Anticholinesterase and antioxidant activity of Drynaria quercifolia and its ameliorative effect in scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Drynaria quercifolia is an epiphytic fern distributed all over Bangladesh with traditional use in treating neurological disorders and other ailments. Although several pharmacological activities of D. quercifolia have been investigated, the neuroprotective potential of this plant is still unexplored. AIM OF STUDY In this study, we evaluated the in vitro anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities of D. quercifolia and the neuroprotective effect in scopolamine-induced memory-impaired mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS The crude methanol extract (DCM) of the plant was fractionated to prepare n-hexane (DHF), chloroform (DCF), ethyl acetate (DEF), and aqueous (DAF) factions. All the fractions were evaluated for anticholinesterase activity by modified Ellman's method and the antioxidant activity by several in vitro assays such as DPPH and hydroxyl…