Cation-π and π-π stacking interactions allow selective inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase by modified quinine and cinchonidine alkaloids.

Scaffold varied quaternized quinine and cinchonidine alkaloid derivatives were evaluated for their selective butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory potential. K(i) values were between 0.4-260.5µM (non-competitive inhibition) while corresponding K(i)values to acetylcholinesterase (AChE) ranged from 7.0-400µM exhibiting a 250-fold selectivity for BChE. Docking arrangements (GOLD, PLANT) revealed that the extended aromatic moieties and the quaternized nitrogen of the inhibitors were responsible for specific π-π stacking and π-cation interactions with the choline binding site and the peripheral anionic site of BChE's active site.

Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Cocculus pendulus.

A new bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, 1,2-dihydrokurramine (1), and four known bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids 2-5, along with a morphinan alkaloid 6 were isolated from Cocculus pendulus. The structures for these compounds were deduced by spectroscopic methods. All bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids showed inhibitory activities against acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterases.

Muscarinic, Ca(++) antagonist and specific butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of dried ginger extract might explain its use in dementia.

Ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) has been used for centuries to treat dementia in South Asia. This study was undertaken to possibly justify its use. A 70% aqueous/methanolic extract of dried ginger (Zo.Cr) was used. Zo.Cr tested positive for the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, secondary amines, phenols, alkaloids and saponins. When tested on isolated rat stomach fundus, Zo.Cr showed a spasmogenic effect (0.03-5.00 mg mL(-1)); it relaxed the tissue at concentrations > or =5 mg mL(-1). The stimulant effect was resistant to blockade by hexamethonium and methysergide, but sensitive to atropine, indicating activity via muscarinic receptors. In atropinized (0.1 microM) preparations, Zo.Cr (0.3-3.0 mg mL(-1)) relaxed high K(+) (80 mM)-induced contractions, indicating Ca(++) antagonism in addition to the muscarinic effect. This possible Ca(++) antagonist activity was investigated in Ca(++)-free conditions, with the inhibitory effect of the extract tested against contractions induced by externally administered Ca(++). Zo.Cr (0.1-0.3 mg mL(-1)), similar to verapamil (0.03-0.10 microM), shifted the contractions induced by externally administered Ca(++) to the right, thus suggesting an inhibitory interaction between Zo.Cr and voltage-operated Ca(++) channels. Zo.Cr (0.1-3.0 microg mL(-1)) also potentiated acetylcholine peak responses in stomach fundus, similar to physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor. Zo.Cr, in an in-vitro assay, showed specific inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) rather than acetylcholinesterase enzyme. Different pure compounds of ginger also showed spasmolytic activity in stomach fundus, with 6-gingerol being the most potent. 6-Gingerol also showed a specific anti-BuChE effect. This study shows a unique combination of muscarinic, possible Ca(++) antagonist and BuChE inhibitory activities of dried ginger, indicating its benefit in dementia, including Alzheimer's disease.

Structural insight into the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by 2,3,4, 5-tetrahydro-1, 5-benzothiazepines.

Benzothiazepines 1-3 inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) enzyme in a concentration-dependent fashion with IC(50) values of 1.0 +/- 0.002, 1.2 +/- 0.005 and 1.3 +/- 0.001 microM, respectively. By using linear-regression equations, Lineweaver-Burk, Dixon plots and their secondary replots were constructed which indicated that compounds 1-3 are non-competitive inhibitors of AChE with K(i) values of 0.8 +/- 0.04, 1.1 +/- 0.002, and 1.5 +/- 0.001 microM, respectively. Molecular docking studies revealed that all the compounds are completely buried inside the aromatic gorge of AChE, extending deep into the gorge of AChE. A comparison of the docking results of compounds 1-3 displayed that these compounds generally adopt the same binding mode in the active site of AChE. The superposition of the docked structures demonstrated that the non-flexible benzothiazepine always penetrate into the aromatic gorge through the six-membered ring A, which allowed the ligands to interact simultaneously with more than one subsites of the active center of AChE. The higher AChE inhibitory potential of compounds 1-3 was found to be the cumulative effect of hydrophobic contacts and pi-pi interactions between the ligands and AChE. The relatively high affinity of benzothiazepine 1 with AChE was found to be due to additional hydrogen bond in benzothiazepine 1-AChE complex. The results indicated that substitution of halogen and methyl groups by hydrogen at aromatic ring of the benzothiazepine decreased the affinity of these molecules towards enzyme that may be due to the polar non-polar repulsions of these moieties with the amino acid residues in the active site of AChE. The observed binding modes of benzothiazepines 1-3 in the active site of AChE explain the affinities of benzothiazepines and provide a rational basis for the structure-based drug design of benzothiazepines with improved pharmacological properties.

Isolation and enzyme-inhibition studies of the chemical constituents from Ajuga bracteosa.

Bractin A (=(2S,3S,4R,5E)-2-{[(2R)-2-hydroxydodecanoyl]amino}triacont-5-ene-1,3,4-triol; 1) and bractin B (=(2S,3S,4R,5E,8E)-2-{[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexacosanoyl]amino}pentadeca-5,8-diene-3,4,15-triol 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside; 2), new sphingolipids, and bractic acid (=(5Z,10Z,15Z)-2-decyl-4,7,8,12,13,17,18-heptahydroxy-20,23-dioxopentacosa-5,10,15-trienoic acid; 3), a long-chain polyhydroxy acid, were isolated from the whole plant Ajuga bracteosa along with four known diterpenoids 4-7. Their structures were deduced by spectral studies including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-3 displayed inhibitory potential against enzyme lipoxygenase, while compounds 4-7 inhibited cholinesterase enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner with IC(50) values in the range 10.0-33.0, 14.0-35.2, and 10.0-19.0 microM for lipoxygenase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk, and Dixon plots, and their secondary replots indicated that all compounds exhibit non-competitive type of inhibition with K(i) values in the range of 9.5-35.2, 15.2-36.0, and 11.6-20.5 microM, for lipoxygenase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase, respectively.

Microbial transformation and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of (-)-caryophyllene oxide and its derivatives.

Microbial transformation of the sesquiterpene (-)-caryophyllene oxide (1) [(1R,4R,5R,9S)-4,5-epoxycaryophyllan-8(13)-ene] by a number of fungi, using a standard two-stage fermentation technique, has afforded as products (1R,4R,5R,9S)-4,5-dihydroxycaryophyllan-8(13)-ene (2), (1S,4R,5R,8S,9S)-clovane-5,9-diol (3), (1R,4R,5R,9S,11R)-4,5-epoxycaryophyllan-8(13)-en-15-ol (4), (1R,4R,5R,9S,11S)-4,5-epoxycaryophyllan-8(13)-en-14-ol (5), (1R,2S,4R,5R,9S)-4,5-epoxy-13-norcaryophyllan-8-one (6), (1R,4R,5R,8S,9S)-4,5-epoxycaryophyllan-13-ol (7), (1R,4R,5R,8S, 9S,13S)-caryolane-5,8,13-triol (8), (1R,3R,4R,5R,8S,9S)-4,5-epoxycaryophyllan-3,13-diol (9), and (1S,4R,5R,8S,9S)-clovane-5,9,12-triol (10). Metabolites 6 and 8-10 were found to be new compounds, as deduced on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, and compound 5 exhibited an IC50 value of 10.9 +/- 0.2 microM.

Isolation and cholinesterase-inhibition studies of sterols from Haloxylon recurvum.

Haloxysterols A-D (1-4), new C-24 alkylated sterols, have been isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of Haloxylon recurvum, along with five known sterols 5-9, which are reported for the first time from this species. Their structures were determined by means of 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. Compounds 1-9 inhibited cholinesterase enzymes in a concentration-dependent manner with K(i) values ranging between 0.85-25.5 and 1.0-19.0 microM against acetylcholinesterase (AChE; EC 3.1.1.7) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE; EC 3.1.1.8) enzymes, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk, Dixon plots and their secondary replots indicated that compounds 1-9 are non-competitive inhibitors of both AChE and BChE enzymes.

The microbial hydroxylation of levonorgestrel.

The microbial transformation of levonorgestrel (1) by Cunningham elegans resulted in the formation of five hydroxylated metabolites, 13-ethyl-10beta, 17beta-dihydroxy-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one(2), 13-ethyl-6beta,17beta-dihydroxy-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (3) 13-ethyl 6beta, 10beta, 17beta-trihydroxy-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (4) 13-ethyl-15alpha-17beta-dihydroxy-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4-en-20-yn-3-one (5) and 13-ethyl-11alpha, 17beta-dihydroxy-18,19-dinor-17alpha-pregn-4en-20-yn-3-one. The fermentation of one with Rhizopus stolonifer, Fusarium lini and Curvularia lunata afforded compound 2 as a major metabolise. These metabolites were structurally characterized on the basis of spectroScopic techniques. Metabolite 6 was identified as a new compound. Compounds 2 2 ad 5 displayed inhibitory activity against the acetylcholinesterase ( AChE, EC. 3.1.1.7) with IC50 values of 79.2 and 24.5 microM, respectively. The metabolites 2 and 5 also showed inhibitory activity against the butyryLcholinesterase ( BChE, E.C 3.1.1.8) with IC50 values ranging between 9.4 and 309.8 microM.

Microbial transformation of prednisone.

The microbial transformation of prednisone (17alpha,21-dihydroxy-pregna-1,4-diene-3,11,20-trione) (1) by Cunninghamella elegans afforded two metabolites, 17alpha,21-dihydroxy-5alpha-pregn-1-ene-3,11,20-trione (2) and 17alpha,20S,21-trihydroxy-5alpha-pregn-1-ene-3,11-dione (3), while the fermentation of 1 with Fusarium lini, Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata afforded a metabolite 1,4-pregnadiene-17alpha,20S,21-triol-3,11-dione (4). Compound 3 was found to be a new metabolite. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques. Compound 3 showed inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase enzyme.

Lipoxygenase inhibiting ethyl substituted glycoside from Symplocos racemosa.

Phytochemical investigation of Symplocos racemosa resulted in the isolation of a new ethyl substituted glycoside, 1-ethyl brachiose-3'-acetate (1) along with four known compounds ketochaulmoogric acid (2), nonaeicosanol (3), triacontyl palmitate (4) and methyl triacontanoate (5). The substitution of ethyl group on 1 was natural because during the course of extraction and purification ethanol was not used. The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was based primarily on 1D- and 2D-NMR analysis, including COSY, HMQC, and HMBC correlations. The glycoside 1 and triacontyl palmitate (4) displayed the inhibitory potential against lipoxygenase and urease enzyme, respectively.

Synthesis and inhibitory potential towards acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and lipoxygenase of some variably substituted chalcones.

A series of variably substituted chalcones were synthesized by condensation of substituted acetophenones with mono-, di- or trisubstituded benzaldehydes. It was observed that some of these compounds have the potential to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, whereas others show activity against butyrylcholinesterase, depending on the substitution pattern at the two aromatic rings of these chalcones. Similarly, lipoxygenase was inhibited by two of these compounds. It has been observed that inhibition of the three enzymes was concentration dependent with the IC50 values ranging from 28.2-134.5 microM against acetylcholinesterase, 16.0-23.1 microM against butyrylcholinesterase and 57.6-71.7 microM against lipoxygenase, respectively.

Syntheses and biological activities of chalcone and 1,5-benzothiazepine derivatives: promising new free-radical scavengers, and esterase, urease, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

A series of 2,4-diaryl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro- (36-40) and 2,4-diaryl-2,3-dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines (25-35) have been synthesized from the corresponding chalcones 1-24. Both the benzothiazepines and chalcones were evaluated as DPPH free-radical scavengers and as inhibitors of cholinesterases, urease, and alpha-glucosidase. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 7, 10, 13, 18, 21, 36a, 37a, 37b, and 39a showed significant cholinesterase inhibiting activities. Among the 15 dihydro-1,5-benzothiazepines, 26, 32, and 35 exhibited significant radical-scavenging activities; and six tetrahydro-1,5-benzothiazepines (35, 36a, 36b, 37a, 37b, and 39a) were found to be inhibitors of AChE and BChE. Compounds 22, 25, 26, 33, 35, 36a, 37b, and 39a inhibited urease, and 25 and 27-31 were found to be potent inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase.

New steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca saligna.

Two new steroidal alkaloids, salonine-A [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-5alpha-pregn-14-en-2beta,4beta-diol] (1), and salonine-B [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-3beta-methoxy-pregn-5,16-diene] (2), were isolated from the MeOH extract of Sarcococca saligna, along with a known base, alkaloid-C (3). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods. All three compounds were found to be cholinesterase inhibitors.