The Antiacetylcholinesterase and Antileishmanial Activities of Canarium patentinervium Miq.

In continuation of our natural and medicinal research programme on tropical rainforest plants, a bioassay guided fractionation of ethanolic extract of leaves of Canarium patentinervium Miq. (Burseraceae Kunth.) led to the isolation of scopoletin (1), scoparone (2), (+)-catechin (3), vomifoliol (4), lioxin (5), and syringic acid (6). All the compounds exhibited antiacetylcholinesterase activity with syringic acid, a phenolic acid exhibiting good AChE inhibition (IC(50) 29.53 ± 0.19 μg/mL). All compounds displayed moderate antileishmanial activity with scopoletin having the highest antileishmanial activity (IC(50) 163.30 ± 0.32 μg/mL). Given the aforementioned evidence, it is tempting to speculate that Canarium patentinervium Miq. represents an exciting scaffold from which to develop leads for treatment of neurodegenerative and parasitic diseases.