Potential anti‐Alzheimer alkaloids of Peganum harmala

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain condition that steadily affects the ability to perform the simplest tasks, memory and reasoning skills, and ultimately. In 2018, the latest year for which data is available, it is officially reported 122,019 deaths from AD, which makes Alzheimer's the sixth leading cause of death and the fifth leading cause of death among people aged 65 and older in the United States. Deaths resulting from stroke, HIV, and heart disease decreased between 2000 and 2018, while recorded Alzheimer's deaths increased by 146,2 %. Different types of drugs are used against Alzheimer's disease. One of the medicines used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease is acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs). Methanol extracts of the seeds of the Peganum genus were found to show the significant inhibitory activity for acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). Due to the beneficial effects of Peganum harmala alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, etc.) on the nervous system, the positive effects on Alzheimer's disease have been identified in studies. Our study aims to obtain these alkaloids from plants individually. Method Dried and ground grains of P. harmala are extracted 3 times by 95% ethanol. Extracts are combined, evaporated until a concentrated mass is formed, mixed with 5% HCl and the obtained solution is filtered. The solution is alkalized by 25% ammonia solution and extracted by liquid/liquid extraction with chloroform 4 times. Fractions are combined, concentrated, and analyzed by TLC. On TLC plates, 4 orange spots with Rf 0.69, 0.31, 0.2 and 0.1 (stationary phase “Sorbfil” (Russia), mobile phase chloroform/methanol, 9/1, v/v; revelator Dragendorff solution) are observed. For the purification, preparative TLC plates were used (stationary phase “Machery - Nagel” (Germany), mobile phase chloroform/methanol, 8.5/1.5, v/v). Lines corresponding to each compound were scraped, extracted by ethanol, and filtered. Result Based on UV, IR, and NMR spectroscopy data, these compounds were identified as harmaline, harmine, and vasicine. Conclusion The wide distribution area, high quantity of alkaloids, and the positive effects of this plant on Alzheimer's disease make it possible to evaluate it as a potential medicine for the treatment and prevention of the disease.