Indole alkaloids from Ervatamia hainanensis with potent acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities

Through bioassay-guided fractionation and chromatography technique, eight indole alkaloids were furnished from the stems of Ervatamia hainanensis. All isolates were evaluated for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition activities, in which compounds 1 and 3 exhibited the same level of activities as galantamine, a marketed cholinesterase inhibitor for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Discussion about the relationships between structure and activity of these alkaloids was also presented. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.