Alkaloids from Roots of Stephania rotunda and Their Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity

Abstract

In the course of screening plants used in folk medicine as memory enhancers, a 70 % ethanolic extract of Stephania rotunda roots showed significant AChE inhibitory activity. Repeated column chromatography led to the isolation of a new protoberberine alkaloid, which we named stepharotudine (1), and seven known compounds (2–8). The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. Compounds 1–8 were investigated in vitro for their anticholinesterase activity using a rat cortex AChE enzyme.

Key words

Stephania rotunda - Menispermaceae - acetylcholinesterase - amnesic - stepharotudine

References

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