Lai_2013_Fitoterapia_89_257

Two new alkaloids, named stenine A (1) and stenine B (2), along with the known compounds neostenine (3), stenine (4) and neotuberostemonine (5), were isolated from the roots of Stemona sessilifolia. Their structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectra and X-ray single-crystal diffraction experiment. Anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of compounds 1-5 were also tested. Compounds 2 and 4 showed significant anti-acetylcholinesterase activities, with IC50 values of 2.1+/-0.2muM and 19.8+/-2.5muM, resp. The mode of AChE inhibition by Compound 2 (the most potential AChE inhibitor) was reversible and competitive. In addition, molecular modeling was performed to explore the binding mode of compound 2 with AChE.