A rapid TLC bioautographic method for the detection of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitors in plants.

A simple and rapid bioautographic enzyme assay on TLC plates has been developed for the screening of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibition by plant extracts. Enzyme activity was detected by the conversion of naphthyl acetate into naphthol and the formation of the corresponding purple-coloured diazonium dye with Fast Blue B salt. Inhibitors of cholinesterases produced white spots on the dye-coloured background of the TLC plates. The alkaloids galanthamine and physostigmine, which are known inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase, were used to determine the sensitivity of the assay. Various plant extracts were tested using the bioassay.