Sesquineolignans and Terpene-Sesquineolignans: Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Constituents from Illicium simonsii

Abstract

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Illicium simonsii resulted in the isolation of nine new compounds, simonsols A−E (1–5), simonsins A−B (7–8), terpene-sesquineolignans, clovanedunnianol (9), and p-menthadunnianol (10). Compound 5 was equilibrated with 7 as an inseparable mixture. The structures were elucidated by extensive NMR and MS analysis. Compounds 9, 10, and the mixture of 5 and 7 moderately inhibited acetylcholinesterase with IC₅₀ values of 4.58 µM, 6.55 µM, and 10.34 µM, respectively.

Key words

Illiciaceae - Illicium simonsii - sesquineolignans - terpene-sesquineolignans - anti-AChE activity

^* The first two authors contributed equally to this work.

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