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Medicinal plants are potential sources of bioactive compounds. One of the medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina is endemic Satureja subspicata L. In this work, we examined the ability of Satureja subspicata L. essential oil and hot water and methanol extracts to inhibit the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) using Ellman’s method. The ability of Satureja subspicata L. essential oil in concentration of 1 mg/mL and 2 mg/mL to inhibit enzymes was moderate: 72.82%, and 76.89% for AChE, and 51.51%, and 27.15% for BChE, respectively. Analyzed hot water and methanol extracts in concentration of 1 mg/mL showed weak ability of cholinesterase inhibition. Extracts were additionally analyzed regarding to ability to protect proteins from oxidation, during 1 h and 24 h incubation periods. After incubation for 1 h hot water extract showed a very good protective effect (10.61%), while the methanolic extract showed prooxidative activity. After incubation for 24 h, both extracts showed prooxidative activity. The obtained results show that the examined essential oil and extracts of S. subspicata L. contain compounds with cholinesterase inhibition and antioxidant potential, and therefore can be useful in treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

The medicinal plant Mentha pulegium L. (Lamiaceae) is used in traditional medicine of Bosnia and Herzegovina to treat neurological and gastrointestinal disorders [1]. Healing properties of M. pulegium are attributed to monoterpenoids present in its essential oil and polyphenol derivatives [2]. These bioactive components have an important role in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress. One of them is Alzheimer's disease, a neurological brain disorder and the most common form of dementia, affecting the older population. Inhibitors of cholinesterases have an important role in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The aim of this work was to analyze the chemical composition as well as the antioxidant activity and cholinesterase inhibition potential of M. pulegium essential oil from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The chemical composition of the essential oil was determined by GC/MS and GC/FID techniques. The antioxidant potential was tested using DPPH and FRAP methods [3, 4]. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was determined using the Ellman’s method [5]. The major components found in M. pulegium essential oil where: pulegone (54.4%), p-menthone (14.0%), piperitenone (12.8%) and piperitone (3.7%). A solution of the essential oil (1 g/L) showed a low antioxidant potential and a good inhibition of both cholinesterases.

Centaurea scabiosa is wild edible plant used in food and nutrition in Mediterranean area. A whole juvenile plant is used in local cuisine of Dalmatian region, Croatia. Volatile oils may comprise variety of biologically active compounds. Aim of this work was to investigate the volatile oil chemistry of C. scabiosa species and its biological activity: antioxidant potential, inhibition of cholinesterases and toxicity on human cells. The chemical composition of essential oil was assessed using GC/MS technique. Antioxidant capacity of essential oil was determined using DPPH and FRAP methods. Inhibition of both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase was determined using Ellman method. Toxicity of C. scabiosa volatile oil was measured on primary fibroblasts through the MTT assay. [11] The major compounds found in essential oil were heptacosane, caryophyllene oxide, alloaromadendrene epoxide, α-cyperone and α-bisabolol. Essential oil in stock concentration of 1g/L showed moderate inhibition of both cholinesterases while antioxidant potential was low on both tested methods. C. scabiosa volatile oil showed no toxicity on primary fibroblasts at the highest tested dose of 0, 125g/L in 0, 5% DMSO.