Carnosol from Lepechinia mutica and tiliroside from Vallea stipularis: Two promising inhibitors of BuChE

Abstract Lepechinia mutica (Benth.) Epling, Lamiaceae, and Vallea stipularis L.f., Elaeocarpaceae, are the object of the present study. These plants are endemic to the Andean region and have attracted our attention on the basis of interesting results obtained in a preliminary anticholinesterase screening. Actually, carnosol and tiliroside, isolated from L. mutica and V. stipularis , respectively, have shown a promising selective inhibitory activity against butyrylcholinesterase. Specifically, the anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity of carnosol was 5.15 μM and that of tiliroside was 52.9 μM, compared to 8.568 ± 0.570 μM of the positive control Donepezil. Carnosol and tiliroside were purified chromatographically from the ethyl acetate extract of L. mutica and V. stipularis , respectively. Spectrophotometric methods were used for enzymatic studies.