Bioactive polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum perforatum

Org Biomol Chem. 2018 Nov 7;16(43):8130-8143. doi: 10.1039/c8ob02067a.

Abstract

Fifteen new polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols (PPAPs), hyperforatones A-O (1-15), along with 3 structurally related analogues (16-18), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Hypericum perforatum. Their structures and absolute configurations were established by a combination of NMR spectroscopic analyses, experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD), modified Mosher's methods, Rh2(OCOCF3)4- and [Mo2(OAc)4]-induced ECD, X-ray crystallography, and the assistance of quantum chemical predictions (QCP) of 13C NMR chemical shifts. Compound 5 was found to be the first PPAP decorated by a rare 2,2,4,4,5-(pentamethyltetrahydrofuran-3-yl)methanol moiety and an oxepane ring. Furthermore, the isolates were screened for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) inhibitory activities. Compounds 5, 10, 11, and 15 showed desirable AChE inhibitory activities (IC50 6.9-9.2 μM) and simultaneously inhibited BACE1 (at a concentration of 5 μM) with inhibition rates of 50.3%, 34.3%, 47.2%, and 34.6%, respectively. Interestingly, compound 5 showed the most balanced inhibitory activities against both AChE and BACE1 of all the tested compounds, which means that 5 could serve as the first valuable dual-targeted PPAP for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Preliminary molecular docking studies of 5 with BACE1 and AChE were also performed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholinesterase / chemistry
  • Acetylcholinesterase / metabolism
  • Alzheimer Disease / drug therapy
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / chemistry
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases / metabolism
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / chemistry
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / metabolism
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / chemistry*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Hypericum / chemistry*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Phloroglucinol / chemistry*
  • Phloroglucinol / metabolism
  • Phloroglucinol / pharmacology*
  • Phloroglucinol / therapeutic use
  • Polycyclic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Prenylation*
  • Protein Conformation

Substances

  • Cholinesterase Inhibitors
  • Polycyclic Compounds
  • Phloroglucinol
  • Acetylcholinesterase
  • Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases
  • Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases
  • BACE1 protein, human