Development of Selective Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors Using (R)-Lipoic Acid-Polyphenol Hybrid Molecules

Development of Selective Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors Using (R)-Lipoic Acid-Polyphenol Hybrid Molecules

A series of hybrid molecules between (R)-lipoic acid (ALA) and the acetylated or methylated polyphenol compounds were synthesized and their in vitro cholinesterase [acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)] inhibition activities were checked. The $IC_{50}$ values of all hybrid molecules for a BuChE inhibition were lower than those of the single parent compounds. Specifically, ALA-acetyl protected caffeic acid (11, ALA-AcCA) was shown as an effective inhibitor of BuChE ($IC_{50}=0.5{\pm}0.2\;{\mu}M$) and also had a great selectivity for BuChE over AChE (more than 800 fold). Inhibition kinetic study indicated that 11 is a mixed inhibition type. Its binding affinity ($K_i$) value to BuChE is $1.52{\pm}0.18\;{\mu}M$.