Resumen:
bstract
Context: Huperzia saururus (Lam.) Trevis. (Lycopodiaceae), an autochthonous plant species in
Argentina, is used as a memory improver in traditional medicine. It was studied for this reason
and the purified alkaloid extract did show significant activity on learning and memory.
The species is mostly consumed in the form of infusions and decoctions.
Objectives: To evaluate the activity of the H. saururus infusion and decoction as inhibitors of
acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and to determine the amino acid content in both extracts.
Material and methods: Infusion and decoction were purified by ionic exchange chromatography
and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography HPLC-UV, and the AChE inhibition of
these extracts was evaluated by using the Ellman method.
Results: Both infusion and decoction exerted strong AChE inhibitory activities (IC50¼7.20.4
and 22.75.6 mg/mL, respectively). Among nine amino acids, arginine (Arg) was identified in a
concentration greater t