en فیتوشیمی Phyochemistry پژوهشي Original Research <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Tahoma;"><strong>Background</strong>: Since cannabis has been legally allowed for medicinal purposes in many countries, it has become the most interesting issue, particularly in neurologic disorders, such as Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (AD). Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is one of the mechanisms for the treatment of AD.<br> <strong>Objectives</strong>: The present study aimed to establish a method for the preparation of cannabinoid-rich extracts and determine their AChE inhibitory activity.<br> <strong>Methods</strong>: The cannabinoid-rich extracts were prepared through a green extraction process using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) followed by hydrophobic column separation. The contents of cannabidiol (CBD) and &Delta;-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro AChE inhibitory activity was determined via the photometric method using AChE from Electrophorus electricus.<br> <strong>Results</strong>: Three cannabinoids-rich fractions were obtained with different concentrations of CBD and THC, namely Fractions I (CBD of 8.1% w/w; THC of 52.2% w/w), II (CBD of 9.2% w/w; THC of 8.0% w/w), and III (CBD 1.3% w/w, THC 33.5% w/w). These cannabinoid-rich extracts exhibited AChE inhibitory activity, with IC50 values of 52.3, 59.8, and 71.2 &micro;g/mL, respectively.&nbsp;<br> <strong>Conclusion</strong>: This finding suggests that CBD, but not THC, might be an active compound contributing to AChE inhibitory effect.</span></span> Acetylcholinesterase, Alzheimer’s disease, Cannabidiol, Cannabis, Dronabinol 173 182 http://pbr.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1054-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Wiwit Suttithumsatid wiwit.s@psu.ac.th 100319475328460010299 100319475328460010299 No Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand. Jiraporn Kara 5200720005@psu.ac.th 100319475328460010300 100319475328460010300 No Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand. Luelak Lomlim luelak.l@psu.ac.th 100319475328460010301 100319475328460010301 No Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand. Charassri Nualsri charatsri.n@psu.ac.th 100319475328460010302 100319475328460010302 No Agricultural Innovation and Management Division, Faculty of Natural Resources, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand. Pharkphoom Panichayupakaranant pharkphoom.p@psu.ac.th 100319475328460010303 100319475328460010303 Yes Department of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Thailand.