Unveiling the functional components and antivirulence activity of mustard leaves using an LC-MS/MS, molecular networking, and multivariate data analysis integrated approach

Metabolomics analysis of Cucumis melo var. flexuosus organs in correlation to its anti-inflammatory activity aided by chemometrics

Snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus, CM) is a gourd with health-promoting nutritional traits and unexplored phytochemicals. This study aims to comprehensively investigate the phytoconstituents in the fruits, leaves, roots, seeds, and stems of CM, using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. Consequently, 118 metabolites were identified, encompassing phenolic compounds, flavonoids, megastigmanes, lignans, cucurbitacins, and fatty acids. Multivariate data analysis revealed differences in the metabolite composition of CM organs and correlated these variations with the potential in-vitro anti-inflammatory properties assessed against RAW 264.7 macrophages through the down-regulation of cyclo-oxygenase-Ⅱ, nuclear factor-kappa B, and tumor necrosis factor-α. The results indicated that leaf and seed extracts showed the highest anti-inflammatory activity due to their enrichment in several flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, and a megastigmane. These findings emphasize the health benefits of CM organs as potential functional foods and functional food by-products, serving as a natural source for developing new anti-inflammatory agents.

Uncovering the therapeutic potential of green pea waste in breast cancer: a multi-target approach utilizing LC-MS/MS metabolomics, molecular networking, and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND PISUM SATIVUM: (PS) is a universal legume plant utilized for both human and animal consumption, particularly its seeds, known as green peas. The processing of PS in food industries and households produces a significant amount of waste that needs to be valorized.

METHODS

In this study, the metabolite profiles of the 70% ethanolic extracts of PS wastes, namely peels (PSP) and a combination of leaves and stems (PSLS), were investigated by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS) followed by molecular networking.

RESULTS

Different classes of metabolites were identified, being flavonoids and their derivatives, along with phenolic acids, the most abundant categories. Additionally, a comprehensive network pharmacology strategy was applied to elucidate potentially active metabolites, key targets, and the pathways involved in cytotoxic activity against breast cancer. This cytotoxic activity was investigated in MCF-7 and MCF-10a cell lines. Results revealed that PSLS extract exhibited a potent cytotoxic activity with a good selectivity index (IC50 = 17.67 and selectivity index of 3.51), compared to the reference drug doxorubicin (IC50 = 2.69 µg/mL and selectivity index of 5.28). Whereas PSP extract appeared to be less potent and selective (IC50 = 32.92 µg/mL and selectivity index of 1.62). A similar performance was also observed for several polyphenolics isolated from the PSLS extract, including methyl cis p-coumarate, trans p-coumaric acid, and liquiritigenin/ 7-methyl liquiritigenin mixture. Methyl cis p-coumarate showed the most potent cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cell line and the highest selectivity (IC50 = 1.18 µg/mL (6.91 µM) and selectivity index of 27.42). The network pharmacology study revealed that the isolated compounds could interact with several breast cancer-associated protein targets including carbonic anhydrases 1, 2, 4, 9, and 12, as well as aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1, adenosine A3 receptor, protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 1, and estrogen receptor 2.

CONCLUSION

The uncovered therapeutic potential of PSLS and its metabolite constituents pave the way for an efficient and mindful PS waste valorization, calling for further in-vitro and in-vivo research.

Exploring anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-related quality markers of Artemisia absinthium L. based on spectrum-effect relationship

INTRODUCTION

Artemisia absinthium L. is a well-known medicinal, aromatic, and edible plant with important medicinal and economic properties and a long history of use in treating liver inflammation and other diseases; however, there has been insufficient progress in quality control.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the quality markers for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of A. absinthium based on spectrum-effect relationship analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen batches of A. absinthium from different origins were used. Chemical fingerprints were obtained by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). The chemical compositions were identified by quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry. Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 and 15-lipoxygenase in vitro and inhibition of nitric oxide release in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 cells. Antioxidant activity was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The relationship between bioactivity and chemical fingerprints was then analyzed using chemometrics including gray relational analysis, bivariate correlation analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares analysis.

RESULTS

Different batches of A. absinthium extracts possessed significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities to varying degrees. Eighty compounds were identified from A. absinthium, and 12 main common peaks were obtained from the UPLC fingerprints. P3 (chlorogenic acid), P5 (isochlorogenic acid A), and P6 (isochlorogenic acid C) were screened as the most promising active compounds by correlation analysis and further validated for their remarkable anti-inflammatory effects.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to screen the quality markers of A. absinthium by establishing the spectrum-effect relationship, which can provide a reference for the development of quality standards and further research on A. absinthium.

A comprehensive strategy for quality evaluation of Changan powder by fingerprinting combined with rapid qualitative and quantitative multi-ingredients profiling

INTRODUCTION

Changan powder (CAP) is mainly used to treat various intestinal diseases. Few studies on CAP have been reported; therefore, it is necessary to clarify the material basis of CAP to lay the foundation for further elucidating its functional mechanism and support the rational use of drugs.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, we aimed to propose a methodology for the quality control of CAP based on qualitative and quantitative analysis of its components.

METHODS

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (UPLC-FT-ICR-MS) method was developed to identify chemical components in CAP. In addition, fingerprints of 10 different batches of CAP were established, and quantitative analysis based on UPLC was performed to analyze the quality of CAP.

RESULTS

A total of 58 compounds were preliminarily characterized. The similarity of 10 batches of CAP was greater than 0.995, and 23 common peaks were calibrated. Investigation of the quantitative analytical methodology showed that the four components had good linear relationships within their respective concentration ranges (r2 ≥ 0.9992), and the relative standard deviation (RSD) of precision and stability was less than 2%. The RSD of sample recovery ranged from 0.78% to 1.52%.

CONCLUSION

The established method can quickly and effectively identify the chemical components of CAP and accurately quantify the known components in CAP. The established fingerprinting and content determination method is stable, reliable, and easy to operate and can be applied in quality control and in vivo research on CAP.

Identification of cyclooxygenase-II inhibitory saponins from fenugreek wastes: Insights from liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics, molecular networking, and molecular docking

INTRODUCTION

This research explores sustainable applications for waste generated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), a plant with both nutritional and medicinal uses. The study specifically targets waste components as potential sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds.

OBJECTIVES

The focus is to conduct detailed metabolic profiling of fenugreek waste, assess its anti-inflammatory properties by studying its cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitory effect, and correlate this effect to the metabolite fingerprint.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ethanolic extracts of fenugreek fruit pericarp and a combination of leaves and stems were subjected to untargeted metabolic profiling using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry integrated with online database searches and molecular networking as an effective dereplication strategy. The study also scrutinized the COX inhibitory capabilities of these extracts and saponin-rich fractions prepared therefrom. Molecular docking was employed to investigate the specific interactions between the identified saponins and COX enzymes.

RESULTS

The analysis led to the annotation of 81 metabolites, among which saponins were predominant. The saponin-rich fraction of the fruit pericarp extract displayed the strongest COX-II inhibitory activity in the in vitro inhibition assay (IC50 value of 81.64 ± 3.98 μg/mL). The molecular docking study supported the selectivity of the identified saponins towards COX-II. The two major identified saponins, namely, proto-yamogenin 3-O-[deoxyhexosyl (1 → 2)] [hexosyl (1 → 4)] hexoside 26-O-hexoside and trigofenoside A, were predicted to have the highest affinity to the COX-II receptor site.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, we focused on the identification of COX-II inhibitory saponins in fenugreek waste through an integrated approach. The findings offer valuable insights into potential anti-inflammatory and cancer chemoprotective applications of fenugreek waste.

Chemical Profile and Healthy Properties of Sicilian Diplotaxis harra subsp. crassifolia (Raf.) Maire

This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical profile and bioactivity of Diplotaxis harra subsp. crassifolia (Brassicaceae), a species from central-southern Sicily (Italy), where it is consumed as a salad. For this purpose, LC-ESI/HRMSn analysis of the ethanolic extract was performed, highlighting the occurrence, along with flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, and oxylipins, of sulfated secondary metabolites, including glucosinolates and various sulfooxy derivatives (e.g., C13 nor-isoprenoids, hydroxyphenyl, and hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives), most of which were never reported before in the Brassicaeae family or in the Diplotaxis genus. Following ethnomedicinal information regarding this species used for the treatment of various pathologies such as diabetes and hypercholesterolemia, D. harra ethanolic extract was evaluated for its antioxidant potential using different in vitro tests such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), Ferric Reducing Ability Power, and β-carotene bleaching tests. The inhibitory activity of carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and pancreatic lipase was also assessed. In the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assay, an IC50 value comparable to the positive control ascorbic acid (2.87 vs. 1.70 μg/mL, respectively) was obtained. The wild-wall rocket salad extract showed a significant α-amylase inhibitory effect. Obtained results indicate that Sicilian wild-wall rocket contains phytochemicals that can prevent hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and obesity.

A voltammetric method coupled with chemometrics for determination of a ternary antiparkinson mixture in its dosage form: greenness assessment

An electroanalytical methodology was developed by direct differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) measurement of Levodopa (LD), Carbidopa (CD) and Entacapone (ENT) mixture using bare glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in Britton Robinson (BR) buffer (pH = 2.0). A multivariate calibration model was then applied to the exported preprocessed voltammetric data using partial least square (PLS) as a chemometric tool. Additionally, the model was cross-validated and the number of latent variables (LVs) were determined to produce a reliable model for simultaneous quantitation of the three drugs either in their synthetic mixtures or in their marketed pharmaceutical formulation with high accuracy and precision. Data preprocessing was used to tackle the problem of lacking bi-linearity which is commonly found in electrochemical data. The proposed chemometric model was able to provide fast and reliable technique for quantitative determination of antiparkinson drugs in their dosage forms. This was successfully achieved by utilizing sixteen mixtures as calibration set and nine mixtures as validation set. The percent recoveries for LD, CD and ENT were found to be 100.05% ± 1.28%, 100.04% ± 0.53% and 99.99% ± 1.25%, respectively. The obtained results of the proposed method were statistically compared to those of a previously reported High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) methodology. Finally, the presented analytical method strongly supports green analytical chemistry regarding the minimization of potentially dangerous chemicals and solvents, as well as reducing energy utilization and waste generation.

Evidence on the inhibitory effect of Brassica plants against Acinetobacter baumannii lipases: phytochemical analysis, in vitro, and molecular docking studies

BACKGROUND

Infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii are becoming a rising public health problem due to its high degree of acquired and intrinsic resistance mechanisms. Bacterial lipases penetrate and damage host tissues, resulting in multiple infections. Because there are very few effective inhibitors of bacterial lipases, new alternatives for treating A. baumannii infections are urgently needed. In recent years, Brassica vegetables have received a lot of attention since their phytochemical compounds have been directly linked to diverse antimicrobial actions by inhibiting the growth of various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Despite their longstanding antibacterial history, there is currently a lack of scientific evidence to support their role in the management of infections caused by the nosocomial bacterium, A. baumannii. This study aimed to address this gap in knowledge by examining the antibacterial and lipase inhibitory effects of six commonly consumed Brassica greens, Chinese cabbage (CC), curly and Tuscan kale (CK and TK), red and green Pak choi (RP and GP), and Brussels sprouts (BR), against A. baumannii in relation to their chemical profiles.

METHODS

The secondary metabolites of the six extracts were identified using LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, and they were subsequently correlated with the lipase inhibitory activity using multivariate data analysis and molecular docking.

RESULTS

In total, 99 metabolites from various chemical classes were identified in the extracts. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed the chemical similarities and variabilities among the specimens, with glucosinolates and phenolic compounds being the major metabolites. RP and GP showed the highest antibacterial activity against A. baumannii, followed by CK. Additionally, four species showed a significant effect on the bacterial growth curves and demonstrated relevant inhibition of A. baumannii lipolytic activity. CK showed the greatest inhibition (26%), followed by RP (21%), GP (21%), and TK (15%). Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) pinpointed 9 metabolites positively correlated with the observed bioactivities. Further, the biomarkers displayed good binding affinities towards lipase active sites ranging from -70.61 to -30.91 kcal/mol, compared to orlistat.

CONCLUSION

This study emphasizes the significance of Brassica vegetables as a novel natural source of potential inhibitors of lipase from A. baumannii.

Assessment of the effect of drying on Brassica greens via a multiplex approach based on LC-QTOF-MS/MS, molecular networking, and chemometrics along with their antioxidant and anticancer activities

Turnip (Brassica rapa var rapa L.) leaves are a rich source of versatile bioactive phytochemicals with great potential in the food and herbal industries. However, the effect of drying on its constituents has never been studied before. Hereto, three drying techniques were compared, namely, lyophilization (LY), vacuum oven (VO), and shade drying (SD). Chemical profiling utilizing liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS/MS) combined with chemometrics showed the different impacts of the drying methods on the phytochemical composition of the alcoholic leaf extracts. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) of the LC-QTOF-MS/MS data showed distinct distant clustering across the three drying techniques. Loading plots and VIP scores demonstrated that sinapic acid, isorhamnetin glycosides, and sinapoyl malate were key markers for LY samples. Meanwhile, oxygenated and polyunsaturated fatty acids were characteristic for SD samples and oxygenated polyunsaturated fatty acids and verbascoside were characteristic for VO samples. LY resulted in the highest total phenolics (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents followed by SD and VO. LY and SD samples had much higher antioxidant activity than VO measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and iron metal chelation assays. According to the anticancer activity, the drying methods were ranked in descending order as SD > LY ≫ VO when tested against colon, breast, liver, and lung cancer cell lines. Among the identified compounds, flavonoids and omega-3 fatty acids were key metabolites responsible for the anticancer activity as revealed by partial least squares (PLS) regression and correlation analyses. In conclusion, compared to LY, SD projected out as a cost-effective drying method without compromising the phytochemical and biological activities of Brassica greens. The current findings lay the foundation for further studies concerned with the valorization of Brassica greens.

Using Quality by Design Tools to Study Gel Formulation from Brassica juncea Leaves and Conducting its In vitro, In vivo, Molecular Docking, and ADMET Analyses

INTRODUCTION

This research aims to create a gel formulation of Brassica juncea leaf extract and assess its anti-inflammatory properties using an in silico study. The anti-inflammatory activity has been compared with Diclofenac molecules in PDB id: 4Z69. Further, the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity analysis has been performed to ensure the therapeutic potential and safety of the drug development process. The Quality by Design tool has been applied to optimize formulation development.

METHODS

The extracted gel is characterized by performing Fourier transformer infrared, zeta potential, particle size, Scanning Electron Microscope, and entrapment efficiency. Further, the formulation is evaluated by examining its viscosity, spreadability, and pH measurement. An In vitro study of all nine extract suspensions was conducted to determine the drug contents at 276 nm.

RESULTS

The optimized suspension has shown the maximum percentage of drug release (82%) in 10 hours of study. Animal study for anti-inflammatory activity was performed, and results of all five groups of animals compared the % inhibition of paw edema at three hours; gel (56.70%), standard (47.86%), and (39.72%) were found.

CONCLUSION

The research could conclude that the anti-inflammatory activity of gel formulation is high compared to extract, and a molecular docking study validates the anti-inflammatory therapeutic effects. ADMET analysis ensures the therapeutic effects and their safety.

A comprehensive analytical framework integrating liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry metabolomics with chemometrics for metabolite profiling of lettuce varieties and discovery of antibacterial agents

This study comprehensively characterized the metabolite profiles of six lettuce varieties and established the correlation between the elucidated profiles and their antivirulence effects. A total of 195 metabolites were annotated using LC-QTOF-MS/MS metabolomics assisted by molecular networking and integrated with chemometrics. Red varieties (red longifolia and lolla rosa) demonstrated higher chlorogenic and chicoric acids suggesting their antioxidant properties. In parallel, amino acids and disaccharides were enriched in romaine longifolia rationalizing its palatable taste and nutritional potential, while crispa, capitata, and lolla bionda presented a high β-carboline alkaloid content. The antibacterial and antihemolytic potential of all varieties against methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was assessed and validated by prominent downregulation of α-hemolysin transcriptional levels in both strains. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed sesquiterpenes, β-carboline alkaloids, amino acids, and oxy-fatty acids as the main bioactives. Results emphasize lettuce significance as a functional food and nutraceutical source, and highlight varieties naturally rich in antibacterial agents to adapt breeding programs.