cell types, Erica arborea can be a suitable option for targeted cytotoxicity, an admirable source for the production of antioxidant agents, natural source for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Keywords: Erica arborea, Acetylcholinesterase, Antioxidant activity, Alzheimer's disease, Cytotoxicity, DPPH, FRAP, Neurodegenerative diseases.