Prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba.

Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP, EC 3.4.21.26) hydrolyzes proline-containing neuropeptides, such as vasopressin, substance P, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), and is suggested to participate in learning and memory processes. Ginkgo biloba leaves, upon examination for anti-amnestic constituents as new types of PEP inhibitors, showed significant PEP inhibition. PEP activity-guided fractionation and column chromatography of the MeOH extracts of G. biloba leaves resulted in the isolation of 6-(8'Z-pentadecenyl)salicylic acid (1) and 6-(10'Z-heptadecenyl)salicylic acid (2). The kinetic study indicated that compounds 1 and 2 are non-competitive inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase with Ki values of 0.87 and 0.80 microM, respectively.