The underivatized alkaloid mixture extracted from the bulbs of Chlidanthus fragrans Herb. was investigated by capillary GC/MS for the first time. Fifteen known Amaryllidaceae alkaloids of five structure types were identified. The main alkaloids were tazzetine (9, tazettine-type), chlidanthine (2, galanthamine-type), belladine (8, belladine-type) and lycorine (12, lycorine-type). The alkaloid extract from the bulbs showed promising human blood acetylcholinesterase (IC50 = 20.1 +/- 2.9 microg/mL) and human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 = 136.8 +/- 6.9 microg/mL) inhibitory activity.

• MeSH
• Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors chemistry   isolation & purification   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Liliaceae chemistry   MeSH
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Amaryllidaceae species are known as ornamental plants. Some contain galanthamine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. The chemical composition of the alkaloid extract of bulbs of Nerine bowdenii Watson has been analyzed by means of GC/MS. Twenty-two compounds were detected and nineteen of them identified, one of which was belladine. The alkaloid extract showed promising cholinesterase inhibitory activities against human blood acetylcholinesterase (HuAChE; IC50 = 87.9 +/- 3.5 microg/mL) and human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (HuBuChE; IC50 = 14.8 +/- 1.1 microg/mL). Belladine inhibited HuAChE and HuBuChE in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 781 +/- 12.5 microM and 284.8 +/-4.2 microM, respectively.

• MeSH
• Alkaloids chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Cholinesterase Inhibitors chemistry   isolation & purification   pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Liliaceae chemistry   MeSH
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry MeSH
• Plant Extracts analysis   MeSH
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH