Acacia jacquemontii ethyl acetate extract reduces hyperglycemia and pro-inflammatory markers while increasing endogenous antioxidant potential in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant, and tyrosinase inhibitory potential of the Acacia cyclops trunk bark: in vitro combined with in silico approach

The aim of this study was to analyze the phytochemical profile of Acacia cyclops trunk bark ethyl acetate extract using LC-tandem mass spectrometry for the first time, along with evaluating its antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase properties. Consequently, we determined the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract under investigation and identified and quantified 19 compounds, including phenolic acids and flavonoids. In addition to assessing their antioxidant potential against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis-[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic] acid) assays, in vitro and in silico studies were conducted to evaluate the tyrosinase inhibitory properties of the A. cyclops extract. The ethyl acetate trunk bark extract exhibited a substantial total phenolic content and demonstrated significant antioxidant activity in terms of free radical scavenging, as well as notable tyrosinase inhibitory action (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] = 14.08 ± 1.10 μg/mL). The substantial anti-tyrosinase activity of the examined extract was revealed through molecular docking analysis and druglikeness prediction of the main selected compounds. The findings suggest that A. cyclops extract holds promise as a potential treatment for skin hyperpigmentation disorders.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase potentials of Acacia cyclops trunk bark using in vitro and in silico approaches

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the phytochemical profile of Acacia cyclops trunk bark methanol extract using LC-MS/MS, as well as to assess its antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities. Thus, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the studied extract were established and 19 compounds were detected and quantified. In addition of their antioxidant potential against DPPH and ABTS assays, in vitro and in silico studies were adopted to evaluate tyrosinase inhibitory property of A. cyclops extract. Methanol trunk bark extract showed significant total phenolic content, antioxidant potential in terms of free radical scavenging, as well as an interesting tyrosinase inhibitory action (IC50= 05.12 ± 0.41 μg/mL). The molecular docking analysis and the drug-likeness prediction of the major selected compounds supported the significant anti-tyrosinase activity of the studied extract. The obtained results suggest that A. cyclops extract could be a promising candidate in the treatment of skin hyperpigmentation disorders.

Xiongshao Zhitong Recipe Attenuates Nitroglycerin-Induced Migraine-Like Behaviors via the Inhibition of Inflammation Mediated by Nitric Oxide Synthase

Migraine is a major cause of disability worldwide, particularly in young adults and middle-aged women. Xiongshao Zhitong Recipe (XZR) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for treating migraine, but its bioactive components and therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to confirm the therapeutic effect of XZR on migraine and to determine the possible mechanism and bioactive components of XZR. Here, a sensitive UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap MS assay was carried out to analyze the ingredients of XZR, and a total of 62 components were identified, including coumarins, phenolic acids, phthalides, flavonoids, and terpenoids; among them, 15 components were identified in the serum samples after XZR treatment. We established a rat model of migraine via nitroglycerin (NTG) injection. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that XZR attenuated allodynia and photophobia in rats with NTG-induced migraine, and XZR also demonstrated analgesic effects. XZR reversed the abnormal levels of nitric oxide, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and substance P (SP) to normal levels. XZR also downregulated inflammatory reactions, including mast cell degranulation and serum IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. In terms of mechanism, we revealed that XZR treated NTG-induced migraine through the inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in both the trigeminal nucleus caudalis (TNC) and periaqueductal gray matter (PAG), as well as the total NOS enzyme activity, which regulated the NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, imperatorin and xanthotoxin, two major ingredients of XZR, showed a high binding affinity to nNOS (Gly468-Leu616). In vitro, XZR, imperatorin, and xanthotoxin inhibited the nNOS expression and the NF-κB signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PC12 cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated the therapeutic effects of XZR and provided evidence that XZR played a critical anti-inflammatory role by suppressing NOS and NF-κB signaling pathway activation. Imperatorin and xanthotoxin were potential bioactive components of XZR. The findings from this study supported that XZR was a candidate herbal drug for migraine therapy.