Planta Med 2010; 76 - P080
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1264378

Selective serotonin re-uptake and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of Salvia officinalis

S Rahte 1, A Suter 2, A Kortenkamp 1, D Tasdemir 1
  • 1School of Pharmacy, University of London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AX London, United Kingdom
  • 2Bioforce AG, Gruenaustrasse, 9325 Roggwil, Switzerland

Herbal medicinal products (HMPs) are widely used alternatives to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Some HMPs mimic the effects of estrogen, but anti-menopausal effects of many HMPs may involve other or multiple mechanisms. For instance, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) have been shown to reduce hot flushes, possibly by increasing the thermoregulatory set point in the hypothalamus [1]. Furthermore, during their menopausal transition women suffer from an increased risk of developing Alzheimers disease [2], and this might be slowed down with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEI). AChE inhibitory activities of Salvia sp. have been described previously [3]. We recently reported moderate estrogenic activity of a Salvia officinalis tincture (SOT) and its subextracts (n-hexane-, chloroform and aq. EtOH) [4]. In continuation of our mechanistic studies into the anti-hot flush effect of this tincture, we have tested the SOT and subextracts for SSR and AChE inhibitory activities. For the SSRI assay, HEK-293 cells stably transfected with the human serotonin transporter (HEK-293-hSERT) were utilised and re-uptake was determined using scintillation counting of radio-labeled serotonin [5]. The AChE inhibition assay was performed based on a spectrophotometric method described by Ellman [6]. Neither SOT, nor the subextracts displayed significant inhibition in either assay at the highest test concentrations (125µg/ml for SSRI and >1g/ml for AChEI assays). These findings indicate that SSR and AChE inhibition are not involved the mode of action of the SOT and therefore cannot explain its anti-menopausal activity.

Acknowledgements: Funding from Bioforce AG Switzerland is gratefully acknowledged.

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