Phenolic Profile and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Properties of Three Chilean Altiplano Plants: (Benth.) Kuntze [Lamiaceae], Ruiz & Pav. var. hirsuta (Meyen) Cabrera, and (Kunth) [Asteraceae].

This research aimed to identify the phenolic profile and composition of the aerial parts of three native species used in traditional medicine in the Andean Altiplano of northern Chile: (Benth.) Kuntze [Lamiaceae] (commonly known as Muña-Muña), Ruiz & Pav. var. hirsuta (Meyen) Cabrera [Asteraceae] (commonly known as Chinchircoma), and (Kunth), [Asteraceae] (commonly known as Gracilis), as well as to evaluate their potential inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Polyphenolic enriched-extracts (PEEs) of the species were prepared and analyzed and the main components were quantified using HPLC-DAD. In total, 30 phenolic compounds were identified and quantified in all species, including simple phenolics, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols (monomers and polymers), flavanones, and flavonols. In addition, other main phenolics from the extracts were tentatively identified by ESI-MS-MS high-resolution analysis. extract showed the greatest anti-AChE and BChE activity in comparison with and extracts, being the anti-AChE and BChE activity weak in all extracts in comparison to galantamine control. To comprise to better understand the interactions between cholinesterase enzymes and the main phenolics identified in , molecular docking analysis was conducted.