Determination of chemical content, antioxidant activity, and acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition properties of poppy plant (Papaver somniferum L.)

The main purpose of this study is to determine the biochemical properties of the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum L.) within the scope of determination of phenolic compound contents, determination of antioxidant activities and acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition. ABTS radical scavenging activity, DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity, FRAP (ferric ions reducing power), and CUPRAC (cupric ions reducing capacity) in vitro bioanalytical methods were evaluated to determine the antioxidant activities of the poppy plant (Papaver somniferum L.). In antioxidant studies, the results were compared with the standard antioxidants such as BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene), ascorbic acid (vitamin C), and α-tocopherol (vitamin E). In this study, it was determined that ethanol extracts of poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) plant showed moderate effects on ABTS radical scavenging activities, DPPH radical scavenging activities, cupric (Cu2+) ions reducing power and ferric (Fe3+) reducing power activities. Inhibition of the AChE (acetylcholinesterase) enzyme was discussed. According to the results of the study, the plant extracts showed low inhibition of the AChE (acetylcholinesterase) enzyme. Also, phenolic compound determinations of plant samples were carried out using HPLC. A large amount of phenolic compounds were detected in the ethanol extract of the poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) plant. Abscisic acid was found to be the most abundant major compound in the all parts of the plant.Also, myricetin was found to be the secondmajor compounds in the three parts of the plant except the capsule part, whereas kaempherol was the second major compound for the capsule part. AutoDock Vina computational programme was used to measure in silico molecular docking interaction of AChE enzyme with the major phenolic compounds of the poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) plant which are abscisic, myricetin, and kaempherol. The binding energy scores of the abscisic acid, myricetin, and kaempherol compounds with AChE were calculated -7.9 kcal/mol, -9.2 kcal/mol, and -9.3 kcal/mol, whereas -8.7 kcal/mol was measured for the standard tacrine. In this study, the antioxidant activities of the root, stem, leaf and capsule parts of the poppy plant, the detection of phenolic compounds by HPLC and the potential to inhibit the AChE enzyme were determined by in vitro and in silico bioanalytical studies.