Antioxidant, Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibition Activities, In Silico Molecular Docking and Pharmacokinetics Study of Phenolic Compounds from Native Australian Fruits and Spices

LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Identification and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Leaves of Australian Myrtles and Their Antioxidant Activities

Phenolic compounds, present in plants, provide substantial health advantages, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which enhance cardiovascular and cognitive well-being. Australia is enriched with a wide range of plants with phytopharmacological potential, which needs to be fully elucidated. In this context, we analyzed leaves of aniseed myrtle (Syzygium anisatum), lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora), and cinnamon myrtle (Backhousia myrtifolia) for their complex phytochemical profile and antioxidant potential. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was applied for screening and characterizing these Australian myrtles' phenolic compounds and the structure-function relation of phenolic compounds. This study identified 145 and quantified/semi-quantified 27 phenolic compounds in these Australian myrtles. Furthermore, phenolic contents (total phenolic content (TPC), total condensed tannins (TCT), and total flavonoids (TFC)) and antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts from the leaves of Australian myrtles were quantified. Aniseed myrtle was quantified with the highest TPC (52.49 ± 3.55 mg GAE/g) and total antioxidant potential than other selected myrtles. Catechin, epicatechin, isovitexin, cinnamic acid, and quercetin were quantified as Australian myrtles' most abundant phenolic compounds. Moreover, chemometric analysis further validated the results. This study provides a new insight into the novel potent bioactive phenolic compounds from Australian myrtles that could be potentially useful for functional, nutraceutical, and therapeutic applications.

Seaweed-derived phenolic compounds as diverse bioactive molecules: A review on identification, application, extraction and purification strategies

Seaweed, a diverse group of marine macroalgae, has emerged as a rich source of bioactive compounds with numerous health-promoting properties. Among these, phenolic compounds have garnered significant attention for their diverse therapeutic applications. This review examines the methodologies employed in the extraction and purification of phenolic compounds from seaweed, emphasizing their importance in unlocking the full potential of these oceanic treasures. The article provides a comprehensive overview of the structural diversity and biological activities of seaweed-derived phenolics, elucidating their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Furthermore, it explores the impact of extraction techniques, including conventional methods and modern green technologies, on the yield and quality of phenolic extracts. The purification strategies for isolating specific phenolic compounds are also discussed, shedding light on the challenges and advancements in this field. Additionally, the review highlights the potential applications of seaweed-derived phenolics in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods, underscoring the economic value of these compounds. Finally, future perspectives and research directions are proposed to encourage continued exploration of seaweed phenolics, fostering a deeper understanding of their therapeutic potential and promoting sustainable practices in the extraction and purification processes. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers interested in harnessing the untapped potential of phenolic compounds from seaweed for the betterment of human health and environmental sustainability.

Exploring the inhibitory properties of biflavonoids on α-glucosidase; computational and experimental approaches

Biflavonoids (BFs) are a group of polyphenols that have a unique biochemical structure. One of the key biomedical mechanisms that BFs can have high potential in managing Diabetes mellitus (DM) is α-glucosidase inhibition. Normally, elevated blood glucose levels are caused by high absorption of glucose in the epithelium of the small intestine. Since α-glucosidase helps increase the absorption of glucose in the small intestine in the final stage of glycan catabolism, inhibition of this essential biochemical process in diabetic patients can be considered a suitable approach in the treatment of this disease. The interaction between the BFs and α-glucosidase are still not clear, and need to be deeply investigated. Herein, the aim is to identify BFs with strong α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Using docking-based virtual screening approach, the potential binding affinity of 18 selected BFs to α-glucosidase was evaluated. The dynamic activity and stability of α-glucosidase-BFs complexes were then measured by molecular dynamics simulation (MDs). "Strychnobiflavone" showed the best score in α-glucosidase inhibition. Arg315 and Phe303 involved in the interactions of α-glucosidase-strychnobiflavone complex through cation-π and π-π stacking, respectively. Based on in vitro kinetic studies, it was determined that the type of inhibition of "strychnobiflavone" corresponds to the pattern of mixed inhibitors. Furthermore, details of the interactions between strychnobiflavone and α-glucosidase were performed by in silico secondary structure content analysis. The findings showed when "strychnobifone" binds to the enzyme, significant alterations occur in the enzyme conformation affecting its catalytic activity. In general, the findings highlighted the potential of "strychnobiflavone" as a promising candidate for the treatment of diabetes mellitus through α-glucosidase inhibition. Further in vitro and in vivo studies have to confirm the therapeutic benefits of "strychnobiflavone" in conformational diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

Screening and Characterization of Phenolic Compounds from Selected Unripe Fruits and Their Antioxidant Potential

The food sector's interest in sustainability and the demand for novel bioactive compounds are increasing. Many fruits are wasted every year before ripening due to various climatic conditions and harsh weather. Unripe mangoes, grapes, and black lemons could be rich sources of phenolic compounds that need to be fully elucidated. Using fruit waste as a source of bioactive chemicals has grown increasingly appealing as it may have significant economic benefits. Polyphenols are beneficial for human health to inhibit or minimize oxidative stress and can be used to develop functional and nutraceutical food products. In this context, this study aimed to characterize and screen unripe mangoes, grapes, and black lemons for phenolic compounds using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS and their antioxidant activities. Unripe mangoes were quantified with higher total phenolic content (TPC, 58.01 ± 6.37 mg GAE/g) compared to black lemon (23.08 ± 2.28 mg GAE/g) and unripe grapes (19.42 ± 1.16 mg GAE/g). Furthermore, unripe mangoes were also measured with higher antioxidant potential than unripe grapes and black lemons. A total of 85 phenolic compounds (70 in black lemons, 49 in unripe grapes, and 68 in unripe mango) were identified, and 23 phenolic compounds were quantified using LC-MS/MS. Procyanidin B2, gallic acid, epicatechin, caffeic acid, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid were measured with higher concentration in these selected unripe fruits. A positive correlation was found between phenolic contents and the antioxidant activities of unripe fruits. Furthermore, chemometric analysis was conducted to validate the results. This study will explore the utilization of these unripe fruits to develop functional and therapeutic foods.

Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana against Methotrexate-Induced Liver Injury: Integrated Phytochemical Profiling, Target Network Analysis, and Experimental Validation

Methotrexate (MTX) therapy encounters significant limitations due to the significant concern of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), which poses a significant challenge to its usage. To mitigate the deleterious effects of MTX on hepatic function, researchers have explored plant sources to discover potential hepatoprotective agents. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (CLAE) against DILI, specifically focusing on MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify 61 compounds in CLAE, with 31 potential bioactive compounds determined through pharmacokinetic analysis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 195 potential DILI targets for the bioactive compounds, including TP53, IL6, TNF, HSP90AA1, EGFR, IL1B, BCL2, and CASP3 as top targets. In vivo experiments conducted on rats with acute MTX-hepatotoxicity revealed that administering CLAE orally at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day for ten days dose-dependently improved liver function, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and reversed the disarrayed hepatic histological features induced by MTX. In general, the findings of the present study provide evidence in favor of the hepatoprotective capabilities of CLAE in DILI, thereby justifying the need for additional preclinical and clinical investigations.

Lavandula pedunculata Polyphenol-Rich Extracts Obtained by Conventional, MAE and UAE Methods: Exploring the Bioactive Potential and Safety for Use a Medicine Plant as Food and Nutraceutical Ingredient

Nowadays, plant-based bioactive compounds (BCs) are a key focus of research, supporting sustainable food production and favored by consumers for their perceived safety and health advantages over synthetic options. Lavandula pedunculata (LP) is a Portuguese, native species relevant to the bioeconomy that can be useful as a source of natural BCs, mainly phenolic compounds. This study compared LP polyphenol-rich extracts from conventional maceration extraction (CE), microwave and ultrasound-assisted extraction (MAE and UAE). As a result, rosmarinic acid (58.68-48.27 mg/g DE) and salvianolic acid B (43.19-40.09 mg/g DE) were the most representative phenolic compounds in the LP extracts. The three methods exhibited high antioxidant activity, highlighting the ORAC (1306.0 to 1765.5 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/g DE) results. In addition, the extracts obtained with MAE and CE showed outstanding growth inhibition for B. cereus, S. aureus, E. coli, S. enterica and P. aeruginosa (>50%, at 10 mg/mL). The MAE extract showed the lowest IC50 (0.98 mg DE/mL) for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and the best results for α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibition (at 5 mg/mL, the inhibition was 87 and 73%, respectively). The LP polyphenol-rich extracts were also safe on caco-2 intestinal cells, and no mutagenicity was detected. The UAE had lower efficiency in obtaining LP polyphenol-rich extracts. MAE equaled CE's efficiency, saving time and energy. LP shows potential as a sustainable raw material, allowing diverse extraction methods to safely develop health-promoting food and nutraceutical ingredients.

Synthesis, characterization, biochemical, and molecular modeling studies of carvacrol-based new thiosemicarbazide and 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives

A series of carvacrol-based thiosemicarbazide (3a-e) and 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine (4a-e) were designed and synthesized for the first time. The structures were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and high resolution mass spectroscopy techniques. All compounds were examined for some metabolic enzyme activities. Results indicated that all the synthetic molecules exhibited powerful inhibitory actions against human carbonic anhydrase I and II (hCAI and II), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes compared to the standard molecules. Ki values of five novel thiosemicarbazides and five new 1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-amine derivatives (3a-e and 4a-e) for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE enzymes were obtained in the ranges 0.73-21.60, 0.42-15.08 µM, 3.48-81.48, 92.61-211.40 nM, respectively. After the experimental undertaking, an extensive molecular docking analysis was conducted to scrutinize the intricate details of interactions between the ligand and the enzyme in question. The principal focus of this investigation was to appraise the potency and efficacy of the most active compound. In this context, the calculated docking scores were noted to be remarkably low, with values of -8.65, -7.97, -8.92, and -8.32 kcal/mol being recorded for hCA I, hCA II, AChE, and BChE, respectively. These observations suggest a high affinity and specificity of the studied compounds toward the enzymes, as mentioned earlier, which may pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions aimed at modulating the activity of these enzymes.

Shotgun metagenomics and computational profiling of the plastisphere microbiome: unveiling the potential of enzymatic production and plastic degradation

Plastic pollution is one of the most resilient types of pollution and is considered a global environmental threat, particularly in the marine environment. This study aimed to identify plastic-degrading bacteria from the plastisphere and their pharmaceutical and therapeutic potential. We collected samples from soil and aquatic plastisphere to identify the bacterial communities using shotgun metagenomic sequencing and bioinformatic tools. Results showed that the microbiome comprised 93% bacteria, 0.29% archaea, and 3.87% unidentified microbes. Of these 93% of bacteria, 54% were Proteobacteria, 23.9% were Firmicutes, 13% were Actinobacteria, and 2.1% were other phyla. We found that the plastisphere microbiome was involved in degrading synthetic and polyhydroxy alkanoate (PHA) plastic, biosurfactant production, and can thrive under high temperatures. However, no association existed between thermophiles, synthetic plastic or PHA degraders, and biosurfactant-producing bacterial species except for Pseudomonas. Other plastisphere inhabiting plastic degrading microbes include Streptomyces, Bacillus, Achromobacter, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Brevundimonas, Clostridium, Paenibacillus, Rhodococcus, Serratia, Staphylococcus, Thermobifida, and Thermomonospora. However, the plastisphere microbiome showed potential for producing secondary metabolites that were found to act as anticancer, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and enzyme stabilizers. These results revealed that the plastisphere microbiome upholds clinical and environmental significance as it can open future portals in a multi-directional way.

Optimized Extraction of Polyphenols from Unconventional Edible Plants: LC-MS/MS Profiling of Polyphenols, Biological Functions, Molecular Docking, and Pharmacokinetics Study

Plant bioactive phenolic metabolites have recently attracted the attention of researchers due to their numerous health advantages. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate with advanced techniques the bioactive metabolites and antioxidant and antidiabetic capacity of four unconventional edible plant leaves: lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.), and ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The extraction process was optimized using different solvents. These plants' phenolic composition, identification, and characterization have been determined herein using LCESI-QTOF-MS/MS. This research identified 85 phenolic compounds, including 24 phenolic acids, 31 flavonoids, 7 stilbenes and lignans, and 17 other metabolites. Moreover, the study determined that moringa has the highest total phenolic content (TPC; 18.5 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g), whereas ryegrass has the lowest (3.54 ± 0.08 mg GAE/g) among the selected plants. It seems that, compared to other plants, moringa was found to have the highest antioxidant potential and antidiabetic potential. In addition, twenty-two phenolic compounds were quantified in these chosen edible plants. Rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, chicoric acid, ferulic acid, protocatechuic acid, and caffeic acid were the most abundant phenolic acids. In silico molecular docking was also conducted to investigate the structure-function relationship of phenolic compounds to inhibit the alpha-glucosidase. Finally, the simulated pharmacokinetic characteristics of the most common substances were also predicted. In short, this investigation opens the way for further study into these plants' pharmaceutical and dietary potential.

Herbal concoction Unveiled: A computational analysis of phytochemicals' pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles using novel approach methodologies (NAMs)

Herbal medications have an extensive history of use in treating various diseases, attributed to their perceived efficacy and safety. Traditional medicine practitioners and contemporary healthcare providers have shown particular interest in herbal syrups, especially for respiratory illnesses associated with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. However, the current understanding of the pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of phytochemicals in these herbal mixtures is limited. This study presents a comprehensive computational analysis utilizing novel approach methodologies (NAMs) to investigate the pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles of phytochemicals in herbal syrup, leveraging in-silico techniques and prediction tools such as PubChem, SwissADME, and Molsoft's database. Although molecular dynamics, docking, and broader system-wide analyses were not considered, future studies hold potential for further investigation in these areas. By combining drug-likeness with molecular simulation, researchers identify diverse phytochemicals suitable for complex medication development examining their pharmacokinetic-toxicological profiles in phytopharmaceutical syrup. The study focuses on herbal solutions for respiratory infections, with the goal of adding to the pool of all-natural treatments for such ailments. This research has the potential to revolutionize environmental and alternative medicine by leveraging in-silico models and innovative analytical techniques to identify novel phytochemicals with enhanced therapeutic benefits and explore network-based and systems biology approaches for a deeper understanding of their interactions with biological systems. Overall, our study offers valuable insights into the computational analysis of the pharmacokinetic and toxicological profiles of herbal concoction. This paves the way for advancements in environmental and alternative medicine. However, we acknowledge the need for future studies to address the aforementioned topics that were not adequately covered in this research.

Advances in the Astonishing World of Phytochemicals: State-of-the-Art for Antioxidants

In recent years, research on phytochemicals has underscored pleiotropic actions and medicinal and health-promoting properties which certainly deserve serious attention [...].

Chemical Evaluation, Phytotoxic Potential, and In Silico Study of Essential Oils from Leaves of Guatteria schomburgkiana Mart. and Xylopia frutescens Aubl. (Annonaceae) from the Brazilian Amazon

The essential oils (EOs) of Guatteria schomburgkiana (Gsch) and Xylopia frutescens (Xfru) (Annonaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Herbicide activity was measured by analyzing the seed germination percentage and root and hypocotyl elongation of two invasive species: Mimosa pudica and Senna obtusifolia. The highest yield was obtained for the EO of Xfru (1.06%). The chemical composition of Gsch was characterized by the presence of the oxygenated sesquiterpenes spathulenol (22.40%) and caryophyllene oxide (14.70%). Regarding the EO of Xfru, the hydrocarbon monoterpenes α-pinene (35.73%) and β-pinene (18.90%) were the components identified with the highest concentrations. The germination of seeds of S. obtusifolia (13.33 ± 5.77%) showed higher resistance than that of seeds of M. pudica (86.67 ± 5.77%). S. obtusifolia was also more sensitive to the EO of Xfru in terms of radicle (55.22 ± 2.72%) and hypocotyl (71.12 ± 3.80%) elongation, while M. pudica showed greater sensitivity to the EO of Gsch. To screen the herbicidal activity, the molecular docking study of the major and potent compounds was performed against 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) protein. Results showed good binding affinities and attributed the strongest inhibitory activity to δ-cadinene for the target protein. This work contributes to the study of the herbicidal properties of the EOs of species of Annonaceae from the Amazon region.

Characterization, Antioxidant Potential, and Pharmacokinetics Properties of Phenolic Compounds from Native Australian Herbs and Fruits

In recent decades, plant bioactive phenolic compounds gained much attention due to their various health benefits. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze native Australian river mint (Mentha australis), bush mint (Mentha satureioides), sea parsley (Apium prostratum), and bush tomatoes (Solanum centrale) for their bioactive metabolites, antioxidant potential, and pharmacokinetics properties. LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS was applied to elucidate these plants' composition, identification, and quantification of phenolic metabolites. This study tentatively identified 123 phenolic compounds (thirty-five phenolic acids, sixty-seven flavonoids, seven lignans, three stilbenes, and eleven other compounds). Bush mint was identified with the highest total phenolic content (TPC-57.70 ± 4.57 mg GAE/g), while sea parsley contained the lowest total phenolic content (13.44 ± 0.39 mg GAE/g). Moreover, bush mint was also identified with the highest antioxidant potential compared to other herbs. Thirty-seven phenolic metabolites were semi-quantified, including rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, sagerinic acid, quinic acid, and caffeic acid, which were abundant in these selected plants. The most abundant compounds' pharmacokinetics properties were also predicted. This study will develop further research to identify these plants' nutraceutical and phytopharmaceutical potential.