Metabolic profiling and inhibitory properties of different parts of Salsola vermiculata against acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase

Herbal plants play significant roles in the treatment of diseases and development of novel drugs. Salsola vermiculata is an annual plant which is broadly distributed in the southwest Asia, and used for the treatment of stomach disorders. This present study aimed at identifying and comparing the metabolic profiles of different parts of S. vermiculata and evaluating the inhibitory potential of their extracts and fractions against acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase. LC-ESI-MS, GC, and GC-MS analytical methods were employed for metabolite profiling of the extracts, and their fractions. The inhibitory activities were determined by microplate reader-based colorimetric methods. 44 metabolites were identified in different parts of S. vermiculata. In roots, vanillic acid, rutin, salsoline, salsoline A, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, cumin aldehyde, and carvone; in seeds, vanillic acid, salsoline A, palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, carvone, and β-caryophyllene; in leaves, gallic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, rosmaric acid, rutin, quercetin, limonene, and carvone, and in flowers, gallic acid, vanillic acid, cinnamic acid, rosmaric acid, rutin, kaempferol, limonene, linalool, and carvone were reported as major components. According to the inhibitory activities results, the ethyl acetate fractions of leaves and the aqueous-acid fraction of roots displayed the highest inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (IC50: 17.24 µg/mL), and α-glucosidase (IC50: 62.37 µg/mL), respectively. Finally, the leaves and roots of S. vermiculata are rich of phenolic and alkaloid compounds and the findings of this study describe them as a promising acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitors, and therefore, can be utilized for the development of new drugs.