The application of HPLC with on-line coupled UV/MS-biochemical detection for isolation of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from narcissus 'Sir Winston Churchill'.

An HPLC with on-line coupled UV/MS-biochemical detection method for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors in natural sources has been developed. The potential of this method is shown by the isolation of a new AChE inhibitor from the alcoholic extract of Narcissus 'Sir Winston Churchill'. Combining a prefractionation technique using centrifugal partition chromatography with the on-line HPLC-UV/MS-biochemical detection resulted in the isolation of the active compound that was identified as ungiminorine. This alkaloid shows a mild inhibitory effect on AChE.