Wild Argentinian Amaryllidaceae, a New Renewable Source of the Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor Galanthamine and Other Alkaloids

Abstract

The Amaryllidaceae family is well known for its pharmacologically active alkaloids. An important approach to treat Alzheimer’s disease involves the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Galanthamine, an Amaryllidaceae alkaloid, is an effective, selective, reversible, and competitive AChE inhibitor. This work was aimed at studying the alkaloid composition of four wild Argentinian Amarillydaceae species for the first time, as well as analyzing their inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase. Alkaloid content was characterized by means of GC-MS analysis. Chloroform basic extracts from Habranthus jamesonii, Phycella herbertiana, Rhodophiala mendocina and Zephyranthes filifolia collected in the Argentinian Andean region all contained galanthamine, and showed a strong AChE inhibitory activity (IC50 between 1.2 and 2 µg/mL). To our knowledge, no previous reports on alkaloid profiles and AChEIs activity of wild Argentinian Amarillydaceae species have been publisihed. The demand for renewable sources of industrial products like galanthamine and the need to protect plant biodiversity creates an opportunity for Argentinian farmers to produce such crops.

Docking-based Design of Galantamine Derivatives with Dual-site Binding to Acetylcholinesterase

“…The inhibitory potential of the novel GAL derivatives against Electrophorus electricus (electric eel) AChE was tested according to the methodology developed by Ellman et al . with some modifications . The UniProt alignment of rhAChE (P22303) and EeAChe (O42275) shows that all 17 amino acids forming the binding gorges are identical.…”

“…AChE activity was assayed as described by Ellman et al . with some modifications . Fifty μL of Electrophorus electricus AChE (Sigma‐Aldrich) in buffer phosphate (pH 7.6) and 50 μL of the tested compounds (0.2–300 µM in methanol) were dissolved in 700 μL in the same buffer.…”

Galantamine derivatives with indole moiety: Docking, design, synthesis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity

“…61 GAL was used as a positive control and the enzyme activity was calculated at IC 50 Table 1. Compounds 1a-c demonstrated the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, with similar IC 50 values (0.011 lM, 0.012 lM and 0.015 lM, respectively), while compound 1d was less active (0.094 lM).…”

HPTLC and GC/MS Study of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids of Two Narcissus Species

“…12 Deoxytazettine[12][17 -19] N. tazetta L. Roots &b ulbsT azettine 25 Tazettamide [19][35] N. tazetta L. Roots &bulbs…”