Phenolic composition, cholinesterase inhibition, and in silico study of traditional medicinal plants from Bosnia And Herzegovina.
Plant species with strong antioxidant activity used in traditional medicine of B&H-Sambucus nigra, Filipendula vulgaris, Helichrysum italicum, Epilobium angustifolium, Crataegus rhipidophylla, Thymus serpyllum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Symphytum officinale, Corylus avellana, and Rubus fruticosus-were analysed for their phenolic profiles and cholinesterase inhibitory activity. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the highest concentration of phenolic acids in S. officinale extract. Catechin, rutin, and quercetin were identified in the majority of extracts. Rutin was most abundant, especially in S. nigra flowers (9.39 mg/g DW). AChE and BChE inhibition was determined spectrophotometrically. All extracts showed activity, with AChE IC50 ranging from 0.08 mg/mL (V. myrtillus) to 8.31 mg/mL (H. italicum), and BChE from 5.35 mg/mL (T. serpyllum) to 13.26 mg/mL (C. rhipidophylla). These findings highlight the neuroprotective potential of B&H medicinal plants, with molecular docking showing phenolics like rosmarinic acid and rutin inhibit cholinesterases. Merging traditional medicinal knowledge and molecular insights offers a novel path for discovery.