Attenuation of erythrocytic actylcholinesterase by antidepressants: evidence in an in vitro experiment.

The current study was aimed to scrutinize acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory profile of two antidepressants, diazepam and phenobarbitone. The experimental designed was based on Michaelis-Menten parameters (apparent Michaelis constant (aKm) and apparent maximum velocity (aVm)) that estimate inhibition (%) as well as the type of inhibition (mechanism). The results showed marked inhibition of AchE by diazepam and the values of aKm and aVm were 65.5% and 52.63%, respectively. These values suggested a competitive type of antagonism for diazepam. Similar trend of antagonism was shown by phenobarbitone when it was subjected to the challenge of AchE with aKm and aVm values of 51.99% and 71.80%, respectively. It is concluded that diazepam and phenobarbitone exhibited prominent AchE attenuation apart from their well-established antidepressant activity, which could be more useful in related diseased conditions.