title: Acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibitory effects of amaryllidaceae alkaloids.
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-8alpha-ethoxypretazettine (IC50 : 234 +/- 13) N-desmethyl-8beta-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.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre for Plant Growth and Development, School of Botany and Zoology, University of Natal Pietermaritzburg, South Africa.
authors.forename: Esameldin E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Elgorashi
authors.forename: Gary I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Staden
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019684:Magnoliopsida; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase