Acetyl and butyrylcholinesterase-inhibiting triterpenoid alkaloids from Buxus papillosa

Three triterpenoid alkaloids. buxakashiniramine [(20S)-20-dimethylamino-4,6'-dimethoxy-5'-hydroxybenzoylamino-3 beta -methylbuxan-31-ol] (1), buxakarachiamine [(20S)-20-dimetliylamino-2'-hydroxy-3 beta -methyl-3'-methyl-butanoylamino-9,10-seco-buxa-9(11), 10(19)-dien-31-ol] (2) and buxaehjramme [(20S)-20-dimethylamino-2'-hydroxy-3 beta -methyl-3'-methyl-pentanoylamino-9,10-seco-buxa-9(11), 10(19)-dien-31-ol] (3) were isolated from the leaves of Buxus papillosa. Four known bases, cycloprotobuxine-C (4), cyclovirobuxeine-A (5), cyclomicrophylline-A (6) and semperviraminol (7) were isolated for the first time from this species. Their structures were established through extensive spectroscopic studies. Most of these compounds exhibited anticholinesterase activity. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.