Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) Ethanol Extract Activity on Acetylcholinesterase and PPAR-α/γ Receptors

Abstract

Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic plant species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol extract from H. stapfianum leaves on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and the action on nuclear receptors PPAR-α and PPAR-γ. A gene reporter assay was performed to assess the PPAR agonist or antagonist activity with a non-toxic dose of H. stapfianum ethanol extract. The antioxidant capacity was investigated using DPPH• scavenging and fosfomolybdenium reduction assays. The identification of H. stapfianum‘s chemical composition was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and HPLC. The ethanol extract of H. stapfianum activated PPAR-α and PPAR-γ selectively, inhibited the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, and presented antioxidant activity in an in vitro assay. The major compounds identified were lycorine, 7-demethoxy-9-O-methylhostasine, and rutin. Therefore, H. stapfianum is a potential source of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease due to its ability to activate PPAR receptors, acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and antioxidant attributes.

New Therapeutic Strategies for Obesity and Its Metabolic Sequelae: Brazilian Cerrado as a Unique Biome

“…Another plant native to the Brazilian Cerrado, Hippeastrum stapfianum, showed a selective activation of PPAR-α and PPAR-γ and exhibited antioxidant effects. Although the focus of the study was not specifically metabolic diseases, such results suggest a possible effect on obesity [135]. Lastly, the study by Duarte et al highlighted the properties of wild passion fruit (Passiflora setacea), which is rich in polyphenols.…”

Advances on the Amaryllidacea Alkaloids Collected in South Africa, Andean South America and the Mediterranean Basin

“…Lycorine ( 1 ), 7-demethoxy-9- O -methylhostasine ( 47 , Figure 3 ), and rutin were identified in the Hippeastrum stapfianum leaf extract [ 41 ]. This Amaryllidacea is an endemic species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological activities, including AChE inhibition showing IC 50 values ranging between 386.00 ± 0.97 and 114.80 ± 0.95 µg/mL [ 42 ].…”

“…This Amaryllidacea is an endemic species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological activities, including AChE inhibition showing IC 50 values ranging between 386.00 ± 0.97 and 114.80 ± 0.95 µg/mL [ 42 ]. Their potential for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease is based on the ability of the plant extract to activate PPAR-α (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha) and PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma) selectively [ 41 ].…”

“…From the bulb extract of the same plant, lycorine (1), galanthamine (2), vittatine (4), N-demethylgalanthamine (38, Figure 2), crinine, montanine and pancracine (39-41, Figure 3) and sternbergine and hippeastrine (42 and 43, Figure 2) were isolated and identified [35]. Montanine (40), which is the predominant alkaloid in the bulb extract, and its derivative pancracine (41) showed anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory [36], antioxidant and antimicrobial [37] properties. They also showed significant anxiolytic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant [38] and antirheumatic activities [39].…”