Abstract The emergence of resistance for antipedicular agents and the need of potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) therapeutics for the treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer disease has led researchers to the exploration of new therapeutic alternatives such as natural volatile oils. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to identify the components of Satureja capitata L. volatile oil (VO), and examine the VO anticholinesterase, and antipedicular activities. The plant phytoconstituents were identified using Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method, while the anticholinesterase activity was determined against butyryl- and acetyl-cholinesterase using Ellman’s method. In addition, antipedicular activity was established using the diffusion method. The obtained GC-MS results identified 16 compounds in S. capitata VO with the major constituents being carvacrol, γ-terpinene, and p-cymene. Anticholinesterase analysis showed a marked inhibition potential against acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase enzymes with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 28.24±0.97 μg/ml and 92.31±1.22 μg/ml, respectively in comparison with the reference compound galantamine, which has IC50 values against the same enzymes of 5.21±0.07 μg/ml and 10.33±0.37 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the VO, at a concentration of 20%, was effective against head lice, similar to benzyl benzoate, which resulted in 100% mortality. In addition, the VO completely inhibited the emergence of lice nits after 6 and 14 days. On the basis of the obtained results, S. capitata VO is a promising natural alternative to synthetic antipedicular and anticholinesterase drugs, which can be employed in drug development, and may lead to new candidates against head lice and neurodegenerative diseases.

中文翻译：

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香椿挥发油的组成、抗胆碱酯酶及抗蒂活性

摘要 抗蒂药物耐药性的出现以及用于治疗阿尔茨海默病等神经退行性疾病的强效乙酰胆碱酯酶 (AChE) 疗法的需求促使研究人员探索新的治疗替代品，如天然挥发油。因此，目前的调查旨在鉴定香樟挥发油（VO）的成分，并检查VO的抗胆碱酯酶和抗蒂活性。使用气相色谱质谱 (GC-MS) 方法鉴定植物植物成分，而使用 Ellman 方法测定针对丁酰胆碱酯酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的抗胆碱酯酶活性。此外，使用扩散方法建立了抗蒂活性。获得的 GC-MS 结果鉴定了 S. 中的 16 种化合物。主要成分是香芹酚、γ-萜品烯和对伞花烃。抗胆碱酯酶分析显示对乙酰胆碱酯酶和丁酰胆碱酯酶具有显着的抑制潜力，与参考化合物加兰他敏相比，半数抑制浓度 (IC50) 值分别为 28.24±0.97 μg/ml 和 92.31±1.22 μg/ml。对相同酶的 IC50 值分别为 5.21±0.07 μg/ml 和 10.33±0.37 μg/ml。此外，浓度为 20% 的 VO 对头虱有效，类似于苯甲酸苄酯，导致 100% 的死亡率。此外，VO 在 6 天和 14 天后完全抑制了虱子的出现。根据获得的结果，S. capita VO 是合成抗蒂和抗胆碱酯酶药物的有前途的天然替代品，