Pyrroloquinolone A, a new alkaloid and other phytochemicals from Atractylis cancellata L. with antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities

Abstract

A new alkaloid pyrroloquinolone A (1), along with fifteen known compounds 2–16 were isolated from the petroleum ether, EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts of the whole plant Atractylis cancellata L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS techniques. This is the first report of alkaloids in the genus Atractylis. Some of the isolated compounds and extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant potential (scavenging activity of DPPH and ABTS radicals, and reducing Fe⁺³ and Cu⁺² power assays) and acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Compounds 8 and 11 showed good antioxidant capacity compared to ascorbic acid, BHA, and BHT used as standards, whereas compounds 1 and 2 exhibited good anticholinesterase activities compared to galantamine used as standard.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Asteraceae
• Atractylis cancellata L
• pyrroloquinolone A
• NMR
• antioxidant activity
• anticholinesterase activity

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria for PRFU Project (B00L01UN050120180001), CRBt (Constantine-Algeria), Conseil Regional Champagne Ardenne, Conseil General de la Marne, Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR) France and EU-program FEDER to the PlAneT CPER project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Statistical analysis

All data on both chemical analysis and bioassays activity tests were the average of triplicate analyses. The data were recorded as mean values ± standard deviation. The IC₅₀ values were calculated by linear regression analysis, and one-way analysis of variance ANOVA to detect significant differences (p < 0.05), using XLSTAT Tukey test.