The Brazilian Amaryllidaceae as a source of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory alkaloids

• DOI: 10.1007/s11101-015-9411-7
• Publication Date: 2015-04-21T08:26:50Z
• Authors: Jean Paulo de And...; Raquel B. Giordani; Laura Torras-Clav...; Natalia Belén Pigni; Strahil Berkov; Mercè Font-Bardia; Teresa Calvet; Eduardo Konrath; Kelly Bueno; Liana G. Sachett; Julie H. Dutilh; Warley de Souza B...; Francesc Viladomat; Amelia T. Henriques; Jerald J. Nair; José Angelo S. Zu...; Jaume Bastida
• Keywords: Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids; IC50

Nine Brazilian Amaryllidaceae species were studied for their alkaloid composition and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity via GC-MS and a modified Ellman assay, respectively. A total of thirty-six alkaloids were identified in these plants, of which Hippeastrum papilio and H. glau-cescens exhibited the highest galanthamine content and the best IC50 values against AChE. Furthermore, Hippeastrum vittatum and Rhodophiala bifida also showed notable AChE inhibitory effects. X-ray crys-tallographic data for four galanthamine-type com-pounds revealed significant differences in the orientation of theN-methyl group, which are shown to be related to AChE inhibition.