Chemo-profiling of some Turkish Galanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae) species and their anticholinesterase activity

• Published in: South African journal of botany Vol. 136; pp. 65 - 69
• Main Authors: Bozkurt, Buket, Kaya, Gulen Irem, Onur, Mustafa Ali, Unver-Somer, Nehir
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Amaryllidaceae; Anticholinesterase activity; Galanthus; GC–MS; Galanthus; GC–MS; Amaryllidaceae; Anticholinesterase activity
• ISSN: 0254-6299; 1727-9321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sajb.2020.09.012

•Twenty-five alkaloids and a lignan were detected in Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae) species by using GC–MS.•Anticholinesterase activities of Galanthus krasnovii, Galanthus gracilis, and Galanthus peshmenii extracts were also determined.•This is the first report of a GC–-MS study and the anticholinesterase activity of G. krasnovii and G. peshmenii. Amaryllidaceae family, consisting of economically important plants with ornamental value, is very well-known for its isoquinoline alkaloids with variable biological activities and chemical structures. Among these alkaloids, an effective acetylcholinesterase inhibitor galanthamine, is prescribed widely in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Plants of the Amaryllidaceae family are therefore, subjected to intensive research to find potent cholinesterase inhibitors. The chemical composition of three Galanthus species including Galanthus krasnovii A.P. Khokhr., Galanthus gracilis Ćelak. and an endemic species Galanthus peshmenii A.P. Davis & C.D. Brickell were analyzed by GC–MS. In total, twenty-five alkaloids with various chemical structure types and a lignan, namely epipinoresinol were identified. Cholinesterase inhibitory potentials of the plant extracts were also determined by in vitro Ellman's method. Extracts of Galanthus krasnovii bulbs displayed the most promising acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) inhibitory activities (AChE: IC50: 8.26 µg/mL and BuChE: IC50: 6.23 µg/mL).