AChE inhibitory alkaloids from Coptis chinensis

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Products Chemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Coptis chinensis is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with a history of medicinal use.
• Alkaloids are a diverse group of natural compounds with significant pharmacological properties.
• Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key enzyme in neurotransmission, and its inhibition is a target for treating neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize new alkaloids from Coptis chinensis.
• To evaluate the AChE inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds.

Main Methods:

• Extraction of alkaloids from Coptis chinensis rhizomes using chloroform.
• Structure elucidation of new compounds using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Mass Spectrometry (MS).
• In vitro assessment of AChE inhibitory activity at a concentration of 10 μM.

Main Results:

• Six new alkaloids (coptisine A-F, 1-6) and 26 known alkaloids (7-32) were isolated.
• Compounds 1-3 were identified as α-carbonylated benzylisoquinolines, and 4-6 as berberidic acid type alkaloids.
• Seven compounds (7, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 29) demonstrated significant AChE inhibition (>80% at 10 μM).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified novel alkaloids from Coptis chinensis.
• Several isolated alkaloids, particularly compounds 7, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, and 29, show potent AChE inhibitory effects.
• These findings highlight the potential of Coptis chinensis alkaloids as therapeutic agents for conditions related to AChE activity.