Maytenus distichophylla and Salacia crassifolia: source of products with potential acetylcholinesterase inhibition

ABSTRACT The phytochemical study of the extract leaves from Maytenus distichophylla Mart. and Salacia crassifolia (Mart. ex Schult.) G. Don, Celastraceae, resulted in the isolation of 3-oxofriedelane, 3 β -hydroxyfriedelane, 3 β ,24-dihydroxyfriedelane, 3-oxo-28,29-dihydroxyfriedelane, two mixtures of pentacyclic triterpenes ( α -amyrin with β -amyrin and 3 β -stearyloxy-urs-12-ene with 3 β -stearyloxy-olean-12-ene), 3 β -palmityloxy-urs-12-ene, the steroid β -sitosterol and its glycosylated derivative β -glucosyl- β -sitosterol, tritriacontanoic acid and the natural polymer gutta percha. The chemical structures of these constituents were established by IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectral data. Crude extracts, the mixtures of triterpenes and the isolated constituents were subjected to in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory evaluation. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect was observed for crude chloroform extract leaves from M. distichophylla (100%) and S. crassifolia (97.93 ± 5.63%) and for the triterpenes 3 β ,24-dihydroxyfriedelane (99.05 ± 1.12%), 3-oxo-28,29-dihydroxyfriedelane (90.59 ± 3.76%) and 3 β -palmityloxy-urs-12-ene (97.93 ± 1.47%). The percent inhibitions induced by these natural products were very similar to those produced by physostigmine (93.94 ± 2.10%) a standard acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Therefore, these results open perspectives for the use of these species as source of compounds with similar physostigm ine pharmacological effect.
Source: Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research