title: Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling of berberine derivatives as potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
abstract: By targeting the dual active sites of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a new series of berberine derivatives was designed, synthesized, and evaluated as AChE inhibitors. Most of the derivatives inhibited AChE in the sub-micromolar range. Compound 8c, berberine linked with phenol by a 4-carbon spacer, showed the most potent inhibition of AChE. A kinetic study of AChE and BuChE indicated that a mix-competitive binding mode existed for these berberine derivatives. Molecular modeling studies confirmed that these hybrids target both the catalytic active site (CAS) and the peripheral anionic site (PAS) of AChE. This is the first report where AChE inhibitory activity has been associated with berberine as a lead molecule.
authors.affiliation: The Industrial Institute of Fine Chemicals and Synthetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Anding
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xingshu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004524:Eels; D006736:Horses; D008958:Models, Molecular; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014101:Torpedo
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D001599:Berberine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase