Squarrosine A and Pyrrolhuperzine A, New Lycopodium Alkaloids from Thai and Philippine Huperzia squarrosa ^[*]

Abstract

Two new Lycopodium alkaloids, squarrosine A (1) and pyrrolhuperzine A (2), were isolated from the Thai and Philippine plant Huperzia squarrosa. (R)-2-Piperidineacetic acid (5) was a known alkaloid, but has now been isolated for the first time from a natural source. Their structures were elucidated using extensive spectroscopic analyses and, for pyrrolhuperzine A (2), confirmation by chemical transformation. The new compounds exhibited moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities.

Key words

Huperzia squarrosa - Lycopodiaceae - Lycopodium alkaloid - Huperzine A derivative - Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

^* Dedicated to Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Kurt Hostettmann in recognition of his outstanding contribution to natural product research.

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