Phenanthrene and dihydrophenanthrene derivatives from with anticholinesterase, and antioxidant activities.

Five phenanthrene and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives were isolated from the diethyl ether extract of fresh rhizomes of (L.), among them a phenanthrentriol reported for the first time from Dioscoreaceae family and two dihydrophenanthrene derivatives and reported also for the first time from species. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated using UV, IR, 1D-, 2D-NMR, and MS techniques. The anticholinesterase activity of extracts and four compounds was evaluated for the first time against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes using Ellman method. Moreover, the antioxidant activity of extracts and three compounds has been investigated using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS cation radical decolorization, CUPRAC, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assays.