Isosteroidal alkaloids as potent dual-binding site inhibitors of both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase from the bulbs of Fritillaria walujewii

Five new isosteroidal alkaloids, walujewine A (1), walujewine B (4), walujewine C (5), walujewine D (6), walujewine E (10) were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria walujewii together with seven known isosteroidal alkaloids (2, 3, 7–9, 11, 12). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of IR, ESI-MS, HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All the isolates were tested for ChE inhibiting activity by the Ellman's method. Compounds 3–5 and 8–10 were potent dual AChE−BChE inhibitors, and compound 1 showed highly selective AChE inhibition. The structure−activity relationship of compounds 1–12 was discussed in details. And kinetic analysis showed that compounds 1, 3–5, and 8–10 were mixed-type reversible inhibitors of AChE, simultaneously binding to the catalytic and peripheral anionic sites, which was verified by in silico docking studies. The docking simulation also showed that active compound 3 and 8 created many interactions with the CAS and PAS gorges of BChE, revealing their mixed-type inhibition. ADMET analysis further confirmed the therapeutic potential of some isosteroidal alkaloids based on their high BBB-penetration.