Antimicrobial Agent Triclosan Inhibits Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Vitro in a Dose-Dependent Manner

The antimicrobial agent, Triclosan, is widely used in many consumer products. It has been designated as a "contaminant of emerging concern (CEC)" because its exposure is known to cause adverse ecological and human health effects. Triclosan is not labelled as GRAS/GRAE (generally recognized as safe and effective), but its use is still prevailing. In vivo studies have revealed that exposure to triclosan results in a decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. However mechanistic insights into AChE inhibition by triclosan are missing. Using in vitro AChE activity assay with purified AChE, we show that triclosan acts as a direct inhibitor of AChE and inhibits AChE activity in a dose-dependent manner. Given the function of AChE, any alteration in its activity can be neurotoxic. Our results provide important mechanistic insights into triclosan induced neurotoxicity with AChE as a target.