Phytochemical And Pharmacological Potential of Ixora Coccinea L. Against Alzheimer's Disease: In Silico, In Vitro, And In Vivo Evaluation

The present study investigates the therapeutic efficacy of the methanolic extract of Ixora coccinea L. (MEOI) in managing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) through in silico docking, behavioral assays, enzymatic studies, and histopathological evaluation. Key proteins associated with AD, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), were analyzed for binding affinity using selected phytochemicals. Among the tested compounds, quercetin exhibited the highest binding affinity to AChE, while donepezil showed superior binding to both targets. In vivo experiments demonstrated MEOI's significant effects on cognitive function in behavioral models such as the Y-maze, Morri’s water maze, and buried food test. Additionally, MEOI improved antioxidant enzyme levels (SOD, CAT, GPx) and reduced AChE activity, with histopathological analysis confirming neuronal preservation. These findings suggest MEOI as a promising candidate for Alzheimer’s therapy through cholinergic and antioxidant mechanisms.