title: Lycopodiaceae from Panama: a new source of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.
abstract: Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors have been used for the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Eleven whole plants from Panama belonging to the Lycopodiaceae family have been screened for their anticholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities by a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) bioautography method. Of these, only Lycopodium clavatum subsp. clavatum showed strong AChE inhibition. Seven plant extracts showed moderate inhibition, two of them, Huperzia cf chamaeleon and Huperzia reflexa, also possessed an antioxidant activity. This is the first report of anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities in these two native plants. Additionally, alkaloid extracts of the Lycopodiaceae plants were also analysed by TLC and LC-MS to identify the well-known AchE inhibitor, huperzine A. Two plants, H. cf chamaeleon and H. reflexa var. minor, showed the presence of huperzine.
authors: Department of Pharmacal Sciences, Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University, 4306B Walker Building, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. aic0001@auburn.edu
authors: Angela I
authors: AI
authors: Calderón
authors: Johayra
authors: J
authors: Simithy-Williams
authors: Rocío
authors: R
authors: Sanchez
authors: Alex
authors: A
authors: Espinosa
authors: Iván
authors: I
authors: Valdespino
authors: Mahabir P
authors: MP
authors: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry*; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D029542:Lycopodiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D032502:Lycopodium / Q000737:chemistry; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010176:Panama; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000975:Antioxidants; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C050426:huperzine A