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DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-818919
Acetylcholinesterase Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids
This research was financially supported by the University of Natal Research Fund and the National Research Foundation, PretoriaPublication History
Received: September 25, 2003
Accepted: December 6, 2003
Publication Date:
23 March 2004 (online)
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.
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Professor J van Staden
Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development
School of Botany and Zoology
University of Natal Pietermaritzburg
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Scottsville 3209
South Africa
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