Preliminary phytochemical analysis and evaluation of in vitro antioxidant, antiproliferative, antidiabetic, and anticholinergics effects of endemic Gypsophila taxa from Turkey

An updated overview of Gypsophila species: Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations

Medicinal plants and their consituents play a crucial role in disease prevention and treatment. The genus Gypsophila (Caryophyllaceae family), comprising approximately 150 species of flowering plants, holds significant value in both ornamental and therapeutic fields. Traditional uses in various cultures highlight their potential in treating a range of conditions, such as liver disorders, diabetes, and kidney stones. These resilient plants, known for their delicate blooms and adaptability to diverse environments, are rich in chemical compounds, including non-volatile constituents such as phenolic compounds (e.g., flavonoids), terpenoids, saponins, cyclopeptides, and alkaloids. Additionally, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, the primary volatile constituents, exhibit significant insecticidal properties. Gypsophila species show a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects, including hepatoprotective, cytotoxic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, neuroprotective, and anti-obesity properties. This review underscores the promising therapeutic potential of Gypsophila and advocates for further research, particularly clinical trials, to thoroughly assess their efficacy and safety. By consolidating existing knowledge, it sheds light on the potential of Gypsophila species as valuable resources for human health and underscores the need for continued exploration to uncover novel treatments and interventions.

The promising antioxidant effects of lignans: Nrf2 activation comes into view

Lignans are biologically active compounds widely distributed, recognized, and identified in seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Lignans have several intriguing bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Nrf2 controls the expression of many cytoprotective genes. Activation of Nrf2 is a promising therapeutic approach for treating and preventing diseases resulting from oxidative injury and inflammation. Lignans have been demonstrated to stimulate Nrf2 signaling in a variety of in vitro and experimental animal models. The review summarizes the findings of fourteen lignans (Schisandrin A, Schisandrin B, Schisandrian C, Magnolol, Honokiol, Sesamin, Sesamol, Sauchinone, Pinoresinol, Phyllanthin, Nectandrin B, Isoeucommin A, Arctigenin, Lariciresinol) as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory agents, affirming how Nrf2 activation affects their pharmacological effects. Therefore, lignans may offer therapeutic candidates for the treatment and prevention of various diseases and may contribute to the development of effective Nrf2 modulators.

Development of phytotherapeutic nanoformulation containing Gypsophila eriocalyx and its evaluation as a candidate formulation for osteoporosis treatment on human bone marrow stem cells

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis, one of the common bone diseases, manifests itself as a decrease in bone mass. Recently, the use of medicinal plants in the search for effective and low-toxicity therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of osteoporosis has become a trending topic.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, we aim to prepare a controlled drug carrier system loaded with Gypsophila eriocalyx to determine its potential for anti-osteoporosis applications.

METHODS

Gypsophila eriocalyx extract (GEE) was prepared, and components were determined. The molecular interactions of the components with Cathepsin K (CatK), which is used as a target in drug development against osteoporosis, were revealed by in silico molecular docking and MD methods. ADMET profiles were also examined. GEE-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) were synthesized. The nanoparticles' morphology, encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, release profile, average size, polydispersity index, and zeta potentials were determined. The cytotoxic effects of GEE and GEE-loaded CNPs on the L929 and osteogenic proliferation profiles on human bone marrow stem cells (hBMC) were examined.

RESULTS

The MD analysis revealed no breaks or atomic changes in the dynamic system, and the docking analysis confirmed the continued interaction of identical residues. It was determined that the GEE-loaded CNP formulation was produced successfully, had no toxic effect on the L929, and had an osteogenic proliferation effect on hBMC.

CONCLUSION

In line with the in vitro and in silico results obtained, it was evaluated that GEE-loaded CNPs can be used as a controlled drug release system as a candidate formulation with phytotherapeutic properties for osteoporosis treatment.q1.

Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Gypsogenin Derivatives as Potential Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents

Natural compounds are important sources for the treatment of chronic disorders such as cancer and microbial infectious disorders. In this research, Gypsogenin and its derivatives (2 a-2 f) have been tested against different cancer cell lines (MCF-7, HeLa, Jurkat and K562 cell lines) and further analyzed for cell proliferation, cell death type, and for act of the mechanism. Cell proliferation was determined by the MTT method and cell death types were analyzed with HO/PI staining. Fibroblast Growth Factor 1 (FGF-1), Interleukin 1 (IL-1), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α), key players in breast cancer development and progression, were determined by Elisa kits. Results showed that compound 2 e inhibited the MCF-7 cell line proliferation with an IC50 value of 0.66±0.17 μM with 93.38 % apoptosis rate. Compound 2 e also decreased FGF-1, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Molecular docking studies performed in the binding site of FGFR-1 indicated that compound 2 e formed key hydrogen bonding with Arg627 and Asn568. Besides, compounds 2 a-2 f were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and C. albicans via the microdilution method. Overall, compound 2 e stands out as a potential anticancer agent for future studies.

The pharmacological properties of Gypsophila eriocalyx: The endemic medicinal plant of northern central Turkey

The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the biological properties of different extracts (methanol, ethanol, and water) obtained from Gypsophila eriocalyx (G. eriocalyx), a medicinal plant traditionally used in Turkey. The components of different extracts were defined using the GC-MS method. The effects of G. eriocalyx extracts on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer as well as in vitro antioxidant, enzyme inhibition, and antimicrobial activities were investigated. In accordance with the results obtained, although ethanol and methanol extracts of G. eriocalyx show higher antioxidant activity than G. eriocalyx water extract, enzyme inhibition activities of the extracts were not found to be significant compared to the reference drug. The methanol and ethanol extract of G. eriocalyx exhibited moderate antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and methanol extract showed significant antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus. In addition, both extracts significantly inhibited cell viability in a dose-dependent manner in breast cancer cells. The cell growth inhibition by methanol and ethanol extracts induced S phase cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells. Lastly, in order to compare the activities of the chemicals found in Gypsophila eriocalyx plant extract, their activities against various proteins that are breast cancer protein (PDB ID:1A52 and 1JNX), antioxidant protein (PDB ID: 1HD2), AChE enzyme protein (PDB ID: 4M0E), BChE enzyme protein (PDB ID: 5NN0), and Escherichia coli protein (PDB ID: 4PRV)were compared. Then, ADME/T analysis calculations were made to examine the effects of molecules with high activity on human metabolism. Eventually, G. eriocalyx is thought to be a potent therapeutic herb that can be considered as an alternative and functional therapy for the management of diseases of a progressive nature related to oxidative damage such as infection, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

Engineering Zinc-Organic Frameworks-Based Artificial Carbonic Anhydrase with Ultrafast Biomimetic Centers for Efficient Hydration Reactions

Constructing effective and robust biocatalysts with carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mimetic activities offers an alternative and promising pathway for diverse CO2-related catalytic applications. However, there is very limited success has been achieved in controllably synthesizing CA-mimetic biocatalysts. Here, inspired by the 3D coordination environments of CAs, this study reports on the design of an ultrafast ZnN3-OH2 center via tuning the 3D coordination structures and mesoporous defects in a zinc-dipyrazolate framework to serve as new, efficient, and robust CA-mimetic biocatalysts (CABs) to catalyze the hydration reactions. Owing to the structural advantages and high similarity with the active center of natural CAs, the double-walled CAB with mesoporous defects displays superior CA-like reaction kinetics in p-NPA hydrolysis (V0 = 445.16 nM s-1, Vmax = 3.83 µM s-1, turnover number: 5.97 × 10-3 s-1), which surpasses the by-far-reported metal-organic frameworks-based biocatalysts. This work offers essential guidance in tuning 3D coordination environments in artificial enzymes and proposes a new strategy to create high-performance CA-mimetic biocatalysts for broad applications, such as CO2 hydration/capture, CO2 sensing, and abundant hydrolytic reactions.

Potential antioxidant, anticholinergic, antidiabetic and antiglaucoma activities and molecular docking of spiraeoside as a secondary metabolite of onion (Allium cepa)

Onion contains many dietary and bioactive components including phenolics and flavonoids. Spiraeoside (quercetin-4-O-β-D-glucoside) is one of the most putative flavonoids in onion. Several antioxidant techniques were used in this investigation to assess the antioxidant capabilities of spiraeoside, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·) scavenging, N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine radical (DMPD•+) scavenging, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical (ABTS•+) scavenging activities, cupric ions (Cu2+) reducing and potassium ferric cyanide reduction abilities. In contrast, the water-soluble α-tocopherol analogue trolox and the conventional antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and α-tocopherol were utilized as the standards for evaluation. Spiraeoside scavenged the DPPH radicals an IC50 of 28.51 μg/mL (r2: 0.9705) meanwhile BHA, BHT, trolox, and α-tocopherol displayed IC50 of 10.10 μg/mL (r2: 0.9015), 25.95 μg/mL (r2: 0.9221), 7.059 μg/mL (r2: 0.9614) and 11.31 μg/mL (r2: 0.9642), accordingly. The results exhibited that spiraeoside had effects similar to BHT, but less potent than α-tocopherol, trolox and BHA. Also, inhibitory effects of spiraeoside were evaluated toward some metabolic enzymes including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and α-glycosidase, which are related to a number of illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), diabetes mellitus and glaucoma disorder. Spiraeoside exhibited IC50 values of 4.44 nM (r2: 0.9610), 7.88 nM (r2: 0.9784), 19.42 nM (r2: 0.9673) and 29.17 mM (r2: 0.9209), respectively against these enzymes. Enzyme inhibition abilities were compared to clinical used inhibitors including acetazolamide (for CA II), tacrine (for AChE and BChE) and acarbose (for α-glycosidase). Spiraeoside demonstrated effective antioxidant, anticholinergic, antidiabetic and antiglaucoma activities. With these properties, it has shown that Spiraeoside has the potential to be a medicine for some metabolic diseases.

Physicochemical Characterization and Evaluation of Gastrointestinal In Vitro Behavior of Alginate-Based Microbeads with Encapsulated Grape Pomace Extracts

Grape pomace is a byproduct of wineries and a rich source of phenolic compounds that can exert multiple pharmacological effects when consumed and enter the intestine where they can then be absorbed. Phenolic compounds are susceptible to degradation and interaction with other food constituents during digestion, and encapsulation may be a useful technique for protecting phenolic bioactivity and controlling its release. Therefore, the behavior of phenolic-rich grape pomace extracts encapsulated by the ionic gelation method, using a natural coating (sodium alginate, gum arabic, gelatin, and chitosan), was observed during simulated digestion in vitro. The best encapsulation efficiency (69.27%) was obtained with alginate hydrogels. The physicochemical properties of the microbeads were influenced by the coatings used. Scanning electron microscopy showed that drying had the least effect on the surface area of the chitosan-coated microbeads. A structural analysis showed that the structure of the extract changed from crystalline to amorphous after encapsulation. The phenolic compounds were released from the microbeads by Fickian diffusion, which is best described by the Korsmeyer-Peppas model among the four models tested. The obtained results can be used as a predictive tool for the preparation of microbeads containing natural bioactive compounds that could be useful for the development of food supplements.

Isolation, characterization and anticancer activity of secondary metabolites from Verbascum speciosum

Herein, two iridoid glucosides aucubin (1) and ajugol (2), and two phenyl ethanoids, verbascoside (3) and poliumoside (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Verbascum speciosum and used to study about their anticancer activity for the first time. The structures of all compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic data (IR, 1D and 2D NMR, LC-TOF/MS). Antiproliferative activities of Aucubun (1) and Verbascoside (3) were tested against A-549 (human colon cancer), MDA-MD-453 (human breast cancer) and 3T3-L1 (mouse fibroblast)cell lines by XTT assay. In addition, the anticarcer mechanism of action of aucubin (1) was investigated on MDA-MB-453 cells for the first time. XTT result showed that both applied compounds exhibited antiproliferative effect at different dose ranges depending on the cancer type, as well as selectivity between cancer and healty cell lines. Flow cytometry analyzes revealed that aucubin (1) exerts its cytotoxic effect in MDA-MB-453 cells by directing cells to early apoptosis and inhibiting the P13K/AKT signaling pathway.

A Biochemical Approach for Hedysarum candidissimum from Turkey: Screening Phytochemicals, Evaluation of Biological Activites, and Molecular Docking Study

This study was designed to screen the phytochemical composition and investigate the biological activities of Hedysarum candidissimum extracts and also support the results with molecular docking studies. LC/MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 22 phytochemical constituents (mainly phenolic acids, flavonoids, and flavonoid glycosides) in the plant structure. The methanol extract exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity among all the extracts with its strong DPPH radical scavenging and iron reducing capacity, as well as high phenolic and flavonoid contents. Additionally, it was found to be the most promising acetylcholinesterase (AChE: IC₅₀ : 93.26 μg/mL) and α-glycosidase (AG: IC₅₀ : 28.57 μg/mL) inhibitory activities, supported by the major phenolics of the species through in silico studies. Ethyl acetate extract had the strongest cytotoxic effect on HT-29 (IC₅₀ : 63.03 μg/mL) and MDA-MB-453 (IC₅₀ : 95.36 μg/mL) cancer cell lines. Both extracts exhibited considerable apoptotic and anti-migrative effects on HT-29 cells. The investigations provide phyto-analytical and bio-pharmacological results which can be extended by in vivo studies in the future.

Cucurbitacin I exhibits anticancer efficacy through induction of apoptosis and modulation of JAK/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways in HepG2 cell line

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a common cancer type, especially among men. Although cucurbitacin I (CuI), widely found in plants belonging to the Ecballium elaterium (E. L) plant family, has been shown to have antitumorigenic properties in many cancer types, its anticancer effect, molecular mechanism, and apoptotic effect mediated by signal pathways on hepatocellular carcinoma have not been fully clarified. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effect of CuI treated at different doses on the HepG2 cell line and the underlying mechanism in vitro. High-purity CuI was obtained from the E. elaterium plant with the aid of HPLC. The effects of this substance on the viability of cells were studied by the MTT assay. The effects of CuI on cell cycle progression and apoptosis were studied with flow cytometry. DNA breaks were analyzed by the Comet assay method. The proteins and genes involved in the JAK/STAT3, MAPK/ERK, and AKT/mTOR signaling pathways were investigated using Western blot and qRT-PCR, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that CuI significantly reduced HepG2 cell growth in vitro, induced antiproliferation, and G2/M phase of the cell cycle was interrupted. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: CuI administration was shown to downregulate the levels of proteins in the PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK, and JAK2/STAT3 cascades in HepG2 cells. CuI also reduced the expression of MAPK, STAT3, mTOR, JAK2, and Akt genes in different concentrations. DNA breaks are formed as a result of this effect. CuI, by reducing cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis, was found to have potential as a chemotherapeutic agent of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Polyphenol Contents, Potential Antioxidant, Anticholinergic and Antidiabetic Properties of Mountain Mint (Cyclotrichium leucotrichum)

In the present work, antioxidant and antidiabetic potentials of mountain mint [Cyclotrichium leu-cotrichum (Stapf ex Rech. Fil.) Leblebici] was the first time appraised. In this sense, methanol (MECL) and water (WECL) extracts were obtained from aerial parts of mountain mint (Cyclotrichium leucotrichum) and studied for their antioxidant ability by several bioanalytical assays. Also, their inhibition profiles were realized toward several metabolic enzymes connected to some diseases, including butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and α-amylase enzymes. Additionally, their phenolic contents were determined by putative chromatographic method of LC-MS/MS. Consequently, nineteen phenolic molecules were identified in MECL and fifteen phenolic molecules were found in WECL. Also, antioxidant effects of both extracts were studied using by the methods of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH·), 2,2´-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and (ABTS•+)N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine (DMPD•+) scavenging activities, ferric (Fe3+) and cupric (Cu2+) ions and Fe3+-2,4,6-tri(2-pyridyl)-S-triazine (TPTZ) reducing capacities. MECL and WECL were found as powerful DPPH· (IC50: 23.74 and 28.85 μg/mL), ABTS•+ (IC50: 12.53 and 14.05 μg/mL) and DMPD•+ scavenging effects (IC50: 43.52 and 54.80 μg/mL). Also, both extracts demonstrated the effective inhibition effects on AChE (IC50: 69.31 and 115.51 μg/mL), BChE (IC50: 57.75 and 86.62 μg/mL), α-glycosidase (IC50: 36.47 and 62.94 μg/mL) and α-amylase (IC50: 1.01 and 3.43 μg/mL). This study will be useful for future studies to determine the antioxidant properties and enzyme inhibition profile of food, medical and industrially important plants.

Metal Ions, Metal Chelators and Metal Chelating Assay as Antioxidant Method

Heavy metals are essential for a wide range of biological processes, including the growth and reproduction of cells, synthesis of biomolecules, many enzymatic reactions, and the body’s immunity, but their excessive intake is harmful. Specifically, they cause oxidative stress (OS) and generate free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in metabolism. In addition, the accumulation of heavy metals in humans can cause serious damage to different organs, especially respiratory, nervous and reproductive and digestive systems. Biologically, metal chelation therapy is often used to treat metal toxicity. This process occurs through the interaction between the ligand and a central metal atom, forming a complex ring-like structure. After metals are chelated with appropriate chelating agents, their damage in metabolism can be prevented and efficiently removed from the body. On the other hand, heavy metals, including Zn, Fe and Cu, are necessary for the suitable functioning of different proteins including enzymes in metabolism. However, when the same metals accumulate at levels higher than the optimum level, they can easily become toxic and have harmful effects toward biomolecules. In this case, it induces the formation of ROS and nitrogen species (RNS) resulting in peroxidation of biological molecules such as lipids in the plasma membrane. Antioxidants have an increasing interest in many fields due to their protective effects, especially in food and pharmaceutical products. Screening of antioxidant properties of compounds needs appropriate methods including metal chelating assay. In this study, a general approach to the bonding and chelating properties of metals is described. For this purpose, the basic principles and chemical principles of metal chelation methods, both in vivo and in vitro, are outlined and discussed. Hence, in the main sections of this review, the descriptions related to metal ions, metal chelating, antioxidants, importance of metal chelating in biological system and definitions of metal chelating assays as widely used methods to determine antioxidant ability of compounds are provided. In addition, some chemical properties, technical and critical details of the used chelation methods are given.

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Novel Co(II) and Ni(II) Complexes of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Niflumic Acid Against Human Breast Adenocarcinoma MCF-7 Cells

Herein, we report the synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of six novel complexes of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug niflumic acid with Co(II) and Ni(II). In vitro cytotoxicity screening in MCF-7, HepG2 and HT-29 cancer cell lines showed that the complex 3 [Co(nif)2(met)(4-pic)] and complex 6 [Ni(nif)2(met)(4-pic)] among all the complexes exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 11.14 µM and, 41.47 µM, respectively. Besides, all the complexes exhibited significantly higher selectivity towards mouse fibroblast 3T3L1 cells. Further mechanistic studies with both complexes on MCF-7 cells revealed their cytotoxic action through the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway causing an increase oxidative/nitrosative stress, decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), inducing the multicaspase activation and arresting the cell cycle at S phase. q-PCR analysis resulted in an increase in the expression of the apoptotic marker proteins bax, p53 and caspase-3 and -8 in MCF-7 cells, but a decrease in the expression of antiapoptotic bcl-2 gene. Moreover, both complexes induced the apoptosis through the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway by decreasing the expression of PI3K and increasing dephosphorylation form of Akt protein. These results provide a significant contribution to the explanation of the anticancer mechanisms of these complexes in MCF-7 cells.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antiradical Properties of Some Phyto and Mammalian Lignans

In this study, the antioxidant and antiradical properties of some phyto lignans (nordihydroguaiaretic acid, secoisolariciresinol, secoisolariciresinol diglycoside, and α-(-)-conidendrin) and mammalian lignans (enterodiol and enterolactone) were examined by different antioxidant assays. For this purpose, radical scavenging activities of phyto and mammalian lignans were realized by 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical (ABTS^•+) scavenging assay and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging assay. Additionally, the reducing ability of phyto and mammalian lignans were evaluated by cupric ions (Cu²⁺) reducing (CUPRAC) ability, and ferric ions (Fe³⁺) and [Fe³⁺-(TPTZ)2]³⁺ complex reducing (FRAP) abilities. Also, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values were determined and reported for DPPH^• and ABTS^•+ scavenging influences of all of the lignan molecules. The absorbances of the lignans were found in the range of 0.150–2.320 for Fe³⁺ reducing, in the range of 0.040–2.090 for Cu²⁺ reducing, and in the range of 0.360–1.810 for the FRAP assay. On the other hand, the IC₅₀ values of phyto and mammalian lignans were determined in the ranges of 6.601–932.167 µg/mL for DPPH^• scavenging and 13.007–27.829 µg/mL for ABTS^•+ scavenging. In all of the used bioanalytical methods, phyto lignans, as secondary metabolites in plants, demonstrated considerably higher antioxidant activity compared to that of mammalian lignans. In addition, it was observed that enterodiol and enterolactone exhibited relatively weaker antioxidant activities when compared to phyto lignans or standard antioxidants, including butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), Trolox, and α-tocopherol.

Cholinesterases, carbonic anhydrase inhibitory properties and in silico studies of novel substituted benzylamines derived from dihydrochalcones

A series of novel urea, sulfamide and N,N-dipropargyl substituted benzylamines were synthesized from dihydrochalcones. The synthesized compounds were evaluated for their cholinesterases and carbonic anhydrase inhibitory actions. The known dihydrochalcones were converted into four new benzylamines via reductive amination. N,N-Dipropargylamines, ureas and sulfamides were synthesized following the reactions of benzylamines with propargyl bromide, N,N-dimethyl sulfamoyl chloride and N,N-dimethyl carbamoyl chloride. The novel substituted benzylamines derived from dihydrochalcones were evaluated against some enzymes such as human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes (hCA I and hCA II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The novel substituted benzylamines derived from dihydrochalcones exhibited K_i values in the range of 0.121-1.007 nM on hCA I, and 0.077-0.487 nM on hCA II closely related to several pathological processes. On the other hand, K_i values were found in the range of 0.112-0.558 nM on AChE, 0.061-0.388 nM on BChE. As a result, novel substituted benzylamines derived from dihydrochalcones showed potent inhibitory profiles against indicated metabolic enzymes. In addition, Induced-Fit Docking (IFD) simulations and ADME prediction studies have also been carried out to elucidate the inhibition mechanisms and drug-likeness of the synthesized compounds. Therefore, these results can make significant contributions to the treatment of some global diseases, especially Alzheimer's diseases and glaucoma, and the development of new drugs.

Oxy-imino saccharidic derivatives as a new structural class of aldose reductase inhibitors endowed with anti-oxidant activity

Aldose reductase is a key enzyme in the development of long term diabetic complications and its inhibition represents a viable therapeutic solution for people affected by these pathologies. Therefore, the search for effective aldose reductase inhibitors is a timely and pressing challenge. Herein we describe the access to a novel class of oxyimino derivatives, obtained by reaction of a 1,5-dicarbonyl substrate with O-(arylmethyl)hydroxylamines. The synthesised compounds proved to be active against the target enzyme. The best performing inhibitor, compound (Z)-8, proved also to reduce both cell death and the apoptotic process when tested in an in vitro model of diabetic retinopathy made of photoreceptor-like 661w cell line exposed to high-glucose medium, counteracting oxidative stress triggered by hyperglycaemic conditions.

Phytochemical screening, anti-oxidant activity and α-amylase inhibition study using different extracts of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) leaves

Diabetes Mellitus is an endocrine disorder which causes insulin deficiency. Medicinal plants are documented to be efficacious in the management of the disease. The current research set to determine the phytochemicals present, anti-oxidant activity and investigate the potency of Eriobotrya japonica against α-amylase inhibition. The leaves of the plant were extracted sequentially. The different extracts were evaluated for the presence of phytochemicals and their potential anti-oxidant and α-amylase inhibition activity. Methanol with the highest polarity, gave the highest yield of 20% and hexane with the lowest polarity have the lowest yield of 2.09%. This trend resembled that observed for the total flavanoid and total phenolic content analysis which gave values of 0.3822 mg QAE/mg and 3.810 mg GAE/mg respectively for methanolic and hexane extracts. The extracts of methanol recorded higher DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 87% and gave the lowest IC₅₀ of 0.5336 which was below that of ascorbic acid used as a control. Hexane extract had a higher α-amylase inhibitory activity of 24% at 1 μg/ml as compared to other extracts. Generally hexane extracts of Eriobotrya japonica exhibits mild inhibitory activity against α-amylase enzyme which is recommended than the conventional therapy which maximally inhibits the enzyme causing major side effects. The results obtained herein support the use of the plant as an anti-diabetic agent at higher concentrations.

Synthesis of nitrogen, phosphorus, selenium and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds - Determination of their carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase and α-glycosidase inhibition properties

Sulfur-containing pyrroles (1-3), tris(2-pyridyl)phosphine(selenide) sulfide (4-5) and 4-benzyl-6-(thiophen-2-yl)pyrimidin-2-amine (6) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectra. In this study, the synthesized compounds of nitrogen, phosphorus, selenium and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds (1-6) were evaluated against the human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I, and II isoenzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and α-glycosidase enzymes. The synthesized heterocyclic compounds showed IC₅₀ values in range of 33.32-60.79 nM against hCA I, and 37.05-66.64 nM against hCA II closely associated with various physiological and pathological processes. On the other hand, IC₅₀ values were found in range of 13.13-22.21 nM against AChE, 0.54-31.22 nM against BChE, and 13.51-26.55 nM against α-glycosidase as a hydrolytic enzyme. As a result, nitrogen, phosphorus, selenium and sulfur-containing heterocyclic compounds (1-6) demonstrated potent inhibition profiles against indicated metabolic enzymes. Therefore, we believe that these results may contribute to the development of new drugs particularly in the treatment of some global disorders including glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

In-vitro digestion of the bioactives originating from the Lamiaceae family herbal teas: A kinetic and PLS modeling study

The stability of lavender, lemon balm, mint, sage, and thyme teas was investigated using in-vitro simulation of the digestive system. Kinetics of changes in the total polyphenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity during the in-vitro trials were also evaluated. Results showed that TPC of mint teas decreases the fastest. Mathematical models for prediction of the TPC and the antioxidant activity of prepared teas based on UV-VIS and NIR spectra collected before, during, and after simulation showed that the best prediction was obtained for the wavelength ranges from 410 to 900 nm, 904 to 928 nm, and 1,399 to 1699 nm. It was concluded that the NIR can be used for calibration, validation, and classification of teas prepared from Lamiaceae plants. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The bioactives' in-vitro digestion process can successfully be characterized by chemical, spectroscopic, and mathematical analysis. Application of NIR spectroscopy, in combination with multivariate analysis, leads to a reduction of time, costs, and chemical consumption and gives reliable results that pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries can benefit from.

Synthesis and antioxidant activities of phenol derivatives from 1,6-bis(dimethoxyphenyl)hexane-1,6-dione

Starting from the compound (3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)(2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)cyclopent-1-en-1-yl)methanone (4), two diols and three tetrol derivatives were synthesised. Morover, from the reactions of 1,3-dimethoxybenzene and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene with adipoyl chloride, fifteen new along with nine known compounds were obtained. For the characterizations of compounds, spectroscopic methods such as NMR including DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments and X-ray diffraction were used. The antioxidant activities of novel synthesized seventeen molecules were investigated by analytical methods like ABTS^•+ and DPPH^• scavenging. Also, reducing power these molecules were investigated by Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺, and [Fe³⁺-(TPTZ)₂]³⁺. Some of the molecules record powerful antioxidant profile when compared to putative standards. The inhibition effects of the phenols compounds against AChE and BChE activities were analysed. Also, these phenols were found as effective inhibitors for AChE, hCA I, hCA II, and BChE with K_is in the range of 122.95 ± 18.41-351.31 ± 69.12 nM for hCA I, 62.35 ± 9.03-363.17 ± 180.1 nM for hCA II, 134.57 ± 3.99-457.43 ± 220.10 nM for AChE, and 27.06 ± 9.12-72.98 ± 9.53 nM for BChE, respectively.

Antioxidants and antioxidant methods: an updated overview

Antioxidants had a growing interest owing to their protective roles in food and pharmaceutical products against oxidative deterioration and in the body and against oxidative stress-mediated pathological processes. Screening of antioxidant properties of plants and plant-derived compounds requires appropriate methods, which address the mechanism of antioxidant activity and focus on the kinetics of the reactions including the antioxidants. Many studies evaluating the antioxidant activity of various samples of research interest using different methods in food and human health have been conducted. These methods are classified, described, and discussed in this review. Methods based on inhibited autoxidation are the most suited for termination-enhancing antioxidants and for chain-breaking antioxidants, while different specific studies are needed for preventive antioxidants. For this purpose, the most common methods used in vitro determination of antioxidant capacity of food constituents were examined. Also, a selection of chemical testing methods was critically reviewed and highlighted. In addition, their advantages, disadvantages, limitations and usefulness were discussed and investigated for pure molecules and raw extracts. The effect and influence of the reaction medium on the performance of antioxidants are also addressed. Hence, this overview provides a basis and rationale for developing standardized antioxidant methods for the food, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplement industries. In addition, the most important advantages and shortcomings of each method were detected and highlighted. The chemical principles of these methods are outlined and critically discussed. The chemical principles of methods of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) radical (ABTS^·+) scavenging, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·) radical scavenging, Fe³⁺-Fe²⁺ transformation assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, cupric ions (Cu²⁺) reducing power assay (Cuprac), Folin-Ciocalteu reducing capacity (FCR assay), peroxyl radical (ROO·), superoxide radical anion (O₂^·-), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical (OH·) scavenging assay, singlet oxygen (¹O₂) quenching assay, nitric oxide radical (NO·) scavenging assay and chemiluminescence assay are outlined and critically discussed. Also, the general antioxidant aspects of main food components were discussed by a number of methods, which are currently used for the detection of antioxidant properties of food components. This review consists of two main sections. The first section is devoted to the main components in the food and pharmaceutical applications. The second general section comprises some definitions of the main antioxidant methods commonly used for the determination of the antioxidant activity of components. In addition, some chemical, mechanistic and kinetic basis, and technical details of the used methods are given.

A Novel Ag-N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complex Bearing the Hydroxyethyl Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, Crystal and Spectral Structures and Bioactivity Properties

In this study, a novel silver N-heterocyclic carbene (Ag-NHC) complex bearing hydroxyethyl substituent has been synthesized from the hydroxyethyl-substituted benzimidazolium salt and silver oxide by using in-situ deprotonation method. A structure of the Ag-NHC complex was characterized by using UV-Vis, FTIR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopies and elemental analysis techniques. Also, the crystal structure of the novel complex was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. In this paper, compound 1 showed excellent inhibitory effects against some metabolic enzymes. This complex had Ki of 1.14 0.26 µM against human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), 1.88±0.20 µM against human carbonic anhydrase II (hCA I), and 10.75±2.47 µM against α-glycosidase, respectively. On the other hand, the Ki value was found as 25.32±3.76 µM against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and 41.31±7.42 µM against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), respectively. These results showed that the complex had drug potency against some diseases related to using metabolic enzymes.