Skip to main content
Log in

The Brazilian Amaryllidaceae as a source of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory alkaloids

  • Published:
Phytochemistry Reviews Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Nine Brazilian Amaryllidaceae species were studied for their alkaloid composition and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity via GC–MS and a modified Ellman assay, respectively. A total of thirty-six alkaloids were identified in these plants, of which Hippeastrum papilio and H. glaucescens exhibited the highest galanthamine content and the best IC50 values against AChE. Furthermore, Hippeastrum vittatum and Rhodophiala bifida also showed notable AChE inhibitory effects. X-ray crystallographic data for four galanthamine-type compounds revealed significant differences in the orientation of the N-methyl group, which are shown to be related to AChE inhibition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. CCDC 1029491 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for compound 28. These data can be obtained free of charge via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/Community/Requestastructure/Pages/Requestastructure.aspx (or from the CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336408; fax: +44 1223 336033; e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk).

  2. CCDC 1029490 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for compound 32. These data can be obtained free of charge via http://www.ccdc.cam.ac.uk/Community/Requestastructure/Pages/Requestastructure.aspx (or from the CCDC, 12 Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336408; fax: +44 1223 336033; e-mail: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk).

References

  • Bartolucci C, Perola M, Christian P et al (2001) Three-dimensional structure of a complex of galanthamine (Nivalin®) with acetylcholinesterase from Torpedo californica: implications for the drug design of new anti-Alzheimer drugs. Proteins 42:182–191

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bastida J, Lavilla R, Viladomat F (2006) Chemical and biological aspects of Narcissus alkaloids. In: Cordell GA (ed) The alkaloids, vol 63. Elsevier Inc, Amsterdam, pp 87–179

    Google Scholar 

  • Berkov S, Codina C, Viladomat F et al (2008a) N-Alkylated galanthamine derivatives: potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors from Leucojum aestivum. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 18:2263–2266

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berkov S, Bastida J, Nikolova M et al (2008b) Analysis of galanthamine-type alkaloids by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in plants. Phytochem Anal 19:285–293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berkov S, Bastida J, Nikolova M et al (2008c) Rapid TLC/GC-MS identification of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in alkaloids extracts. Phytochem Anal 19:411–419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berkov S, Georgieva L, Kondakova V et al (2009) Plant source of galanthamine: phytochemical and biotechnological aspects. Biotechnol Biotechnol Equip 23:1170–1176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berkov S, Bastida J, Viladomat F et al (2011) Development and validation of a GC-MS method for a rapid determination of galanthamine in Leucojum aestivum and Narcissus ssp.: A metabolomic approach. Talanta 83:1455–1465

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carrol P, Furst GT, Han SY et al (1990) Spectroscopic studies of galanthamine and galanthamine methiodide. Bull Soc Chim Fr 127:769–780

    Google Scholar 

  • Castilhos TS, Giordani RB, Henriques AT et al (2007) Avaliação in vitro das atividades antiinflamatória, antioxidante e antimicrobiana do alcalóide montanina. Rev Bras Farmacogn 17:209–214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cherkasov OA, Tolkachev ON (2002) Narcissus and other Amaryllidaceae as sources of galanthamine. In: Hanks G (ed) Medicinal and aromatic plants–industrial profiles: Narcissus and Daffodil, the genus Narcissus. Taylor and Francis, London and New York, pp 242–255

    Google Scholar 

  • Çitoğlu G, Tanker M, Gümüşel B (1998) Antiinflamatory effects of lycorine and haemanthidine. Phytother Res 12:205–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva AFS (2005) Hippeastrum vittatum (L’Hér) Herbert e Hippeastrum striatum (Lam.) Moore: Análise química e avaliação biológica dos alcaloides isolados. Dissertation, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

  • da Silva AFS, de Andrade JP, Bevilaqua LR et al (2006) Anxiolytic-, antidepressant- and anticonvulsivant-like effects of the alkaloid montanine isolated from Hippeastrum vittatum. Pharmacol. Biochem Behav 85:148–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • da Silva AFS, de Andrade JP, Machado KRB et al (2008) Screening for cytotoxic activity of extracts and isolated alkaloids from bulbs of Hippeastrum vittatum. Phytomedicine 15:882–885

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Andrade JP, Berkov S, Viladomat F et al (2011) Alkaloids from Hippeastrum papilio. Molecules 16:7097–7104

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • de Andrade JP, Pigni NB, Torras-Claveria L et al (2012) Bioactive alkaloids from Narcissus broussonetii: mass spectral studies. J Pharm Biomed Anal 70:13–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duffield AM, Aplin RT, Budzikiewicz H et al (1965) Mass spectrometry in structural and stereochemical problems. LXXXII. A study of the fragmentation of some Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. J Am Chem Soc 87:4902–4912

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giordani RB, Vieira PB, Weizenmann M et al (2010) Candimine-induced cell death of the amitochondriate parasite Trychomonas vaginalis. J Nat Prod 73:2019–2023

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giordani RB, de Andrade JP, Verli H et al (2011a) Alkaloids from Hippeastrum morelianum Lem. (Amaryllidaceae). Magn Reson Chem 49:668–672

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giordani RB, Vieira PB, Weizenmann M et al (2011b) Lycorine induces cell death in the amitochondriate parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis, via an alternative non-apoptotic death pathway. Phytochemistry 72:645–650

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greenblatt HM, Kryger G, Lewis T et al (1999) Structure of acetylcholinesterase complexed with (-)–galanthamine at 2.3 Å resolution. FEBS Lett 463:321–326

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hemetsberger M, Treu M, Jordis U et al (2004) 1-methylgalanthamine derivatives. Monatsh Chem 135:1275–1287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • International Tables of X-Ray Crystallography (1974) Kynoch Press. Birmingham

  • Kreh M, Matusch R, Witte L (1995) Capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Phytochemistry 38:773–776

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • López S, Bastida J, Viladomat F et al (2002) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of some Amaryllidaceae alkaloids and Narcissus extracts. Life Sci 71:2521–2529

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Machocho AK, Bastida J, Codina C et al (2004) Augustamine type alkaloids from Crinum kirkii. Phytochemistry 65:3143–3149

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maelicke A, Samochocki M, Jostock R et al (2001) Allosteric sensitization of nicotinic receptors by galantamine, a new treatment strategy for Alzheimer’s disease. Biol Psychiatry 49:279–288

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNulty J, Nair JJ, Codina C et al (2007) Selective apoptosis-inducing activity of crinum-type Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Phytochemistry 68:1068–1074

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McNulty J, Nair JJ, Singh M et al (2009) Selective cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory activity of Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 19:3233–3237

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pagliosa LB, Monteiro SC, Silva KB et al (2010) Effect of isoquinoline alkaloids from two Hippeastrum species on in vitro acetylcholinesterase activity. Phytomedicine 17:698–701

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes-Chilpa R, Berkov S, Hernández-Ortega S et al (2011) Acetyl-cholinesterase inhibiting alkaloids from Zephyranthes concolor. Molecules 16:9520–9533

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rhee IK, van Rijn RM, Verpoorte R (2003) Qualitative determination of false-positive effects in the acetylcholinesterase assays using thin layer chromatography. Phytochem Anal 14:127–131

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sebben C (2005) Investigaçao química e biológica em Hippeastrum breviflorum Herb. (Amaryllidaceae). Dissertation, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

  • Sheldrick GM (2008) A program for automatic solution of crystal structure refinement. Acta Crystallogr A 64:112–221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ünver N (2007) New skeletons and new concepts in Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. Phytochem Rev 6:125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vrijsen R, Berghe DAV, Vlietinck AJ et al (1986) Lycorine: an eukaryotic terminator inhibitor? J Biol Chem 261:505–507

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner J, Pham HL, Döpke W (1996) Alkaloids from Hippeastrum equestre Herb. -5. Circular dichroism studies. Tetrahedron 52:6591–6600

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner C, Sefkow M, Kopka J (2003) Construction and application of a mass spectral and retention time index database generated from plant GC/EI-TOF-MS metabolite profiles. Phytochemistry 62:887–900

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zupkó I, Réthy B, Hohmann J et al (2009) Antitumor activity of alkaloids derived from Amaryllidaceae species. In Vivo 23:41–48

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaume Bastida.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

de Andrade, J.P., Giordani, R.B., Torras-Claveria, L. et al. The Brazilian Amaryllidaceae as a source of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory alkaloids. Phytochem Rev 15, 147–160 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-015-9411-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-015-9411-7

Keywords

Navigation