Alkaloids from Stems of Esenbeckia leiocarpa Engl. (Rutaceae) as Potential Treatment for Alzheimer Disease

Author(s)

Cardoso-Lopes, Elaine Monteiro ^[1] ; Maier, James Andreas ^[1] ; da Silva, Marcelo Rogerio ^[1] ; Ragasini, Luis Octavio ^[2] ; Simote, Simone Yasue ^[2] ; Lopes, Norberto Peporine ^[3] ; Pirani, Jose Rubens ^[4] ; Bolzani, Vanderlan da Silva ^[2] ; Marx Young, Maria Claudia ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Inst Bot, Sect Plant Physiol & Biochem, BR-01061970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Sao Paulo State Univ, Inst Chem, BR-14801970 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Chem & Phys, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Bot, Biosci Inst, BR-05422970 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Molecules; v. 15, n. 12, p. 9205-9213, DEC 2010.
• Web of Science Citations: 30

Abstract

Esenbeckia leiocarpa Engl. (Rutaceae), popularly known as guaranta, goiabeira, is a native tree from Brazil. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of the ethanol stems extract afforded the isolation of six alkaloids: leiokinine A, leptomerine, kokusaginine, skimmianine, maculine and flindersiamine. All isolated compounds were tested for acetyl cholinesterase inhibition, in vitro and displayed anticholinesterasic activity. The alkaloid leptomerine showed the highest activity (IC(50) = 2.5 mu M), similar to that of the reference compound galanthamine (IC(50) = 1.7 mu M). The results showed for the first time the presence of alkaloids leptomerine and skimmianine in E. leiocarpa (Engl.) with potent anticholinesterasic activity. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 03/02176-7 - Conservation and sustainable use of the diversity from Cerrado and Atlantic Forest: chemical diversity and prospecting for potential drugs - phase II
• Grantee: Vanderlan da Silva Bolzani
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants