title: A potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from Pancratium illyricum L.
abstract: Plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae contain an exclusive group of alkaloids, known as sources of important biological activities. In the present work, Pancratium illyricum L., a species belonging to this family and endemic of Sardinia (Italy), was investigated for its alkaloid content. Fresh bulbs and leaves were processed separately. Standard extraction and purification procedures were applied to obtain fractions and compounds for GC-MS and NMR analysis. In addition to eight already known alkaloids (1-8), 11α-hydroxy-O-methylleucotamine (9) was isolated for the first time and its structure completely determined by one and two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. This new galanthamine-type compound exhibited a pronounced in vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (IC50=3.5±1.1 μM) in comparison to the reference standard galanthamine hydrobromide (IC50=1.5±0.2 μM).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 42, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: carmelina.iannello2@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Carmelina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iannello
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products, Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia Belèn
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Pigni
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Quality Sciences, University of Bologna, Corso Augusto 237, Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antognoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, via Irnerio 42, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferruccio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.affiliation: Interacademic Union for Studying of Secondary Metabolites of Vegetal Origin (Co.S.Me.Se.), Viale Ignazio da Laconi 13, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maxia
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products, Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jean Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products, Plant Biology and Soil Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bastida
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D019668:Liliaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D018517:Plant Roots
chemical_list: C000591473:11-hydroxy-O-methylleucotamine; D000470:Alkaloids; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase
keywords: 11α-hydroxy-O-methylleucotamine; Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity; Alkaloids; Pancratium illyricum L