In vitro and in silico interaction of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) seed extract with xanthine oxidase and evaluation of antioxidant activity as a therapeutic potential

Xanthine oxidase inhibition study of isolated secondary metabolites from Dolichandrone spathacea (Bignoniaceae): In vitro and in silico approach

Xanthine oxidase (XO) has been widely recognized as a pivotal enzyme in developing hyperuricemia, primarily contributing to the excessive production of uric acid during purine metabolism in the liver. One of the standard treatment approaches involves reducing uric acid levels by inhibiting XO activity. In this study, the leaf extract of Dolichandrone spathacea, traditionally used in folk medicine, was found to inhibit XO activity in the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions at a concentration of 100 µg/mL, their values were 78.57 ± 3.85 % (IC50 = 55.93 ± 5.73 µg/ml) and 69.43 ± 8.68 % (IC50 = 70.17 ± 7.98 µg/ml), respectively. The potential XO inhibitory components were isolated by bioactivity assays and the HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectra system. The main constituents of leaf extracts of Dolichandrone spathacea, six compounds, namely trans-4-methoxycinnamic acid (3), trans-3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid (4), p-coumaric acid (5), martynoside (6), 6-O-(p-methoxy-E-cinnamoyl)-ajugol (7), and scolymoside (17), were identified as potent XO inhibitors with IC50 values ranging from 19.34 ± 1.63 μM to 64.50 ± 0.94 μM. The enzyme kinetics indicated that compounds 3-5, 7, and 17 displayed competitive inhibition like allopurinol, while compound 6 displayed a mixed-type inhibition. Computational studies corroborated these experimental results, highlighting the interactions between potential metabolites and XO enzyme. The hydrogen bonds played crucial roles in the binding interaction, especially, scolymoside (17) forms a hydrogen bond with Mos3004, exhibited the lowest binding energy (-18.3286 kcal/mol) corresponding to the lowest IC50 (19.34 ± 1.63 μM). Furthermore, nine compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant. In conclusion, Dolichandrone spathacea and its constituents possess the potential to modulate the xanthine oxidase enzyme involved in metabolism.

Faba Bean Processing: Thermal and Non-Thermal Processing on Chemical, Antinutritional Factors, and Pharmacological Properties

The food industry, academia, food technologists, and consumers have become more interested in using faba bean seeds in the formulation of new products because of their nutritional content, accessibility, low costs, environmental advantages, and beneficial impacts on health. In this review, a systematic and up-to-date report on faba bean seeds' antinutrients and bioactive and processing techniques is comprehensively presented. The chemical composition, including the oil composition and carbohydrate constituents, is discussed. Factors influencing the reduction of antinutrients and improvement of bioactive compounds, including processing techniques, are discussed. Thermal treatments (cooking, autoclaving, extrusion, microwaving, high-pressure processing, irradiation) and non-thermal treatments (soaking, germination, extraction, fermentation, and enzymatic treatment) are identified as methods to reduce the levels of antinutrients in faba bean seeds. Appropriate processing methods can reduce the antinutritional factors and enrich the bioactive components, which is useful for the seeds' efficient utilization in developing functional foods. As a result, this evaluation focuses on the technologies that are employed to reduce the amounts of toxins in faba bean seeds. Additionally, a comparison of these methods is performed in terms of their advantages, disadvantages, viability, pharmacological activity, and potential for improvement using emerging technologies. Future research is expected in this area to fill the knowledge gap in exploiting the nutritional and health benefits of faba bean seeds and increase the utilization of faba bean seeds for different applications.

Catechin isolated from faba beans (Vicia faba L.): insights from oxidative stress and hypoglycemic effect in yeast cells through confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and in silico strategy

The present aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of catechin from faba beans on oxidative stress and glucose uptake in yeast cells. Flow cytometry approach indicated that 2-NBDG (1.98 ± 0.37) seed extract had a lower relative fluorescence signal than methanol (5.98 ± 0.67) and acetone seed extract (4.43 ± 0.55). In comparison to the control and seed extract, H₂O₂ exposure increased the apoptosis rate of yeast cells from 8.20% to 64.80%. Yeast cells incubated with H₂O₂ produced significantly more ROS intensity (162 ± 4.32, p < 0.05) than control cells (118 ± 2.52, p < 0.05) and less than seed extract-treated cells. Molecular dynamics simulation studies were performed for cat:α-amylase (catechin-α-amylase complex) which revealed the stable and mixed mode of inhibition during a simulation. The synergistic action of polyphenols or catechin present in seed extract may be responsible for the anti-oxidative stress and hypoglycaemic effects. The findings of this study may provide insight into the further development of a novel antidiabetic drug for T2DM. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Metabolites of Procyanidins From Litchi Chinensis Pericarp With Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Effect and Antioxidant Activity

Procyanidins from litchi pericarp (LPPC) has been evidenced to possess strong antioxidant activities in vivo that is possibly correlated with their intestinal metabolites. However, the xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of LPPC and its metabolites was less concerned. In this study, three oligomeric procyanidins and eight metabolic phenolic acids were identified in the urine of rats administrated with LPPC by high performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Data indicated that all the metabolites excreted were significantly increased by the treatment of 300 mg/kg body weight of LPPC (P < 0.05), revealing considerable 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals activities of scavenging. Moreover, phenolic metabolites involving epicatechin, A-type dimer, A-type trimer, caffeic acid, and shikimic acid exhibited greater xanthine oxidase inhibition effects compared with other metabolites, with an inhibitory rate higher than 50% at the concentration 200 μg/ml. The IC₅₀ value of these five phenols were 58.43 ± 1.86, 68.37 ± 3.50, 74.87 ± 1.30, 95.67 ± 3.82, and 96.17 ± 1.64 μg/ml, respectively. As a whole, this work suggests that the xanthine oxidase inhibition and antioxidant activity of LPPC-derived metabolites as one of the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of LPPC against hyperuricemia or gout.

Euphorbia characias: Phytochemistry and Biological Activities

The aim of this review is to summarize all the compounds identified and characterized from Euphorbia characias, along with the biological activities reported for this plant. Euphorbia is one of the greatest genera in the spurge family of Euphorbiaceae and includes different kinds of plants characterized by the presence of milky latex. Among them, the species Euphorbia characias L. is an evergreen perennial shrub widely distributed in Mediterranean countries. E. characias latex and extracts from different parts of the plant have been extensively studied, leading to the identification of several chemical components such as terpenoids, sterol hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, cerebrosides and phenolic and carboxylic acids. The biological properties range between antioxidant activities, antimicrobial, antiviral and pesticidal activities, wound-healing properties, anti-aging and hypoglycemic properties and inhibitory activities toward target enzymes related to different diseases, such as cholinesterases and xanthine oxidase. The information available in this review allows us to consider the plant E. characias as a potential source of compounds for biomedical research.

Multifunctional compounds in the extract from mature seeds of Vicia faba var. minor: Phytochemical profiling, antioxidant activity and cellular safety in human selected blood cells in in vitro trials

BACKGROUND

The field bean (Vicia faba) is a valuable fodder plant of the Fabaceae family, grown as a main crop for its seed yield. Its phytochemical profile is characterized by the presence of a range of compounds with various biological activities.

PURPOSE

The present study investigates the phytochemical profile of the extract from mature seeds of Vicia faba var. minor and examines its impact on preventing oxidative damage to various lipids, protein and DNA molecules in vitro.

METHODS

Human plasma was treated with H₂O₂/Fe (an OH^. donor) to induce oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, and the plant extract was then added. As oxidative stress may influence the biological activity of plasma, e.g. coagulation, and influence cardiovascular disease, the study also examined the effect of the plant extract on coagulation and monoamine oxidase activity (MAO, EC 1.4.3.4).

RESULTS

The tested extract exerted a protective effect on plasma lipids and proteins treated with H₂O₂/Fe. However, while it appears to effectively protect the DNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from oxidative damage, it did not induce changes in the coagulation process, and significantly reduced MAO activity when applied at 1, 5, and 10 µg/mL. It is possible that the observed antioxidant potential may be due to the complex chemical composition of the extract: the phytochemical profile demonstrated a range of phenolic compounds, including catechins.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that extract from mature seeds of V. faba var. minor may be a promising source of antioxidants in multiple applications, including diseases associated with oxidative stress; however, more studies based on in vitro and in vivo models are needed to determine its biological properties.

Purification, kinetic parameters, and isoforms of polyphenol oxidase from "Xushu 22" sweet potato skin

We purified and compared the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) isoenzymes present in "Xushu 22," a sweet potato. A membrane-bound form (mPPO) and two soluble forms (sPPO1 and sPPO2) were identified and purified using ammonium sulphate precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and mass spectrometer. The three PPO isoforms were characterized enzymatically. The specific activity of mPPO was significantly higher than that of the two sPPO isoforms, being 24.55- and 13.89-fold higher than sPPO1 and sPPO2. The preferred substrates for mPPO and the two sPPOs were catechol and chlorogenic acid, respectively. They can be efficiently and safely applied to phenolic wastewater treatment after being immobilized. Both mPPO and the two sPPOs were rapidly inactivated under acid or base conditions and were unstable at 65°C. The most effective inhibitors of mPPO, sPPO1, and sPPO2 were glutathione, ascorbic acid, and L-cysteine, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: According to incomplete statistics, about 5% of sweet potatoes in china are wasted due to enzymatic browning every year. PPO was regarded as a key molecule contributing to enzymatic browning in fruits and vegetables during ripening, processing, and storage and responsible for economic and industrial loss. It's great importance to characterize the PPO from "Xushu 22" sweet potato and provide data on its inactivation. The three PPO isoforms were purified and identified by chromatography and mass spectrometer. This study will provide useful informations to have a better command of PPO from "Xushu 22" sweet potato and give ideals to solve the browning of sweet potato.

Investigation of hypoglycemic effects, oxidative stress potential and xanthine-oxidase activity of polyphenols (gallic acid, catechin) derived from faba bean on 3T3-L1 cell line: insights into molecular docking and simulation study

Hypoglycemic potential and xanthine-oxidase (XO) activity of polyphenols from faba bean were evaluated in the 3T3-L1 cell line, and an interaction study in silico with XO was performed with considerable bioactive components of acetone extract of faba beans. The protonated and fragmented behavior of acetone seed extract revealed the presence of gallic acid (MS/MS, m/z 169) and catechin (MSn, m/z 288.3). Flow cytometry study explained the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on cell line as cell death was increased from 9.72 to 41.66% as compared to the control (without H2O2). The atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy and reactive oxygen species measurement also confirmed the protective effect of polyphenols in the 3T3-L1 cell lines. Oxidative stress through propidium iodide and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole staining demonstrated that the apoptotic ratio was 0.35 ± 2.62 (P < 0.05) and 30 ± 2.54% in H2O2-treated cells, respectively, as compared to control. The observations of flow cytometry and confocal microscopy marked the effect of seed extract (0.86 ± 0.031, 3.52 ± 0.52, P < 0.05), on glucose uptake in cells through the better relative fluorescence intensity than that of the control. Moreover, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies gave an insight into the predicted residues that hold favorable polyphenolic-specific interactions. The probable binding modes of the gallic acid and catechin from this study may extend the knowledge of the XO-polyphenol interactions and offered the way to design the analogs of acetone seed extract with reduced toxicity.