Protection against neurodegenerative diseases of Iris pseudopumila extracts and their constituents

The present study describes for the first time the in vitro properties of Iris pseudopumila flowers and rhizomes extracts and their constituents. The methanolic extract of rhizomes showed significant anti-inflammatory activity through inhibition of NO production in the murine monocytic macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. Among the isolated compounds, those which most effectively inhibited LPS-induced NO production were irisolidone and 7-methyl-tectorigenin-4′-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-D-glucopyranoside], with IC50 values of 23.6 μM and 29.4 μM respectively. Isoorientin and isovitexin exhibited the most promising activity against AChE with IC50 of 26.8 μM and 36.4 μM, respectively. The same compounds exhibited also the higher activity against BChE.