Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits

Laleh Khodaie; Maryam Helali; Mostafa Zakariazadeh; Hossein Nazemiyeh; Hadi Ghanbari; Faride Ranjbari; Somaieh Soltani

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits

Abstract

Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) manuscripts have introduced Heracleum persicum (Golpar) fruits to alleviate dementia. This study aimed to investigate the AChE inhibitory activity of essential oil and methanolic extract of fruits of Golpar and isolate their active phytochemicals and perform in silico study on the plant's isolated compounds. AChE inhibitory activity was performed by Ellman's test. The major phytochemicals of volatile oil and extract were isolated and identified using GC-MS, UV-Vis, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR. Molecular docking studies of the isolated compounds were performed using AutoDock software. The AChE inhibitory activity of the methanolic extract and essential oil was 63.86%±2.57 and 54.67%±1.04, respectively. Octyl acetate (8.51%) and hexyl butyrate (11.51%) (aliphatic esters) were dominant compounds of volatile oil, while bergapten and methoxsalen (psoralen derivatives) were identified from the methanolic extract. Psoralen derivatives showed a high affinity to AChE than aliphatic esters. The lowest free binding energy of bergapten, methoxsalen, octyl acetate, and hexyl butyrate with AChE were -5.46, -5.12, -4.29, and -4.19 kcal/mol, respectively. More hydrophobicity of aliphatic esters may contribute to decrease in interaction potency with the enzyme in comparison to psoralen derivatives. A methoxy functional group in C5 and C8 positions of bergapten and methoxsalen can affect the binding capacity to AChE. the results of docking comply with the results of the experimental study. Psoralen derivatives showed high affinity than aliphatic esters. Especially bergapten, showed higher affinity to AChE. It is rational to see higher inhibitory activity in the methanolic extract than volatile oil.

Keywords

Project Number

grant No.68726

Ethical Statement

this manuscript is a research article and has not been submitted to another journal

Thanks

I would like to thank for the financial supports of TUMS

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Pharmacognosy

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Laleh Khodaie ^*
0000-0001-7416-0822
Iran

Maryam Helali
0000-0001-6462-8364
Iran

Mostafa Zakariazadeh
0000-0003-3247-3876
Iran

Hossein Nazemiyeh
0000-0003-0165-3209
Iran

Hadi Ghanbari
0000-0001-9771-7697
Iran

Faride Ranjbari
0000-0002-9168-3657
Iran

Somaieh Soltani
0000-0002-0102-2960
Iran

Publication Date

August 3, 2026

Submission Date

December 16, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 30 Number: 4

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Khodaie, L., Helali, M., Zakariazadeh, M., Nazemiyeh, H., Ghanbari, H., Ranjbari, F., & Soltani, S. (2026). Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, 30(4), 1087-1103. https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE

AMA

1.Khodaie L, Helali M, Zakariazadeh M, et al. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30(4):1087-1103. https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE

Chicago

Khodaie, Laleh, Maryam Helali, Mostafa Zakariazadeh, et al. 2026. “Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, Phytochemical Study, and Molecular Docking of Identified Compounds from Heracleum Persicum Fruits”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 (4): 1087-1103. https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE.

EndNote

Khodaie L, Helali M, Zakariazadeh M, Nazemiyeh H, Ghanbari H, Ranjbari F, Soltani S (August 1, 2026) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30 4 1087–1103.

IEEE

[1]L. Khodaie et al., “Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits”, J. Res. Pharm., vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 1087–1103, Aug. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE

ISNAD

Khodaie, Laleh - Helali, Maryam - Zakariazadeh, Mostafa - Nazemiyeh, Hossein - Ghanbari, Hadi - Ranjbari, Faride - Soltani, Somaieh. “Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, Phytochemical Study, and Molecular Docking of Identified Compounds from Heracleum Persicum Fruits”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy 30/4 (August 1, 2026): 1087-1103. https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE.

JAMA

1.Khodaie L, Helali M, Zakariazadeh M, Nazemiyeh H, Ghanbari H, Ranjbari F, Soltani S. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits. J. Res. Pharm. 2026;30:1087–1103.

MLA

Khodaie, Laleh, et al. “Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity, Phytochemical Study, and Molecular Docking of Identified Compounds from Heracleum Persicum Fruits”. Journal of Research in Pharmacy, vol. 30, no. 4, Aug. 2026, pp. 1087-03, https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE.

Vancouver

1.Laleh Khodaie, Maryam Helali, Mostafa Zakariazadeh, Hossein Nazemiyeh, Hadi Ghanbari, Faride Ranjbari, Somaieh Soltani. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, phytochemical study, and molecular docking of identified compounds from Heracleum persicum fruits. J. Res. Pharm. [Internet]. 2026 Aug. 1;30(4):1087-103. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA93RF29ZE