Phytochemical profiling of aqeous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii by gas chromatography (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography (HPLC-PDA-ESI/MSn) tandem mass spectroscopy (MS): a pointer to its nephroprotection.

The phytochemical constituents in the aqueous methanolic leaf extract of Triclisia gilletii responsible for its nephroprotective potentials against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis as previously investigated in our laboratory were elucidated. The extract was prepared using 80% aqueous methanol in 72 h, Phytochemical contents of aqueous methanolic extract of Triclisia gilletii (TGME) was identified using both a Thermo Scientific DSQII single quadrupole gas chromatography (GC) and a Thermo Scientific liquid chromatography (LCQ Fleet system) tandem mass spectroscopy. The chromatogram acquisition, detection of mass spectral peaks and their waveform processing were performed using Xcalibur MS Software (Thermo Scientific Inc.). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of phenols, fatty acids, vitamins and steroids. Likewise, for LC-MS analysis kaempferol and dihydrovomifoliol-O-glucoside were detected. The identified constituents have possible contributively effect on the acclaimed pharmacological potential of Triclisia gilletii against ethane-1,2-diol induced nephrolithiasis.

Cardio-protective and antioxidant properties of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid: Mechanistic role of angiotensin converting enzyme, cholinesterase and arginase activities in cyclosporine induced hypertensive rats.

Caffeic acid (CAA) and chlorogenic acid (CHA) are important members of hydroxycinnamic acid with natural antioxidant and cardio-protective properties. The present study aimed to determine the effect of CAA and CHA on systolic blood pressure, heart rates (HR) as well as on the activity of the angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE) and arginase in cyclosporine-induced hypertensive rats. Experimental rats were distributed into 7 groups (n = 6): normotensive control rats; hypertensive rats (induced rats) as well as hypertensive- treated groups with captopril (10 mg/kg/day), CAA (10 and 15 mg/kg/day) and CHA (10 and 15 mg/kg/day), respectively. The experiment lasted for 7 days and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rates were recorded using tail-cuff method. Oral administration of captopril, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid normalized hypertensive effect caused by cyclosporine administration. CAA and CHA significantly (P < 0.05) reduced SBP and HR, activity of ACE, AChE, BChE and arginase in the treated hypertensive rats compared with cyclosporine induced-hypertensive rats. Likewise, CAA and CHA improved nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, increased catalase activity and reduced glutathione content while malondialdehyde (MDA) level was reduced compared with cyclosporine hypertensive rats. Findings from this study shows that CAA and CHA exhibited blood pressure lowering properties and reduced activities of key enzymes linked to the pathogenesis of hypertension in cyclosporine-induced rats. These might be some of the possible mechanisms of action by which their cardio-protective properties are exhibited.

Mineral Elements Bio-Accessibility and Antioxidant Indices of Blanched Basella rubra at Different Phases of in vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.

The present investigation was designed to evaluate the mineral element bio-accessibility and antioxidant indices of blanched Basella rubra at different phases of simulated in vitro digestion (oral, gastric, and intestinal). The phenolic composition of processed vegetable was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode-array detection method. Mineral composition, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant activity (TAA) of the in vitro digested blanched and raw vegetable were also determined. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of some phenolic compounds, with higher levels (mg/g) of polyphenols in raw B. rubra (catechin, 1.12; p-coumaric acid, 6.17; caffeic acid, 2.05) compared with the blanched counterpart, with exeption of chlorogenic acid (2.84), that was higher in blanched vegetable. The mineral content (mg/100 g) showed a higher value in enzyme treated raw vegetable compared to their blanched counterparts, with few exceptions. The results revealed a higher level of some of the evaluated minerals at the intestinal phase of digestion (Zn, 6.36/5.31; Mg, 5.29/8.97; Ca, 2,307.69/1,565.38; Na, 5,128/4,128.21) for raw and blanched respectively, with the exception of Fe, K, and P. The results of the antioxidant indices of in vitro digested B. rubra revealed a higher value at the intestinal phase of in vitro digestion, with raw vegetal matter ranking higher (TPC, 553.56 mg/g; TFC, 518.88 mg/g; FRAP, 8.15 mg/g; TAA, 5,043.16 µM Trolox equivalent/g) than the blanched counterpart. The studied vegetable contains important minerals and antioxidant molecules that would be readily available after passing through the gastrointestinal tract and could be harnessed as functional foods.

Antioxidant and Anticholinesterase Potential of Two Nigerian Bitter Yams Using a Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion Model and Conventional Extraction.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of yellow and white bitter yams from South Western Nigeria using methanolic extraction and simulated gastrointestinal digestion models. The phenolic compounds in the bitter yam varieties were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The total phenolic content of the bitter yams was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, reductive potential by assessing the ability of the bitter yam to reduce FeCl3 solution, and the antioxidant activities were determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH·) scavenging activity, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation (ABTS·+) scavenging activity, nitric oxide radical (NO·) scavenging ability, hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, and ability to inhibit Fe2+-induced lipid oxidation. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of some phenolic compounds in the studied bitter yam varieties, with varying degree of quantitative changes after cooking. The antioxidant indices (total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, reducing power, DPPH· scavenging activity, ABTS·+ scavenging activity, and NO· scavenging activity) were higher in the simulated gastrointestinal digestion model compared to the methanolic extract, with the in vitro digested cooked white bitter yam ranking higher. Similarly, the in vitro digested yams had a higher inhibitory action against lipid oxidation compared to the methanolic extracts, with the cooked white bitter yam ranking high. The methanolic extracts and in vitro enzyme digests showed no acetylcholinesterase inhibitory abilities, while methanolic extracts and the in vitro enzyme digest displayed some level of butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. Therefore the studied bitter yams could be considered as possible health supplements.

Mobola plum seed methanolic extracts exhibit mixed type inhibition of angiotensin Ⅰ-converting enzyme in vitro

Objective:To explore the possible inhibitory potentials and mechanism by Mobola plum (Parinari curatellifolia) seeds crude methanol (CE) and flavonoid-rich (FE) extracts on angiotensin-1-converting enzyme (ACE I).Methods:The sensitivity and kinetic model of inhibition of CE and FE on ACE I using N-[3-(2-furyl)-acryloyl]-Phe-Gly-Gly as enzyme substrate for ACE I was evaluated by Michealis Menten approach.The inhibition mechanism was explored from LineweaverBurk model and IC50 was determined from Cheng-Prusoff empirical analysis.Results:The IC50 of CE and FE were 13.54 and 39.38 μg/mL,respectively.Both extracts exhibited mixed type inhibition with the inhibitory constant (Ki) of CE was between 0.38 and 0.37 μg/mL while that of FE showed a two-fold increase (1.62 μg/mL and 0.28 μg/mL).FE on ACE I demonstrated positive cooperativity with a Hill's coefficient of 1.89.Conclusions:The study reveals the superior ACE I inhibitory potential of CE over FE and suggest that mixed inhibition pattern of the enzyme might be the underlying mechanism of antihypertensive activity.

Effect of Ginger and Turmeric Rhizomes on Inflammatory Cytokines Levels and Enzyme Activities of Cholinergic and Purinergic Systems in Hypertensive Rats.

Inflammation exerts a crucial pathogenic role in the development of hypertension. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa) on enzyme activities of purinergic and cholinergic systems as well as inflammatory cytokine levels in Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride-induced hypertensive rats. The rats were divided into seven groups (n = 10); groups 1-3 included normotensive control rats, hypertensive (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) rats, and hypertensive control rats treated with atenolol (an antihypertensive drug), while groups 4 and 5 included normotensive and hypertensive (Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride) rats treated with 4 % supplementation of turmeric, respectively, and groups 6 and 7 included normotensive and hypertensive rats treated with 4 % supplementation of ginger, respectively. The animals were induced with hypertension by oral administration of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, 40 mg/kg body weight. The results revealed a significant increase in ATP and ADP hydrolysis, adenosine deaminase, and acetylcholinesterase activities in lymphocytes from Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride hypertensive rats when compared with the control rats. In addition, an increase in serum butyrylcholinesterase activity and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 and - 6, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α) with a concomitant decrease in anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10) was observed in Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride hypertensive rats. However, dietary supplementation of both rhizomes was efficient in preventing these alterations in hypertensive rats by decreasing ATP hydrolysis, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase activities and proinflammatory cytokines in hypertensive rats. Thus, these activities could suggest a possible insight about the protective mechanisms of the rhizomes against hypertension-related inflammation.

In vitro antioxidant activity and effect of Parkia biglobosa bark extract on mitochondrial redox status.

Aqueous-methanolic extract of Parkia biglobosa bark (PBB) was screened for its polyphenolic constituents, in vitro antioxidant activity, and effect on mitochondria redox status. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by using the scavenging abilities and the reducing powers of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) diammonium salt radical cation against Fe(3+). Subsequently, the ability of PBB to inhibit lipid peroxidation induced by FeSO(4) (10 µm) and its metal-chelating potential were investigated. The effects of the extract on basal reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and on the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in isolated mitochondria were determined by using 2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin (DCFH) oxidation and safranin fluorescence, respectively. PBB mitigated the Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation in rat tissues and showed dose-dependent scavenging of DPPH (IC(50): 98.33 ± 10.0 µg/mL) and ABTS. (trolox equivalent antioxidant concentration, TEAC value = 0.05), with considerable ferric-reducing and moderate metal-chelating abilities. PBB caused slight decreases in both the liver and the brain mitochondria potentials and resulted in a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in DCFH oxidation. Screening for polyphenolics using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) revealed the presence of caffeic acid, gallic acid, catechin, epigalocatechin, rutin, and quercetin. These results demonstrate for the first time the considerable in vitro antioxidant activity and favorable effect of PBB on mitochondria redox status and provide justification for the use of the plant in ethnomedicine.

Phenolic composition and inhibitory activity of Mangifera indica and Mucuna urens seeds extracts against key enzymes linked to the pathology and complications of type 2 diabetes

Objective: To investigate the phenolic compounds composition and the inhibitory activity ofMangifera indica (M. indica) and Mucuna urens (M. urens) seeds extracts against some key enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase and aldose reductase) implicated in the pathology and complications of type 2 diabetes in vitro. Methods: Reverse phase chromatographic quantification of the major flavonoids and phenolic acids in the seeds extracts was carried out using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection. The inhibitory activities of the seeds extracts against α-amylase andα-glucosidase were estimated using soluble starch and ρ-nitrophenylglucopyranoside as their respective substrates. Inhibition of aldose reductase activity by the extracts was assayed using partially purified lens homogenate of normal male rat as source of enzyme; inhibition of Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation by extracts was tested in rat pancreas homogenate.Results:The chromatography result revealed that extracts of both seeds had appreciable levels of some major flavonoids and phenolic acids of pharmacological importance, including gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, catechin, rutin, quercitrin, quercetin and kaempferol. Extracts of both seeds effectively inhibited α-amylase, α-glucosidase and aldose reductase activities in a dose-dependent manner, having inhibitory preference for these enzymes in the order of aldose reductase>α-glucosidase>α-amylase. With lower half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) against α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and aldose reductase, M. indica had stronger inhibitory potency against these enzymes than M. urens. Extracts of both seeds also inhibited Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent pattern, with M. indica being more potent than M. urens.Conclusions:The results obtained provide support for a possible use of M. indica and M. urens seeds in managing hyperglycemia and preventing the complications associated with it in type 2 diabetes.