Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition and Antioxidant Activity of DHA-Disubstituted Phospholipids

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid for the central nervous system. It plays a crucial role in brain health and the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in its phospholipid form, which has greater bioavailability. Previous studies, conducted by our group, enabled the enzymatic synthesis of pure disubstituted DHA phospholipids (1,2-Di-DHA-PC). In the present study, the inhibitory activities of 1,2-Di-DHA-PC on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and its antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The results showed that 1,2-Di-DHA-PC exhibited significant inhibition of the AChE enzyme. Moreover, 1,2-Di-DHA-PC showed antioxidant capacity compared to ascorbic acid, a natural antioxidant par excellence. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of 1,2-Di-DHA-PC in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and its ability to offer protection against the lipid peroxidation of the neuronal aging process, one of the main drivers of neurodegeneration, suggesting the need for further studies to confirm its clinical applicability.