Triterpenoidal alkaloids from Buxus hyrcana and their enzyme inhibitory, anti-fungal and anti-leishmanial activities

From the aerial parts of Buxus hyrcana, three triterpenoidal alkaloids, 17-oxo-3-benzoylbuxadine (1), buxhyrcamine (2), and 31-demethylcyclobuxoviridine (3), along with 16 known compounds, cyclobuxo-viridine (4), N-b-dimethylcyclobuxoviricine (5), E-buxenone (6), Z-buxenone (7), moenjodaramine (8), homomoenjodarmine (9), buxamine A (10), buxamine B (11), 31-hydroxybuxamine B (12), N-20-formylbuxaminol E (13), papillozine C (14), buxmicrophylline F (15), buxrugulosamine (16), cyclobuxophylline 0 (17), spirofornabuxine (18) and arbora-1,9(11)-dien-3-one (19) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by using NMR spectroscopic methods. All of the compounds exhibited moderate to weak acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and glutathione S-transferase inhibitory activities. Compounds 1-19 also exhibited modest anti-fungal activities against Candida albicans. Compounds 1, 2, 8, 9 and 18 also exhibited weak anti-leishmanial activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.