Abietane-type Diterpenoids from the Roots of Caryopteris Mongolica and Their Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activities

Eleven abietane-type diterpenoids and two known abietanes were isolated from the roots of Caryopteris mongolica, and their structures were characterized. The absolute configurations at C-5 and C-10 were determined from the NMR data, including from the nuclear Overhauser effect and CD spectra, and the absolute configuration of C-16 in the hydroxypropyl group was determined via a modified Mosher's method. Furthermore, the previously unknown absolute configuration of the C-15 of cyrtophyllone B was determined to be in an R-configuration using X-ray crystallography. To estimate the preventive effects of the isolates for neurodegenerative disease development, their inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) from human erythrocytes and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) from horse serum were evaluated.