Cucurbitane-type compounds from Momordica charantia: Isolation, in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory activities and in silico modeling approaches

Alpha-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity of Pistacia atlantica Desf. gall extracts and identification of putative bioactives using a combined UPLC fingerprinting and molecular docking approach

Aims

Pistacia atlantica Desf. (Anacardiaceae) is traditionally used in Mediterranean medicine, with previous studies showing antidiabetic potential in its fruits and leaves. This study evaluates the antidiabetic activity of P. atlantica galls (PAG) extracts using in vitro, chemometric, and in silico approaches.

Method

The antidiabetic activity of the samples were studied by measuring their half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) concentrations according to the in vitro enzyme inhibition assays and modelled as a function of the LC fingerprints using the partial least squares technique. Crystal structures of the human pancreatic α-amylase (HPA) and the α-glucosidase homologue isomaltase were obtained from the Protein Data Bank website (http://www.rcsb.org/pdb). Docking simulations and calculations were carried out using AutoDock Vina.

Results

PAG extracts inhibited HPA (IC50s ranging from 1.85 to 2.92 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50s ranging from 34 to 49 µg/mL) activities, with galls collected from male plants showing higher activity than those from female plants. UPLC fingerprinting, linked to chemometric analysis using a partial least squares regression model, putatively identified five compounds (quinic acid, methyl gallate, digalloyl quinic acid, methyl digallate, and valoneic acid dilactone) responsible for this antidiabetic effect. Molecular docking using AutoDock Vina revealed that the identified compounds interacted with key amino acid residues of HPA and α-glucosidase.

Conclusions

By employing UPLC fingerprinting combined with chemometric analysis and molecular docking simulations, quinic acid and digalloyl quinic acid were identified from P. atlantica gall extract as the most promising ligands for further investigation into their antidiabetic potential.

Graphical Abstract

Polyphasic approaches to identify and understand α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of secondary metabolites of Withania coagulans fruit

Withania coagulans (WC) is used in traditional and Ayurveda medicine to treat various ailments, including diabetes. Our investigation found that WC fruit hexane extract effectively suppresses α-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 0.013 mg/ml, Ki = 0.012 mg/ml). The purified molecule has an IC50 of 0.004 mg/ml and Ki of 0.0037 mg/ml. FTIR examination indicates distinctive peaks at 3500, 2900, 1770, and 1500 cm-1 corresponding to functional groups OH bending, CH stretching, CO stretching, and CO stretching. GCMS analysis reveals plant secondary metabolites (PSM) such as n-hexadecenoic acid and methyl 9,10-octadecadienoate. NMR confirms the existence of olefinic fatty acids. The bioactive fraction recorded a non-competitive mode of inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. The cytotoxicity exhibited against HELA cell was IC50 0.4 mg/ml and found positive in inhibiting the growth of Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Additionally, ensemble docking and molecular dynamic simulation showed that, out of the four PSMs examined, methyl 12,13-tetradecadienoate interacted with the α-glucosidase enzyme's allosteric site (BE -128.78 kJ/mol) and changed the configurations of the catalytic sites, as demonstrated by the enzyme's decreased affinity for isomaltose. The study found that PSMs from WC fruit may inhibit α-glucosidase, making them viable candidates for antidiabetic medication development.

Antitussive, Expectorant and Antipyretic Effect of the Ethanolic Extract of the Leaves of Momordica charantia L

The traditional use of the M. charantia L. plant to treat coughs, fever and expectoration is widely practiced in different cultures, but its effectiveness and safety still require scientific investigation. This study sought to perform a chemical analysis and evaluate the antitussive, expectorant and antipyretic effects of the ethanolic extract of M. charantia leaves (EEMc) in rats and mice. The EEMc was subjected to chemical analysis by HPLC-DAD, revealing the presence of the flavonoids astragalin and isoquercetin. Acute oral toxicity in mice did not result in deaths, although changes in liver weight and stool consistency were observed. EEMc demonstrated an antitussive effect at doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg in mice subjected to cough induction by citric acid nebulization. Furthermore, it showed expectorant activity at a dose of 300 mg/kg, assessed based on the elimination of the phenol red marker in bronchoalveolar lavage. In the evaluation of antipyretic activity in rats, fever induced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae was reduced at all doses tested during the first hour after treatment. This innovative study identified the presence of astragalin and isoquercetin in EEMc and indicated that the extract has antitussive, expectorant and antipyretic properties. Therefore, EEMc presents itself as a promising option in herbal medicine for the treatment of respiratory symptoms and fever.

Analyzing the potential of selected plant extracts and their structurally diverse secondary metabolites for α-glucosidase inhibitory activity: in vitro and in silico approach

Inhibiting α-glucosidase activity is a therapeutic method to regulate post-prandial hyperglycemia in humans. Here, in-vitro and in-silico studies were used to find α-glucosidase inhibitory plant secondary metabolites (PSM). Among 408 solvent extracts from 70 plants tested for α-glucosidase inhibition, 174 had IC50 ≤ 3 mg/ml. α-glucosidase inhibitory PSM is found in several plant species and solvent extracts, indicating their diversity. Further, ensemble molecular docking and structural activity relationship analysis supported this hypothesis where the top 100 PSM with the least binding energy (BE) among the 539 PSM belonged to sesquiterpenoids (34%), catechols (11%), flavonoids (9%) and steroidal lactones (8%). Shortlisted 11 PSM were subjected to molecular dynamic simulation. Withanolide J recorded the least BE of -66.424 ± 22.333 kJ/mol, followed by Withacoagulin I (-64.665 ± 24.030 kJ/mol). When different simulation frames were analyzed, PSM of withanolide groups was stabilized in the narrow entrance of the active pocket forming H-bond with LYS156, TYR158, PHE159, PHE303 PRO312, LEU313, ARG315 and PHE134. Similarly, Hydroxytuberosone and 1, 8-Dihydroxy-3-carboxy-9, 10-anthraquinone (DHCA) formed H-bond with ASP307 located on the loop at the entrance of the active pocket. In the case of Neoliquiritin and Kaempferol-3-o-alpha-L-rhamnoside (KALR), glucose moiety interacted with the GLU277 and ASP215 (catalytic amino acid residues) through H-bonds. In addition, these 11 PSM were found to fulfil the criteria of drug-likeness as per Lipinski's rule of five and pharmacokinetic profile. The present study strengthens the library of α-glucosidase inhibitory plants and PSM, providing valuable information for Type-II Diabetes mellitus management.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

New insights into the bioactive polysaccharides, proteins, and triterpenoids isolated from bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and their relevance for nutraceutical and food application: A review

The recent trend in infectious diseases and chronic disorders has dramatically increased consumers' interest in functional foods. As a result, the research of bioactive ingredients with potential for nutraceutical and food application has rapidly become a topic of interest. In this optic, the plant Momordica charantia (M. charantia) has recently attracted the most attention owing to its numerous biological properties including anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancers among others. However, the current literature on M. charantia has mainly been concerned with the plant extract while little is known on the specific bioactive compounds responsible for the plant's health benefits. Hence, the present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the recent research progress on bioactives isolated from M. charantia, focusing on polysaccharides, proteins, and triterpenoids. Thus, this review provides an up-to-date account of the different extraction methods used to isolate M. charantia bioactives. In addition, the structural features and biological properties are presented. Moreover, this review discusses the current and promising applications of M. charantia bioactives with relevance to the nutraceutical and food industries. The information provided in this review will serve as a theoretical basis and practical support for the formulation of products enriched with M. charantia bioactives.

Three Pairs of Novel Enantiomeric 8-O-4' Type Neolignans from Saussurea medusa and Their Anti-inflammatory Effects In Vitro

Three pairs of novel enantiomeric 8-O-4′ type neolignans (1a/1b−3a/3b), together with seven known analogues (4−10), were isolated from the whole plants of Saussurea medusa. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data analysis and electric circular dichroism (ECD) calculations after chiral separations. All compounds were obtained from S. medusa for the first time, and compounds 1−3 and 5−10 had never been obtained from the genus Saussurea previously. The anti-inflammatory activities of the compounds were evaluated by determining their inhibitory activities on the production of NO and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds (+)-1a, (−)-1b and 5−7 inhibited NO production and had IC50 values ranging from 14.3 ± 1.6 to 41.4 ± 3.1 μM. Compound 7 induced a dose-dependent reduction in the expression of iNOS in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Molecular docking experiments showed that all active compounds exhibited excellent docking scores (<−7.0 kcal/mol) with iNOS. Therefore, compounds (+)-1a, (−)-1b and 5−7 isolated from the whole plants of S. medusa may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases.

Momordica charantia L.-Diabetes-Related Bioactivities, Quality Control, and Safety Considerations

Momordica charantia L. (Cucurbitaceae), commonly known as bitter gourd or bitter melon, is widely cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions of the world, where its unripe fruits are eaten as a vegetable. Apart from its culinary use, M. charantia has a long history in traditional medicine, serving as stomachic, laxative or anthelmintic, and, most notably, for the treatment of diabetes and its complications. Its antidiabetic properties and its beneficial effects on blood glucose and lipid concentrations have been reported in numerous in vitro and in vivo studies, but the compounds responsible for the observed effects have not yet been adequately described. Early reports were made for charantin, a mixture of two sterol glucosides, and the polypeptide p-insulin, but their low concentrations in the fruits or their limited bioavailability cannot explain the observed therapeutic effects. Still, for many decades the search for more reasonable active principles was omitted. However, in the last years, research more and more focused on the particular cucurbitane-type triterpenoids abundant in the fruits and other parts of the plant. This mini review deals with compounds isolated from the bitter gourd and discusses their bioactivities in conjunction with eventual antidiabetic or adverse effects. Furthermore, methods for the quality control of bitter gourd fruits and preparations will be evaluated for their meaningfulness and their potential use in the standardization of commercial preparations.

Cucurbitane-type triterpenoids from the vines of Momordica charantia and their anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antidiabetic activity

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract from wild Momordica charantia vines has resulted in isolation of seven cucurbitane-type triterpenoids, including six undescribed compounds, kuguaovins H‒M, and the known compound, momordicoside K. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, and MS experiments. The chemical structure of momordicoside K was determined for the first time by X-ray crystallographic analysis and its absolute configuration assigned. The cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines and anti-inflammatory activities on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were evaluated. Of the isolates, kaguaovin L exhibited potential cytotoxicity against MCF-7, HEp-2, Hep-G2, and WiDr cancer cell lines and showed moderate anti-NO production activity. In addition, kuguaovins H and J also showed the stimulatory effect of GLP-1 secretion on the murine intestinal secretin tumor cell line (STC-1).

Immunomodulatory effects and associated mechanisms of Momordica charantia and its phytochemicals

Momordica charantia L. (M. charantia), which is a member of the Cucurbitaceae family and widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, has been consumed as a vegetable and also used as herbal medicine for thousands of years worldwide.

Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants Used in Democratic Republic of Congo: A Critical Review of Ethnopharmacology and Bioactivity Data

Several studies have been conducted and published on medicinal plants used to manage Diabetes Mellitus worldwide. It is of great interest to review available studies from a country or a region to resort to similarities/discrepancies and data quality. Here, we examined data related to ethnopharmacology and bioactivity of antidiabetic plants used in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were extracted from Google Scholar, Medline/PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, the Wiley Online Library, Web of Science, and other documents focusing on ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, and phytochemistry antidiabetic plants used in the Democratic Republic of Congo from 2005 to September 2021. The Kew Botanic Royal Garden and Plants of the World Online web databases were consulted to verify the taxonomic information. CAMARADES checklist was used to assess the quality of animal studies and Jadad scores for clinical trials. In total, 213 plant species belonging to 72 botanical families were reported. Only one plant, Droogmansia munamensis, is typically native to the DRC flora; 117 species are growing in the DRC and neighboring countries; 31 species are either introduced from other regions, and 64 are not specified. Alongside the treatment of Diabetes, about 78.13% of plants have multiple therapeutic uses, depending on the study sites. Experimental studies explored the antidiabetic activity of 133 plants, mainly in mice, rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Several chemical classes of antidiabetic compounds isolated from 67 plant species have been documented. Rare phase II clinical trials have been conducted. Critical issues included poor quality methodological protocols, author name incorrectly written (16.16%) or absent (14.25%) or confused with a synonym (4.69%), family name revised (17.26%) or missing (1.10%), voucher number not available 336(92.05%), ecological information not reported (49.59%). Most plant species have been identified and authenticated (89.32%). Hundreds of plants are used to treat Diabetes by traditional healers in DRC. However, most plants are not exclusively native to the local flora and have multiple therapeutic uses. The analysis showed the scarcity or absence of high-quality, in-depth pharmacological studies. There is a need to conduct further studies of locally specific species to fill the gap before their introduction into the national pharmacopeia.

Molecular Docking and Simulation Studies of Antidiabetic Agents Devised from Hypoglycemic Polypeptide-P of Momordica charantia

Diabetes mellitus termed as metabolic disorder is a collection of interlinked diseases and mainly body's inability to manage glucose level which leads to cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, neurological disorders, and many others. The drugs contemporarily used for diabetes have many inevitable side effects, and many of them have become less responsive to this multifactorial disorder. Momordica charantia commonly known as bitter gourd has many bioactive compounds with antidiabetic properties. The current study was designed to use computational methods to discover the best antidiabetic peptides devised from hypoglycemic polypeptide-P of M. charantia. The binding affinity and interaction patterns of peptides were evaluated against four receptor proteins (i.e., as agonists of insulin receptor and inhibitors of sodium-glucose cotransporter 1, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, and glucose transporter 2) using molecular docking approach. A total of thirty-seven peptides were docked against these receptors. Out of which, top five peptides against each receptor were shortlisted based on their S-scores and binding affinities. Finally, the eight best ligands (i.e., LIVA, TSEP, EKAI, LKHA, EALF, VAEK, DFGAS, and EPGGGG) were selected as these ligands strictly followed Lipinski's rule of five and exhibited good ADMET profiling. One peptide EPGGGG showed activity towards insulin and SGLT1 receptor proteins. The top complex for both these targets was subjected to 50 ns of molecular dynamics simulations and MM-GBSA binding energy test that concluded both complexes as highly stable, and the intermolecular interactions were dominated by van der Waals and electrostatic energies. Overall, the selected ligands strongly fulfilled the drug-like evaluation criterion and proved to have good antidiabetic properties.

TCD, a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd, reduces synaptosomal release of glutamate and protects against kainic acid-induced neuronal death

3β,7β,25-Trihydroxycucurbita-5,23(E)-dien-19-al (TCD) is a triterpenoid isolated from wild bitter gourd that is a common tropical vegetable with neuroprotective effects. Because excessive glutamate release is a major cause of neuronal damage in various neurological disorders, the aims of this study were to examine the effect of TCD on glutamate release in vitro and to examine the effect of TCD in vivo. In rat cerebrocortical synaptosomes, TCD reduced 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-stimulated glutamate release and Ca2+ concentration elevation, but had no effect on plasma membrane potential. TCD-mediated inhibition of 4-AP-induced glutamate release was dependent on the presence of extracellular calcium; persisted in the presence of the glutamate transporter inhibitor dl-TBOA, P/Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-agatoxin IVA, and intracellular Ca2+-releasing inhibitors dantrolene and CGP37157; and was blocked by the vesicular transporter inhibitor bafilomycin A1 and the N-type Ca2+ channel blocker ω-conotoxin GVIA. Molecular docking studies have demonstrated that TCD binds to N-type Ca2+ channels. TCD-mediated inhibition of 4-AP-induced glutamate release was abolished by the Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go6976, but was unaffected by the Ca2+-independent PKC inhibitor rottlerin. Furthermore, TCD considerably reduced the phosphorylation of PKC, PKCα, and myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, a major presynaptic substrate for PKC. In a rat model of kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity, TCD pretreatment substantially attenuated KA-induced neuronal death in the CA3 hippocampal region. These results suggest that TCD inhibits synaptosomal glutamate release by suppressing N-type Ca2+ channels and PKC activity and exerts protective effects against KA-induced excitotoxicity in vivo.

Comparative Analysis of Metabolite Profiling of Momordica charantia Leaf and the Anti-Obesity Effect through Regulating Lipid Metabolism

This study investigated the effects of Momordica charantia (M. charantia) extract in obesity and abnormal lipid metabolism in mice fed high fat diet (HFD). Fruit, root, stem, and leaf extracts of M. charantia were obtained using distilled water, 70% ethanol and 95% hexane. M. charantia leaf distilled water extract (MCLW) showed the highest antioxidant activity in both 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity tests and reducing power. Metabolite profiles of M. charantia leaf extracts were analyzed for identification of bioactive compounds. HFD-fed mice were treated with MCLW (oral dose of 200 mg/kg/d) for 4 weeks. MCLW reduced lipid accumulation, body weight, organ weight, and adipose tissue volume and significantly improved glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in HFD mice. Furthermore, MCLW administration reduced serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared with HFD mice. Moreover, MCLW significantly reduced the levels of serum urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and aspartate aminotransferase; alleviated liver and kidney injury. MCLW decreases expression of genes that fatty acid synthesis; increase the expression of catabolic-related genes. These results indicate that MCLW has an inhibitory effect on obese induced by high fat diet intake, and the mechanism may be related to the regulation of abnormal lipid metabolism in liver and adipose tissue, suggesting that MCLW may be a suitable candidate for the treatment of obesity.

Novel Phytochemical Constituents and their Potential to Manage Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes is a chronic disease affecting a large population worldwide and stands as one of the major global health challenges to be tackled. According to World Health Organization, about 400 million are having diabetes worldwide and it is the seventh leading cause of deaths in 2016. Plant-based natural products have been in use from ancient times as ethnomedicine for the treatment of several diseases, including diabetes. As a result of that, there are several reports on plant-based natural products displaying antidiabetic activity. In the current review, such antidiabetic potential compounds reported from all plant sources along with their chemical structures are collected, presented and discussed. These kinds of reports are essential to pool the available information to one source, followed by statistical analysis and screening to check the efficacy of all known compounds in a comparative sense. This kind of analysis can give rise to a few potential compounds from hundreds, which can further be screened through in vitro and in vivo studies, and human trails leading to the drug development.

METHODS

Phytochemicals, along with their potential antidiabetic property, were classified according to their basic chemical skeleton. The chemical structures of all the compounds with antidiabetic activities were elucidated in the present review. In addition to this, the distribution and their other remarkable pharmacological activities of each species are also included.

RESULTS

The scrutiny of literature led to the identification of 44 plants with antidiabetic compounds (70) and other pharmacological activities. For the sake of information, the distribution of each species in the world is given. Many plant derivatives may exert anti-diabetic properties by improving or mimicking insulin production or action. Different classes of compounds including sulfur compounds (1-4), alkaloids (5-11), phenolic compounds (12-17), tannins (18-23), phenylpropanoids (24-27), xanthanoids (28-31), amino acid (32), stilbenoid (33), benzofuran (34), coumarin (35), flavonoids (36-49) and terpenoids (50-70) were found to be potential active compounds for antidiabetic activity. Of the 70 listed compounds, majorly 17 compounds are obtained from triterpenoids, 13 from flavonoids and 7 from alkaloids. Among all the 44 plant species, the maximum number (7) of compounds were isolated from Lagerstroemia speciosa followed by Momordica charantia (6) and S. oblonga with 5 compounds.

CONCLUSION

This is the first paper to summarize the established chemical structures of phytochemicals that have been successfully screened for antidiabetic potential and their mechanisms of inhibition. The reported compounds could be considered as potential lead molecules for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. Further, molecular and clinical trials are required to select and establish therapeutic drug candidates.

Jayaprakasha G, S. Patil B. Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic Properties and In Silico Modeling of Cucurbitane-Type Triterpene Glycosides from Fruits of an Indian Cultivar of Momordica charantia L

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease and one of the fastest-growing health challenges of the last decades. Studies have shown that chronic low-grade inflammation and activation of the innate immune system are intimately involved in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis. Momordica charantia L. fruits are used in traditional medicine to manage diabetes. Herein, we report the purification of a new 23-O-β-d-allopyranosyl-5β,19-epoxycucurbitane-6,24-diene triterpene (charantoside XV, 6) along with 25ξ-isopropenylchole-5(6)-ene-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), karaviloside VI (2), karaviloside VIII (3), momordicoside L (4), momordicoside A (5) and kuguaglycoside C (7) from an Indian cultivar of Momordica charantia. At 50 µM compounds, 2–6 differentially affected the expression of pro-inflammatory markers IL-6, TNF-α, and iNOS, and mitochondrial marker COX-2. Compounds tested for the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes at 0.87 mM and 1.33 mM, respectively. Compounds showed similar α-amylase inhibitory activity than acarbose (0.13 mM) of control (68.0–76.6%). Karaviloside VIII (56.5%) was the most active compound in the α-glucosidase assay, followed by karaviloside VI (40.3%), while momordicoside L (23.7%), A (33.5%), and charantoside XV (23.9%) were the least active compounds. To better understand the mode of binding of cucurbitane-triterpenes to these enzymes, in silico docking of the isolated compounds was evaluated with α-amylase and α-glucosidase.

The Effect of Momordica charantia in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

In recent years, many studies of Momordica charantia (MC) in the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) and its complications have been reported. This article reviewed the effect and mechanism of MC against diabetes, including the results from in vitro and in vivo experiments and clinical trials. The common side effects of MC were also summarized. We hope that it might open up new ideas for further mechanism exploration and clinical application as well as provide a scientific theoretical basis for the development of drugs or foods derived from MC.

A Review of Malaysian Herbal Plants and Their Active Constituents with Potential Therapeutic Applications in Sepsis

Sepsis refers to organ failure due to uncontrolled body immune responses towards infection. The systemic inflammatory response triggered by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria, is accompanied by the release of various proinflammatory mediators that can lead to organ damage. The progression to septic shock is even more life-threatening due to hypotension. Thus, sepsis is a leading cause of death and morbidity globally. However, current therapies are mainly symptomatic treatment and rely on the use of antibiotics. The lack of a specific treatment demands exploration of new drugs. Malaysian herbal plants have a long history of usage for medicinal purposes. A total of 64 Malaysian plants commonly used in the herbal industry have been published in Malaysian Herbal Monograph 2015 and Globinmed website (http://www.globinmed.com/). An extensive bibliographic search in databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus revealed that seven of these plants have antisepsis properties, as evidenced by the therapeutic effect of their extracts or isolated compounds against sepsis-associated inflammatory responses or conditions in in vitro or/and in vivo studies. These include Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale, Curcuma longa, Piper nigrum, Syzygium aromaticum, Momordica charantia, and Centella asiatica. Among these, Z. officinale is the most widely studied plant and seems to have the highest potential for future therapeutic applications in sepsis. Although both extracts as well as active constituents from these herbal plants have demonstrated potential antisepsis activity, the activity might be primarily contributed by the active constituent(s) from each of these plants, which are andrographolide (A. paniculata), 6-gingerol and zingerone (Z. officinale), curcumin (C. longa), piperine and pellitorine (P. nigrum), biflorin (S. aromaticum), and asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and madecassoside (C. asiatica). These active constituents have shown great antisepsis effects, and further investigations into their clinical therapeutic potential may be worthwhile.

Cucurbitane-Type Triterpene Glycosides from Momordica charantia and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities

Ten cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides, including five new compounds named charantosides H (1), J (2), K (3), momorcharacoside A (4), goyaglycoside-L (5), and five known compounds (6-10), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Momordica charantia fruits. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified by 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS spectroscopic analyses. Configurations of new compounds were determined by ROESY correlations and comparison of their ¹³C NMR data with literature reported values. All compounds were evaluated for their inhibition against α-glucosidase, in which compounds 2, 5, 7, 8, 9 showed moderate inhibitory activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 28.40 to 63.26 μM comparing with the positive control (acarbose, IC₅₀ 87.65 ± 6.51 μM).

Review on Bile Acids: Effects of the Gut Microbiome, Interactions with Dietary Fiber, and Alterations in the Bioaccessibility of Bioactive Compounds

Bile acids are cholesterol-derived steroid molecules that serve various metabolic functions, particularly in the digestion of lipids. Gut microbes produce unconjugated and secondary bile acids through deconjugation and dehydroxylation reactions, respectively. Alterations in the gut microbiota have profound effects on bile acid metabolism, which can result in the development of gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases. Emerging research shows that diets rich in dietary fiber have substantial effects on the microbiota and human health. Plant-based foods are primary sources of bioactive compounds and dietary fiber, which are metabolized by microbes to produce different metabolites. However, the bioaccessibility of these compounds are not well-defined. In this review, we discuss the interaction of bile acids with dietary fiber, the gut microbiota, and their role in the bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds. To understand the possible mechanism by which bile acids bind fiber, molecular docking was performed between different dietary fiber and bile salts.