Protective effects of Forsythoside A on amyloid beta-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by downregulating acetylcholinesterase

Increasing the acetylcholine level and fighting the neuroinflammation has always been taken as a treatment strategy for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Forsythoside A is a major component in Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl (F. suspensa, Lianqiao in Chinese) that has been traditionally used as Chinese herbal medicine to treat the inflammation in China. This study examined the inhibitory acetylcholinesterase activities of Forsythoside A at chemical and biological level. Forsythoside A inhibited acetylcholinesterase in a mixed type of inhibition, with Ki of 47.68 μM. Docking analysis strongly supported these findings. In PC12 cells Forsythoside A increased cell viability and suppressed acetylcholinesterase increased by Aβ25-35, thus alleviated the corresponding apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that Forsythoside A has the protective effects on Aβ25-35-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by downregulating acetylcholinesterase, making it a potential functional food ingredient or drug candidate for the treatment of AD.