RP-HPLC-DAD-MS(n) Analysis and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of Barbacenia blanchetii Extracts.

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to a diode-array detector (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS) was applied for the separation and identification of phenolic compounds in the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extract of Barbacenia blanchetii. The MS, MSn and UV data together with chemosystematic evidence allowed the structural characterization of five compounds: tricin, chrysoeriol, epi-gallocatechin, kaempferol 3-O-glucoside and caffeoylquinic acid. At the same time, these extracts were evaluated against butyrylcholinesterase using Ellman's method. All extracts inhibited BuChE in a concentration-dependent form; however, the methanol extract showed a better effect that the other extracts. These compounds have been identified previously in the Velloziaceae family, but for the first time as constituents of B. blanchetii.