Alkylamides from Zanthoxylum armatum DC. and their neuroprotective activity

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Neuropharmacology
• Medicinal Plant Research

Background:

• Zanthoxylum armatum DC. pericarps are utilized as a spice and in traditional medicine.
• Alkylamides are a class of compounds found in medicinal plants with diverse bioactivities.
• Oxidative stress is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, necessitating the search for neuroprotective agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize alkylamides from Zanthoxylum armatum pericarps.
• To evaluate the neuroprotective potential of isolated alkylamides against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress.
• To expand the knowledge of alkylamide structures from Zanthoxylum species.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and purification of compounds using chromatographic techniques.
• Structure elucidation of fifteen alkylamides (five novel, ten known) via 1D/2D NMR and mass spectrometry.
• Assessment of neuroprotective activity using human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells challenged with H2O2.

Main Results:

• Fifteen alkylamides were identified, including five previously undescribed structures.
• Compounds 2-4 demonstrated significant neuroprotective activity, enhancing cell viability in a dose-dependent manner.
• Compounds 2-4 effectively reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in stressed cells.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified novel alkylamide structures from Zanthoxylum armatum.
• Specific alkylamides (compounds 2-4) exhibit promising neuroprotective properties by mitigating oxidative stress.
• These findings contribute to understanding the chemical diversity and therapeutic potential of Zanthoxylum armatum.