Chemistry and Biological Activity of Alkaloids from the Genus Lycoris (Amaryllidaceae)

Abstract

Lycoris Herbert, family Amaryllidaceae, is a small genus of about 20 species that are native to the warm temperate woodlands of eastern Asia, as in China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and the Himalayas. For many years, species of Lycoris have been subjected to extensive phytochemical and pharmacological investigations, resulting in either the isolation or identification of more than 110 Amaryllidaceae alkaloids belonging to different structural types. Amaryllidaceae alkaloids are frequently studied for their interesting biological properties, including antiviral, antibacterial, antitumor, antifungal, antimalarial, analgesic, cytotoxic, and cholinesterase inhibition activities. The present review aims to summarize comprehensively the research that has been reported on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus Lycoris.

In-Vitro Screenings for Biological and Antioxidant Activities of Water Extract from Theobroma cacao L. Pod Husk: Potential Utilization in Foods

“…Both of the bacteria are pathogenic and their availability is commonly used to determine the sanitary quality of foods [19]. Despite the presence of antibacterial secondary metabolites (such as alkaloids [20,21], saponins [22], and phenols [23]), TCW was observed to possess no inhibition effect against bacterial growth; even when the concentration was raised to 20% w/v. The impurities and antagonistic combination of phytoconstituents might be responsible for its inactive antibacterial properties.…”

Recent Progress on Biological Activity of Amaryllidaceae and Further Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Connection with Alzheimer’s Disease

“…CC is used especially when a higher amount of plant material is available for the isolation of AAs (normally over 1 kg). Because of the possible formation of isolation artifacts of alkaloids (like N -chloromethyl-, methoxy-, ethoxy- and butoxy-derivatives), it is necessary to specify the used solvents within all steps of the phytochemical study to identify if the isolated compound is really a natural product [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. Alcohols can react with a carboxylic group to form esters, and with hemiacetals to form acetals.…”

“…A phytochemical study of bulbs of Lycoris longituba yielded thirteen AAs that have been screened for their neuroprotective, and electric eel AChE ( Ee AChE) inhibition activity [ 70 ]. The natural existence of isolated alkaloids with a N -chloromethyl moiety in the structure, as in N -(chloromethyl)galanthamine and N -(chloromethyl)lycoramine isolated from this plant must be first reinvestigated, because when halogenated solvents are used during the isolation process, this can result in the formation of N -chloromethyl alkaloid derivative artifacts ( Figure 4 ) [ 48 , 49 ]. The best Ee AChE inhibitors belong to the galanthamine type (e.g., N -norgalanthamine (IC 50 = 2.76 ± 0.65 μM) and 11β-hydroxygalanthamine (IC 50 = 3.04 ± 0.61 μM)).…”

Biological Investigation of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid Extracts from the Bulbs of Pancratium trianthum Collected in the Senegalese Flora

“…Traditional usage of Amaryllidaceae ranges from simple health problems (e.g., headache, cough, boils) to complicated diseases (e.g., cancer, tuberculosis, diabetes). Amaryllidaceae preparations are recognized for their antimicrobial, anti-tumoral, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and cytotoxic properties [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. West African Amaryllidaceae species such as Pancratium sp., collected in Senegal for traditional medicine [ 17 ], have been scarcely studied [ 18 ].…”