Bioactive 5α-pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids from Sarcococca hookeriana

The bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of Sarcococca hookeriana with respect to cholinesterase inhibitory properties has yielded two new 5 alpha-pregnane-type steroidal alkaloids, hookerianamides J (1) and K (2), along with eight known Compounds (3-10). The structures of I and 2 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. These compounds displayed good to moderate activities in vitro against the enzymes acetylcholinesterase IC50 8.1-48.5 mu M) and butyrylcholinesterase IC50 0.4-4.0 mu M). Compounds 1-10 were also tested in vitro for their leishmanicidal activity against Leishmania major and for their antibacterial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Streptococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas pallida.