Bioactive aristolactams from Piper umbellatum

Four alkaloids named piperumbellactarns A-D (1-4) were isolated from branches of Piper umbellatum together with known N-hydroxyaristolam II (5), N-p-coumaroyl tyramine (6), 4-nerolidylcatechol (7), N-trans-feruloyltyramine, E-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-N-2-[4-hydroxyphenylethyl]-2-propenamide, beta-amyrin, friedelin, apigenin 8-C-neohesperidoside, acacetin 6-C-beta-D-glucopyranoside, beta-sitosterol, its 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and its 3-O-beta-D-[6'-dodecanoyl]-glucopyrano side. Glycosidase inhibition, antioxidant and antifungal activities of these compounds were evaluated. Compounds 1-3 showed moderate alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition with IC50 values 98.07 +/- 0.44, 43.80 +/- 0.56 and 29.64 +/- 0.46, respectively. In DPPH radical scavenging assay, compounds 2, 3 and 6 showed potent inhibitory activity while compounds 4, 5 and 7 showed potent antifungal activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.