Design, synthesis and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of -mangostin derivatives.

-mangostin, a polyphenol xanthone derivative, was mainly isolated from pericarps of the mangosteen fruit ( L.). In present investigation, a series of derivatives were designed, synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Among the synthesised xanthones, compounds , , and showed AChE selective inhibitory activity, was a BuChE selective inhibitor while , , , , , and were dual inhibitors. The most potent inhibitor of AChE was while was the most potent inhibitor of BuChE with IC values of 5.26 M and 7.55 M respectively.