Alkaloids from Hippeastrum argentinum and Their Cholinesterase-Inhibitory Activities: An in Vitro and in Silico Study

J Nat Prod. 2016 May 27;79(5):1241-8. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.5b00785. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Abstract

Two new alkaloids, 4-O-methylnangustine (1) and 7-hydroxyclivonine (2) (montanine and homolycorine types, respectively), and four known alkaloids were isolated from the bulbs of Hippeastrum argentinum, and their cholinesterase-inhibitory activities were evaluated. These compounds were identified using GC-MS, and their structures were defined by physical data analysis. Compound 2 showed weak butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)-inhibitory activity, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 67.3 ± 0.09 μM. To better understand the experimental results, a molecular modeling study was also performed. The combination of a docking study, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum theory of atoms in molecules calculations provides new insight into the molecular interactions of compound 2 with BuChE, which were compared to those of galantamine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids / chemistry
  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids / isolation & purification
  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids / pharmacology*
  • Argentina
  • Butyrylcholinesterase / drug effects*
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Plant Roots / chemistry

Substances

  • 4-O-methylnangustine
  • 7-hydroxyclivonine
  • Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids
  • homolycorine
  • Butyrylcholinesterase