Anticholinergic and antidiabetic effects of isoeugenol from clove (Eugenia caryophylata) oil

Isoeugenol (2-methoxy-4-(prop-1-en-1-yl)phenol), a component of from clove (Eugenia caryophylata) oil, is a starting material for both the biotechnological and synthetic production of vanillin and vanillic acid. In this article, the isoeugenol showed excellent inhibitory effects against some metabolic enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes, α-glycosidase, and α-amylase. Isoeugenol has the IC50 values of 411.5 for α-amylase, 19.25 nM for α-glycosidase and 77.00 nM for AChE. Ki values of isoeugenol were found as 21 ± 9 nM and 16 ± 3 nM against α-glycosidase and AChE, respectively. On the other hand, tacrine as standard AChE inhibitor exhibited IC50 value of 20.38 nM. α-Glycosidase inhibitors, commonly referred to as starch blockers, are anti-diabetic drugs that help reduce edible blood glucose levels. AChE inhibitors are used for the treatment of some neurologic degenerational diseases, which involve Alzheimer’s disease. Also, there is a growing interest and the need to search for newer effective and safe AChE, α-amylase, and α-glycosidase inhibitors for the treatment of some metabolic disorder.