Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

Esameldin E. Elgorashi; Gary I. Stafford; Johannes van Staden

doi:10.1055/s-2004-818919

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2004; 70(3): 260-262
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818919

Letter

Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids

Esameldin E. Elgorashi¹ , Gary I. Stafford¹ , Johannes van Staden¹

¹Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

This research was financially supported by the University of Natal Research Fund and the National Research Foundation, Pretoria

Abstract

Twenty-three Amaryllidaceae alkaloids having several different ring types were evaluated for their acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE) inhibitory activity. The alkaloid 1-O-acetyllycorine (IC₅₀ : 0.96 ± 0.04) showed significant AChE inhibitory activity. In addition, crinine (IC₅₀ : 461 ± 14), crinamidine (IC₅₀ : 300 ± 27), epivittatine (IC₅₀ : 239 ± 9), 6-hydroxycrinamine (IC₅₀ : 490 ± 7), N-desmethyl-8α-ethoxypretazettine (IC₅₀ : 234 ± 13) N-desmethyl-8β-ethoxypretazettine (IC₅₀ : 419 ± 8), lycorine (IC₅₀ : 213 ± 1), and 1,2-di-O-acetyllycorine (IC₅₀ : 211 ± 10) had weak activity. Lycorine-type alkaloids were the most active alkaloids with 1-O-acetyllycorine exhibiting inhibitory effects two-fold more potent than that of galanthamine.

Full Text

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Professor J van Staden

Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development

School of Botany and Zoology

University of Natal Pietermaritzburg

Private Bag X01

Scottsville 3209

South Africa

Phone: +927-33-2605130

Fax: +927-33-2605897

Email: rcpgd@nu.ac.za