Combination of phenolic profiles, pharmacological properties and in silico studies to provide new insights on Silene salsuginea from Turkey

Evaluation of Antioxidant Capacity, Anticholinergic and Antidiabetic Activities, and Phenolic Ingredients of Asphodelus aestivus by LC-MS/MS

Herein, it was aimed to evaluate three different extracts of the plant Asphodelus aestivus in terms of their antioxidant capacity, total phenolic content, flavonoid profile, and anticholinergic and antidiabetic activity. In addition, the phenolic content of the A. aestivus extracts was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. The results obtained in the antioxidant studies were checked against butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, Trolox, and α-tocopherol antioxidants, which are reference standards. The half-maximal inhibition concentration (IC50 ) values of A. aestivus for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) removal activity were 245.015-285.851 and 285.818-371.563 μg/mL, respectively. Then, the reducing impact of A. aestivus extracts was evaluated by the cupric ion (Cu2+ ), ferric ion (Fe3+ ), and Fe3+ -TPTZ reducing capabilities. Moreover, 0.058, 0.064, and 0.100 μg of gallic acid equivalent of phenolic and 0.500, 1.212, and 2.074 μg of quercetin equivalent of flavonoid contents were determined from 1 mg of ethanol, water, and water-ethanol extracts, respectively. For water-ethanol, ethanol, and water extracts of A. aestivus, IC50 values of 0.062±0.0001, 0.068±0.0002, and 0.090±0.0001 μg/mL against acetylcholinesterase, respectively, were calculated. In addition, against the enzyme α-glucosidase IC50 values of 16.376±0.2216, 18.907±0.3004, and 24.471±0.4929 μg/mL, respectively, were calculated. Extracts showed considerable biological activities thanks to the important molecules they contain.

Understanding the Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Different Extracts of Secamone afzelii Leaves: A Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds for the Food Industry

Secamone afzelii (Roem. & Schult.) K. Schum (family Asclepiadaceae) is a creeping woody climber used to treat ailments in many traditional medicine systems. The present study aims to examine the antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities of S. afzelii leaf using different compositions of methanol-water mixture as an extraction solvent. The extracts were characterized by HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ in terms of chemical compounds. The in silico results show that compound 23 (quercitrin) has the higher docking scores among the selected substances and the MD simulation revealed that the interactions with the enzymatic pocket are stable over the simulation time and strongly involve the tyrosinase catalytic Cu atoms. All together the results showed that both 80% and 100% methanolic extracts contained significantly (p < 0.05) the highest total phenolics content while the highest content of total flavonoids was significantly (p < 0.05) extracted by 100% methanol. About 26 compounds were tentatively identified by HPLC-ESI-MSⁿ and 6 of them were quantified using standards. Results showed that the extracts were rich in flavonoids with a relatively high abundance of two kaempferol glycosides comprising 60% of quantified compounds. The 100% and 80% methanol extracts recorded significantly (p < 0.05) the highest total antioxidant, DPPH and ABTS activity as well as tyrosinase and ⍺-amylase inhibitory activities. The best significant (p < 0.05) cholinesterase inhibitory activity and reducing capacity of Fe⁺⁺⁺ and Cu⁺⁺ was recorded from the 80% methanolic extract while 100% ethanolic extract gave the highest significant (p < 0.05) butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The best glucosidase activity was observed in the 50% and 80% methanolic extracts. Although the water extract displayed the least total phenolics and flavonoids content and consequently the lowest antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activity, it displayed significantly (p < 0.05) the highest chelating power. In conclusion, these results demonstrated the richness of S. afzelii leaf as a potential source of bioactive compounds for the food industry, for the preparation of food supplements and functional foods.

Phytochemical and Functional Characterization of Different Parts of the Garcinia xanthochymus Fruit

The fruit of Garcinia xanthochymus is consumed traditionally and is known to possess health-promoting effects. However, studies involving the characterization of phytochemicals of different parts of the fruit, and their biological activity were limited and hence warranted a comprehensive study. The proximate analyses reveal that fruit peel was rich in crude fiber. The levels of essential minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, carotenoids, organic acids, and polyphenols were significantly higher in the peel, followed by the rind, seed, and pulp. The in vitro antioxidant assays revealed that the polyphenolic extract of the peel possesses a high antioxidant effect compared to the extracts from other parts of theG. xanthochymus fruit. Furthermore, the in vitro assays reveal the antidiabetic potential of the methanol extract. This is the first comprehensive report involving the characterization and biological properties of different parts of the G. xanthochymus fruit. Hence, our study implicates the potential use of this fruit for the development of functional foods for diabetes.

Leaf and Flower Extracts of Six Michelia L.: Polyphenolic Composition, Antioxidant, Antibacterial Activities and in Vitro Inhibition of α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase

Methanolic extracts of the leaf and flower of Michelia L., an evergreen aromatic genus widely used in landscaping, industry and medicine of various countries, were analyzed. The UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis led to the identification of 28 polyphenols from six Michelia species that widely distributed and cultivated in southern China, among which quinic acid and chlorogenic acid were the main components. The flower extract of Michelia maudiae had the most abundant polyphenols content, as well as high contents of total phenolic (117.31 ± 7.26 mg GAE/g DW) and total flavonoid (251.60 ± 15.56 mg CE/g DW). Meanwhile, it also showed outstanding performance in three antioxidant indexes of DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. The leaf extracts of Michelia chapensis and Michelia floribunda exhibited excellent inhibition against four pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, certain inhibitory activities were displayed by Michelia macclurei extracts against α-amylase and α-glucosidase This study explored the biological activities of six Michelia species, and provided reference for variety selection with the aim of designing novel phyto-pharmaceuticals.

Limoniastrum guyonianum behavior under seasonal conditions fluctuations of Sabkha Aïn Maïder (Tunisia)

In Sabkha biotope, several environmental factors (i.e., salinity, drought, temperature, etc.) especially during dry season affect halophytes developments. To cope with these harmful conditions, halophytes use multiple mechanisms of adaptations. In this study, we focused on the effect of environmental condition changes over a year in the Sabkha of Aïn Maïder (Medenine - Tunisia) on the physiological and biochemical behavior of Limoniastrum guyonianum using a modeling approach. Our study showed that the model depicted well (R² > 0.75) the monthly fluctuations of the studied parameters in this habitat. During the dry period (June to September), the salinity of the soil increased remarkably (high level of EC and Na⁺ content), resulting in high Na⁺ content in the aerial parts followed by a nutrient deficiency in K⁺, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. As a result of this disruption, L. guyonianum decreased its water potential to more negative values to maintain osmotic potential using inorganic osmolytes (i.e., Na⁺) and organic osmolytes (i.e., sugars: sucrose, fructose, glucose, and xylitol, and organic acids: citric and malic acids). In addition, CO₂ assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and photosynthetic pigments decreased significantly with increasing salinity. The phenolic compounds contents and the antioxidant activity increased significantly in the dry period as a result of increased levels of H₂O₂ and lipid peroxidation. This increase was highly correlated with soil salinity and air temperature. The maintenance of tissue hydration (i.e., moderate decrease of relative water content), the accumulation of sugars and organic acids, the enhancement of phenolic compounds amounts, and the increase of antioxidant activity during the dry period suggest that L. guyonianum possesses an efficient tolerance mechanism that allows the plant to withstand the seasonal fluctuations of climatic conditions in its natural biotope.

Validation of the Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Potential of Selected Triterpenes Using In Vitro and In Silico Studies, and the Evaluation of Their ADMET Properties

The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential of fifteen cycloartane-type triterpenes’ potentials were investigated using different assays. In the phosphomolybdenum method, cycloalpioside D (6) (4.05 mmol TEs/g) showed the highest activity. In 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH*) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radical scavenging assays, cycloorbicoside A-7-monoacetate (2) (5.03 mg TE/g) and cycloorbicoside B (10) (10.60 mg TE/g) displayed the highest activities, respectively. Oleanolic acid (14) (51.45 mg TE/g) and 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 7-monoacetate (4) (13.25 mg TE/g) revealed the highest reducing power in cupric ion-reducing activity (CUPRAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, respectively. In metal-chelating activity on ferrous ions, compound 2 displayed the highest activity estimated by 41.00 mg EDTAE/g (EDTA equivalents/g). The tested triterpenes showed promising AChE and BChE inhibitory potential with 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol 2′,3′,4′,7-tetraacetate (3), exhibiting the highest inhibitory activity as estimated from 5.64 and 5.19 mg GALAE/g (galantamine equivalent/g), respectively. Compound 2 displayed the most potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity (113.24 mg KAE/g (mg kojic acid equivalent/g)). Regarding α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition, 3-O-β-d-xylopyranoside-(23R,24S)-16β,23;16α,24-diepoxycycloart-25(26)-en-3β,7β-diol (5) (0.55 mmol ACAE/g) and compound 3 (25.18 mmol ACAE/g) exerted the highest activities, respectively. In silico studies focused on compounds 2, 6, and 7 as inhibitors of tyrosinase revealed that compound 2 displayed a good ranking score (−7.069 kcal/mole) and also that the ΔG free-binding energy was the highest among the three selected compounds. From the ADMET/TOPKAT prediction, it can be concluded that compounds 4 and 5 displayed the best pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior, with considerable activity in most of the examined assays.

Investigation on the Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibition Potential of Polygonum Plebeium R.Br: A Comprehensive Approach to Disclose New Nutraceutical and Functional Food Ingredients

The present work describes medicinal potential and secondary metabolic picture of the methanol extract (PP-M) of Polygonum plebeium R.Br. and its fractions; hexane (PP-H), ethyl acetate (PP-E) and water (PP-W). In total bioactive component estimation, highest contents of phenolic (89.38±0.27 mgGAE/g extract) and flavonoid (51.21±0.43 mgQE/g extract) were observed in PP-E, and the same fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant potential in DPPH (324.80±4.09 mgTE/g extract), ABTS (563.18±11.39 mgTE/g extract), CUPRAC (411.33±15.49 mgTE/g extract) and FRAC (369.54±1.70 mgTE/g extract) assays. In Phosphomolybdenum activity assay, PP-H and PP-E showed nearly similar potential, however, PP-H was the most active (13.54±0.24 mgEDTAE/g extract) in metal chelating activity assay. PP-W was the stronger inhibitor (4.03±0.05 mgGALAE/g extract) of the enzyme AChE, while PP-H was potent inhibitor of BChE (5.62±0.27 mg GALAE/g extract). Interestingly, PP-E was inactive against BChE. Against tyrosinase activity, PP-E was again the most active fraction with inhibitory value of 71.89±1.44 mg KAE/g extract, followed by the activity of PP-M and PP-W. Antidiabetic potential was almost equally distributed among PP-M, PP-H and PP-E. For mapping the chemodiversity of P. plebeium, PP-M was analyzed through UHPLC/MS, which led to the identification of more than 50 compounds. Flavonoids were the main components derived from isovitexin, kaempferol and luteolin however, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, gingerols and lyoniresinol 9'-sulfate were among important bioactive phenols. These findings prompted to conclude that Polygonum plebeium can be a significant source to offer new ingredient for nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Enzyme inhibitory function and phytochemical profile of Inula discoidea using in vitro and in silico methods

Many plant species have a large diversity of secondary metabolites with different biological activities. This study aims to assess the phenolic constituent, enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the aqueous (water) and methanol extracts of Inula discoidea. The enzyme assays showed effective enzyme inhibition of the methanol extract against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and α-glycosidase (α-Gly) enzymes. The IC50 values for AChE, BChE, GST, and α-Gly were found as 38.5 mg/mL, 34.65 mg/mL, 77.0 mg/mL, and 40.76 mg/mL, respectively. Antioxidant properties of the aqueous and methanol extracts of I. discoidea were determined by four well-known in vitro techniques (ABTS, CUPRAC, DPPH, and FRAP methods). The antioxidant values of both water and methanol extracts were found to be better than the standard antioxidants (BHA, BHT, ascorbic acid, and α-tocopherol) in ABTS and CUPRAC methods. According to an updated LC-MS/MS technique analysis, quinic acid (21.08 mg/g), protocatechuic acid (4.49 mg/g), and gallic acid (0.48 mg/g) were found as major phenolic compounds of the plant extract. The binding interactions of major phenolic compounds of I. discoidea with the AChE, BChE, GST, and α-Gly enzymes were investigated by the molecular docking studies.

Selective extraction of galactomannan from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seed husk and its enzyme inhibitory potential associated with hyperglycaemia

BACKGROUND

Fenugreek seeds host various bioactive compounds, and galactomannan (GM) is a significant soluble fibre. In this study, selective extraction is adapted to extract fenugreek seed GM to improvise the yield recovery. The seeds are fractionated, separated and classified as husk and cotyledons. Comparative studies have been performed to evaluate the crude and pure GM yield between different groups such as the whole seed, and the classified fractions. Characterization is done using Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, monosaccharide composition and optical density, and the structure is elucidated through nuclear magnetic resonance. The GM obtained through extraction is used to study its enzyme inhibitory property associated with hyperglycaemia.

RESULTS

GM yield extracted from the husk is highly significant compared to other groups. Crude GM and pure GM yield was 2 and 3.25 times higher than that obtained through whole seed samples. The characterization of the pure GM is on a par with the existing reports. The purified GM inhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro, with an IC50 of 21.08 ± 0.085 and 67.17 ± 5.15 μg mL^-1 , respectively.

CONCLUSION

Selective extraction prompts enhancement in the recovery of the bioactive compound, minimal use of resources, and promotes industrial viability. Characterization of the compound confirms the structure. Its enzyme inhibitory property makes GM a valuable compound in diabetic prevention/treatment. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Prospective of Multiple Biopharmaceutical Activities of Procyanidins-Rich Uapaca togoensis Pax Extracts: HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS Coupled with Bioinformatics Analysis

The article reports the chemical composition, antioxidant, six key enzymes inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of two solvent extracts (water and methanol) of leaves and stem bark of Uapaca togoensis. For chemical composition, methanol extract of stem bark exhibited significant higher total phenolic (129.86 mg GAE/g) and flavanol (10.44 mg CE/g) contents. Methanol extract of leaves and water extract of stem bark showed high flavonoids (20.94 mg RE/g) and phenolic acid (90.40 mg CAE/g) content, respectively. In addition, HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS analysis revealed that U. togoensis was rich in procyanidins. The methanol and water extracts of stem bark had overall superior antioxidant activity; however, only methanol extract of stem bark showed higher inhibition of cholinesterase (AChE: 2.57 mg GALAE/g; BChE: 4.69 mg GALAE/g), tyrosinase (69.53 mg KAE/g) and elastase (2.73 mmol CE/g). Potent metal chelating ability was showed by water extract of leaves (18.94 mg EDTAE/g), higher inhibition of amylase was detected for water extracts of leaves (0.94 mmol ACAE/g) and stem bark (0.92 mmol ACAE/g). The tested extracts have shown wide-spectrum antibacterial properties and these effects have shown to be more effective against Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium funiculosum, Trichoderma viride, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results revealed that the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory and antimicrobial activities depended on the extraction solvents and the parts of plant. Bioinformatics analysis on the 17 major compounds showed modulation of pathway associated with cancer. In brief, U. togoensis might be valuable as potential source of natural agents for therapeutic application.

Novel hypoglycemic compounds from wild mushroom Paxillus involutus

Wild mushrooms are an important source of secondary metabolites possessing a broad range of biological activities. In this study, eight new compounds, named furanopaxin A-F (1-6), deoxybisinvolutone (7), and coumarinvol (8) along with two known compounds were isolated from fruiting bodies of the wild mushroom Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr. Their structures were established based on HR-ESI-MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The results of hypoglycemic assays indicated that compounds 5-8 possessed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 14.65 ± 1.68 to 47.55 ± 1.47 μM, and each compound could enhance glucose consumption in insulin-resistance HepG2 cells. Further analysis by molecular docking implied that compounds 5-8 could interact with the amino acid residues of α-glucosidase, supporting the hypoglycemic activity of the compounds.

Health beneficial and pharmacological properties of p-cymene

p-cymene also known as p-cymol or p-isopropyltoluene is an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound naturally occurring in essential oils (EOs) of various aromatic plants, including the genus of Artemisia, Protium, Origanum, and Thymus. It is related to the family of terpenes, especially monocyclic monoterpenes. p-cymene is also present in several food-based plants such as carrots, orange juice, grapefruit, tangerine, raspberries and several spices. Numerous studies have demonstrated the pharmacological properties of the monoterpenes p-cymene, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. The p-cymene has also been reported to act as an analgesic, antinociceptive, immunomodulatory, vasorelaxant and neuroprotective agent. Its anticancer effects are related to some mechanisms such as the inhibition of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In this review, we critically highlighted the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of the p-cymene molecule, providing insight into its mechanisms of action and potential applications in drug discovery. In light of this finding, in-depth in vivo studies are strongly required to validate the safety and beneficial effects of the p-cymene molecule in human healthcare and industrial applications as a potential source of drug discovery.

Antidiabetic, anticholinergic and antioxidant activities of aerial parts of shaggy bindweed (Convulvulus betonicifolia Miller subsp.) - profiling of phenolic compounds by LC-HRMS

In order to evaluate the antioxidant activity of evaporated ethanolic extract (EESB) and lyophilized water extract (WESB) of Shaggy bindweed (Convulvulus betonicifolia Mill. Subs), some putative antioxidant methods such as DPPH· scavenging activity, ABTS^•+ scavenging effect, ferric ions (Fe³⁺) reduction method, cupric ions (Cu²⁺) reducing capacity, and ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) binding activities were separately performed. Also, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and BHT were used as the standard compounds. Additionally, some phenolic compounds that responsible for antioxidant abilities of EESB and WESB were screened by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). At the same concentration, EESB and WESB demonstrated effective antioxidant abilities when compared to standards. In addition, EESB demonstrated IC₅₀ values of 1.946 μg/mL against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), 0.815 μg/mL against α-glycosidase and 0.675 μg/mL against α-amylase enzymes.

Antioxidant and glycohydrolase inhibitory behavior of curcumin-based compounds: Synthesis and evaluation of anti-diabetic properties in vitro

Naturally occurring anti-diabetic compound curcumin can prevent diabetes complications due to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as well as the attenuation of postprandial hyperglycemia. In this line, we have synthesized thirteen curcumin based derivatives (L1-L13) by multi-component reaction, characterized by IR, ¹HNMR, 13C NMR, MS, elemental analysis and evaluated for possible antioxidant properties and α-glucosidase (α-Glu) and α-amylase (α-Amy) inhibitory potential. The curcumin-based pyrano[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives could inhibit α-Glu and α-Amy enzyme activity which showed desirable antioxidant activity. Furthermore, among the series, L5, L12, L9, L10, L8 and L11 were identified as more potent inhibitors of α-Glu enzyme than curcumin and the compounds of L12, L4, L9, L5, L10, L8, L13, and L11 were the stronger inhibitors of the α-Amy enzyme in vitro. Besides, among them, L12 had the lowest IC₅₀ for the inhibition of both enzymes. Since strong inhibitors for pancreatic α-Amy result in the progression of severe gastrointestinal side effects, the inhibitors that show the lower α-Amy/α-Glu inhibitory ratio have attracted much attention in medicinal chemistry. Besides, considering antioxidant characteristics of synthesized compounds, the L7 derivative with the highest antioxidant activity and the lowest "α-Amy/α-Glu inhibitory" ratio could be an appropriate candidate for further study through the rational drug design to the exploration of a new class of powerful anti-diabetic drugs.

The anticancer potential of the dietary polyphenol rutin: Current status, challenges, and perspectives

Rutin is one of the most common dietary polyphenols found in vegetables, fruits, and other plants. It is metabolized by the mammalian gut microbiota and absorbed from the intestines, and becomes bioavailable in the form of conjugated metabolites. Rutin exhibits a plethora of bioactive properties, making it an extremely promising phytochemical. Numerous studies demonstrate that rutin can act as a chemotherapeutic and chemopreventive agent, and its anticancer effects can be mediated through the suppression of cell proliferation, the induction of apoptosis or autophagy, and the hindering of angiogenesis and metastasis. Rutin has been found to modulate multiple molecular targets involved in carcinogenesis, such as cell cycle mediators, cellular kinases, inflammatory cytokines, transcription factors, drug transporters, and reactive oxygen species. This review summarizes the natural sources of rutin, its bioavailability, and in particular its potential use as an anticancer agent, with highlighting its anticancer mechanisms as well as molecular targets. Additionally, this review updates the anticancer potential of its analogs, nanoformulations, and metabolites, and discusses relevant safety issues. Overall, rutin is a promising natural dietary compound with promising anticancer potential and can be widely used in functional foods, dietary supplements, and pharmaceuticals for the prevention and management of cancer.

Chemical characterization, antioxidant, antibacterial and enzyme inhibitory properties of Canthium coromandelicum, a valuable source for bioactive compounds

The present study aimed at chemical characterization of Canthium coromandelicum leaf extracts (CCLE) and their in vitro pharmacological (antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antibacterial) activities. Chemical characterization includes chemical profile of six extracts of CC by Gas chromatography - Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and total phenolics and flavonoids by spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was determined using eight assays. Enzymatic inhibitory property was evaluated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays and antibacterial activity was studied against 10 pathogenic bacteria by agar disc diffusion method. GC-MS analysis enabled the identification of 65 compounds with palmitic acid, n-pentacosane, cycloartenol, linoleic acid, squalene, γ-sitosterol, nonacosane and α-tocopherol as major constituents of CCLE. Highest amount of total phenolics (58.03 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (44.40 QE/g) was present in hydroalcoholic extract. Hydroalcoholic, methanolic and aqueous extracts showed significant free radical scavenging abilities and positive correlation was detected between antioxidant assays with recorded phenolics and flavonoids. Hydroalcoholic and methanolic extracts exhibited significant α-amylase (IC₅₀ of 44.25 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ of 30.82 μg/mL) respectively.Methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts at 750 μg/mL showed maximum antibacterial activity against S. typhi and S. flexneri respectively. Also, significant correlation was found between V. cholerae and R. equi as well as V. cholerae and S. epidermis. To conclude, C. coromandelicum could be considered as a natural antioxidant and potential source for therapeutic applications. However, widespread study is necessary to screen the role of recorded phytochemicals through in vivo studies to support its use in traditional medicine.

In vitro Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of polyphenolic compounds identified from Matricaria recutita

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a key enzyme enhancing the cognitive disorder, leading to Alzheimer’s disease, and AChE inhibition is a crucial therapeutic mechanism against it. Matricaria recutita (MR) is widely used as a herbal medicine due to its phytotherapeutic properties. For this reason, MR flower was evaluated to identify polyphenolic compounds (PC), and then each PC is examined for AChE inhibitory activity. The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry UPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used to detect PC, and molecular docking was performed to insight potential inhibitory activity of PC against AChE. A series of 13 PC compounds were identified in the fractions of MR plant. Docking studies revealed that the inhibitory free energy and the position of the docked compounds in the active site are favored for the active compounds complex formed between AChE and the identified PC compounds. The accurate analysis of the docking result demonstrates that Kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside (KR) and Luteolin-8-C-glucoside (orientin) (LG) are the most significant inhibitory compounds against AChE. It can be concluded that MR is a significant source of PC compounds, and KR and LG are the most promising compounds that have high-affinity binding to AChE, based on docking outcome. Further experiments are recommended to explore in vivo enzyme compound interaction and toxicity models to establish the maximum suggested dose.

The effect of postharvest ultraviolet irradiation on the content of antioxidant compounds and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in tomato

The effect of different doses of long-wavelength UV-A (320 nm-400nm) irradiation on physicochemical and antioxidant characteristics of tomatoes grown on the territory of the Russian Federation was studied. The obtained results show that this kind of processing does not cause deterioration of qualitative parameters of vegetables (texture, color, soluble solids content, titratable acidity). It was established that the total content of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and flavonoids increases (p-value<0.05) in tomatoes at all the investigated wavelengths (353 nm, 365 nm and 400 nm), while the content of chlorophylls reacts ambiguously: at some wavelengths, it increases, at other, it decreases. The maximum increase in antioxidant activity, as compared to untreated samples, is observed in tomatoe samples irradiated for 360 min within the range of 365 nm. For different types of tomatoes, the increment for common content of phenolic compounds is - 42.9-55.0 %, carotenoids - 24.0-56.0 %, flavonoids - 28.0-33.0 %, β-carotene - 70.9-71.6 %, lycopene - 62.6-69.0 %, lutein - 64.8-72.0 % from original. The studies reveal some potential of post-harvest ultraviolet irradiation (A-range) of tomatoes to increase their antioxidant activity. However, more research is needed to confirm this fact and the possibility to develop some technology.

Chemical profiling of Centaurea bornmuelleri Hausskn. aerial parts by HPLC-MS/MS and their pharmaceutical effects: From nature to novel perspectives

Ethnobotanical evidences substantiate the use of several Centaurea species to treat and/or manage several human ailments. In the present study, the phytochemical profile of the ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts (prepared by infusion and decoction) of Centaurea bornmuelleri Hausskn. aerial parts was established. The enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant properties were also determined by in vitro bioassays. Methanol extract (38.58 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract) and ethyl acetate extract (38.83 mg rutin equivalent/g extract) possessed the highest concentration of phenolics and flavonoids, respectively. Aqueous extract prepared following traditional infusion method showed potent DPPH (38.54 mg TE/g extract) and ABTS (57.75 mg TE/g extract) scavenging abilities. The methanol extract (101.46 mg TE/g extract) of C. bornmuelleri exhibited potent reducing activity in the CUPRAC assay while the aqueous extract obtained by infusion was more active in the FRAP assay (69.81 mg TE/g extract). Ethyl acetate extract of C. bornmuelleri inhibited both acetylcholinesterase (1.14 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g extract), butyrylcholinesterase (0.63 mg GALAE/g extract), tyrosinase (69.84 mg kojic acid equivalent/g extract), amylase (19.90 mg acarbose equivalent [ACAE]/g extract), and glucosidase (33.12 mg ACAE/g extract). The phytochemical profile of C. bornmuelleri has been characterized and the main components quantified in order to provide scientific base to design innovative products including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or nutraceuticals although further investigation concerning the isolation of the main bioactive compounds would be required.

Multidirectional biological investigation and phytochemical profile of Rubus sanctus and Rubus ibericus

In the present study, the biological properties, including, the enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities, as well as, the phytochemical profile of the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Rubus sanctus Schreb. and Rubus ibericus Juz. leaves were determined using in vitro bioassays. Wide range of phytochemicals, including, hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, acylquinic acids, ellagitannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins were determined using UHPLC-ESI/HRMS technique. The ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of the studied Rubus species effectively inhibited acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase. On the other hand, R. sanctus water extract showed low inhibition against α-amylase and prominent inhibitory action against α-glucosidase. Data collected from this study reported the radical scavenging and reducing potential of the studied Rubus species. Investigation of the protective effects of the different extracts of R. sanctus and R. ibericus in experimental model of ulcerative colitis was performed. The extracts were also tested on spontaneous migration of human colon cancer cells (HCT116) in wound healing experimental paradigm. Only R. sanctus methanol extract inhibited spontaneous HCT116 migration in the wound healing test. Our results suggested that R. sanctus and R. ibericus may be potential candidates as sources of biologically-active compounds for the development of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and/or cosmetics.

Discovery of novel amide tripeptides as pancreatic lipase inhibitors by virtual screening

A virtual screening workflow for the discovery of pancreatic lipase inhibitors.