New cholinesterase inhibiting bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Cocculus pendulus

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation on Cocculus pendulus (J. R. & G. FORST.) resulted in the isolation of two new and three known bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The structures of the new alkaloids, kurramine-2′-β-N- oxide (1) and kurramine-2′-α-N-oxide (2), were elucidated with the help of spectroscopic techniques. The cholinesterase inhibitory activities of these bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids are reported here for the first time. © 2004 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.