Proanthocyanidins isolated from the leaves of Ficus glomerata evaluated on the activities of rumen enzymes: in vitro and in silico studies

Two new proanthocyanidins (2S:3S)-(-)-epicatechin-(4α→8)4-(2R:3R)-(+)-catechin (Compound 1) and (2R, 3R)-3-O-galloyl-(+)-catechin (4β→8)3-(2R, 3R)-3-O-galloyl-(+)-catechin (Compound 2) were isolated from Ficus glomerata and characterized by ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR), 13C NMR, and heteronuclear multiple bond correlation . The bioactivity and drug scores of isolated compounds were predicted using OSIRIS property explorer applications with drug scores of 0.03 (compound 1) and 0.05 (compound 2). Predictive drug scores provided an indication of the compounds' potential to demonstrate desired biological effects. Furthermore, the newly discovered proanthocyanidins tended to interact with protein due to their chemical structure and molecular conformation. With the aim of maintaining this focus, compounds 1 and 2 were subjected to in vitro testing against ruminal enzymes to further explore their potential impact. Both compounds showed significant inhibition activities (p < 0.01) against glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in both protozoa and bacterial fractions, with an effective concentration (EC50) of 12.30-18.20 mg/mL. The compounds also exhibited significant inhibition (p < 0.01) of ruminal glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity, with EC50 values ranging from 9.77 to 17.38 mg/mL. Furthermore, the inhibition was recorded in R-cellulase between EC50 values of 15.85 and 23.99 mg/mL by both compounds. Additionally, both compounds led to a decrease in protease activity with increasing incubation time and concentration. In conclusion, the results indicate that these novel proanthocyanidins hold the potential to significantly impact rumen enzyme biology. Furthermore, their promising effects suggest that they could be further explored for drug development and other important applications.

Effect of Ficus glomerata leaf extract in streptozotocin-induced early diabetic complications and its characterization by LC-MS

Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder that leads to various micro-vascular complications. The present study elucidated the effect of chloroform extract of leaves of Ficus glomerata (CHFG) in streptozotocin-induced early diabetic renal and neural complications. Wistar rats were injected with STZ (55 mg/kg, i.p.) to produce experimental diabetes. Two weeks after the stabilization of diabetes, CHFG extract at the dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg (CHFG 200 and CHFG 400) and metformin at the dose of 250 mg/kg (Met 250) was administered to the diabetic rats for further two weeks. Diabetic rats showed an increase in blood glucose, plasma urea, uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride, and total cholesterol level. The change in behavioral parameters such as thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia with compromised sciatic nerve and kidney antioxidant status were seen in diabetic rats. Diabetic rats treated with CHFG 200, CHFG 400, and Met 250 showed a decrease in blood glucose, plasma urea, uric acid, creatinine, triglyceride, and total cholesterol level. Also, it improved altered behavioral parameters such as thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia. It also restored the sciatic nerve and kidney antioxidant status. The results of kidney and sciatic nerves histopathological study were in line with the results of biochemical parameters that confirmed the favorable role of CHFG. Characterization of CHFG by LC-MS revealed the presence of diverse phytoconstituents, which might be responsible for its protective effect.

Antioxidant activities of ficus glomerata (moraceae) leaf gall extracts

An excess production or decreased scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diverse metabolic disorders such as diabetes, cancer, atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration. Hence the antioxidant therapy has gained an utmost importance in the treatment of such diseases linked to free radicals. The medicinal properties of plants have been investigated and explored for their potent antioxidant activities to counteract metabolic disorders. This research highlights the chemical composition and antioxidant potential of leaf gall extracts (aqueous and methanol) of Ficus glomerata (F. glomerata), which is extensively used in the preparation of traditional medications to treat various metabolic diseases. The presences of phenolics, flavonoids, phytosterols, terpenoids and reducing sugars were identified in both the extracts. In comparison to the aqueous extract, the methanol extract had the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content at 370 ± 3.2 mg of gallic acid equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg GAE/g dw) and 155 ± 3.2 mg of quercetin equivalent per gram of dry weight (mg QUE/g dw), respectively. The antioxidant activities of leaf gall extracts were examined using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Nitric oxide scavenging, hydroxyl scavenging and ferric reducing power (FRAP) methods. In all the methods, the methanolic extract showed higher antioxidant potential than the aqueous extract. A higher content of both total phenolics and flavonoids were found in the methanolic extract and the significantly high antioxidant activity can be positively correlated to the high content of total polyphenols/flavonoids of the methanol extract. The results of this study confirm the folklore use of F. glomerata leaf gall extracts as a natural antioxidant and justify its ethnobotanical use. Further, the results of antioxidant properties encourage the use of F. glomerata leaf gall extracts for medicinal health, functional food and nutraceuticals applications. Future work will be interesting in knowing the chemical composition and better understand the mechanism of action of the antioxidants present for development as drug for its therapeutic application.