Acetylcholinesterase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of essential oils from <i>Litsea cubeba<i/> and <i>Litsea glutinosa<i/> in Vietnam

The Litsea genus, part of the Lauraceae family, includes species used in traditional medicine for a variety of therapeutic purposes. Among these, Litsea cubeba (Mang tang) and Litsea glutinosa (Boi loi nhot) are known for their diverse biological activities. Essential oils from these species contain compounds such as citral, 1,8-cineole, and various fatty acids, contributing to their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and therapeutic effects. This study evaluates the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of six essential oil samples from L. cubeba (leaves, fruits and stem) and L. glutinosa (leaves, fruits and stem). The results demonstrated promising biological activities, especially in AChE inhibition. Although limited in α-glucosidase inhibition, five essential oils showed IC50 values ranging from 161 to 303 mg/L. The IC25 values were obtained for all six compounds, with concentrations ranging from 34 to approximately 252 mg/L. However, these essential oils primarily cause hemolysis at concentrations several times higher than those required for AChE inhibition. Among the six samples, the essential oil from L. cubeba stem showed strong inhibitory effects on both AChE and α-glucosidase, highlighting its potential for further academic research and therapeutic applications, particularly in the management of neurological and metabolic disorders. Keywords: Litsea cubeba, Litsea glutinosa, Acetylcholinesterase, α-glucosidase, inhibitory activity, essential oil.