HPLC-DAD profiles and pharmacological insights of Onobrychis argyrea subsp isaurica extracts.

Onobrychis argyrea Boiss. subsp. Isaurica (Fabaceae), endemic to the eastern Mediterranean region, is a poorly studied medicinal plant. This study sets out to investigate into antioxidant and inhibitory activities of O. argyrea extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) against key enzymes linked to diabetes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase), Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase), and skin hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). Phytochemical composition was determined by HPLC-DAD and in silico approach used to provide additional insight of the possible interaction of the identified phenolic compounds with the studied enzymes. The methanol extract showed potent inhibitory action against acetylcholinesterase (1.55 mg GALAE/g extract), tyrosinase (61.61 mg KAE/g extract), and glucosidase (20.17 mmol ACAE/g extract). The methanol extract of O. argyrea exhibited potent radical scavenging potential (126.51 mg TE/g extract for DPPH scavenging assay) and reducing capacities (311.36 and 200.70 mg TE/g extract, for CUPRAC and FRAP assays, respectively). Quercetin, apigenin, and benzoic acid were identified in significant amounts in the methanol extract of O. argyrea. Quercetin interacted with the catalytic pocket of glucosidase by establishing hydrogen bonds with Ser157, Ser241, Asp307, and π-π interactions with His280 and Tyr158. The observed inhibitory effects of O. argyrea extracts on the studied enzyme suggest that this plant could be a promising source of naturally occurring chemical compounds for the management of diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, skin hyperpigmentation disorders, as well as, oxidative stress-related complications.

A Comparative Assessment of Biological Effects and Chemical Profile of Italian Asphodeline lutea Extracts.

The present study aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of Asphodeline lutea (AL), a wild edible plant of the Mediterranean diet. Roots, aerial parts, and flowers of AL at two different phenological stages were collected from three locations in Italy. The inhibitory activities of extracts on strategic enzymes linked to human diseases were assessed. The antioxidant properties were evaluated in vitro, using six standard bioassays. The phenolic and anthraquinone profiles were also established using HPLC-PDA. Zinc, cadmium, lead, and copper contents were also determined. All the samples inhibited acetylcholinesterase (from 1.51 to 2.20 mg GALAEs/g extract), tyrosinase (from 7.50 to 25.3 mg KAEs/g extract), and α-amylase (from 0.37 to 0.51 mmol ACAEs/g extract). Aloe-emodin and physcion were present in all parts, while rhein was not detected. The phenolic profile and the heavy metals composition of specimens gathered from three different regions of Italy were different. It can be argued that samples collected near the street can contain higher concentrations of heavy metals. The experimental data confirm that the A. lutea species could be considered as a potential source of bioactive metabolites, and its consumption could play a positive and safe role in human health maintenance.

Enzyme Inhibitory Properties, Antioxidant Activities, and Phytochemical Profile of Three Medicinal Plants from Turkey.

We aimed to investigate the inhibitory potential of three medicinal plants (Hedysarum varium, Onobrychis hypargyrea, and Vicia truncatula) from Turkey against key enzymes involved in human pathologies, namely, diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), neurodegenerative disorders (tyrosinase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase), and hyperpigmentation (tyrosinase). The antioxidant potential, phenolic and flavonoid content of ethyl acetate, and methanolic and aqueous extracts were investigated using in vitro assays. The total antioxidant capacity (TAC), ß-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH(•)), 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(•+)), cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating activity on ferrous ions were used to evaluate the antioxidant capabilities of the extracts. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the extracts on cholinesterase, tyrosinase, and α-amylase were significantly higher than the references, galantamine, kojic acid, and acarbose, respectively. The half-maximal effective concentrations (EC50) of the extracts on TAC, CUPRAC, and FRAP were significantly higher than trolox. The phenol and flavonoid contents of the plant extracts were in the range 20.90 ± 0.190-83.25 ± 0.914 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 1.45 ± 0.200-39.71 ± 0.092 mg rutin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The plants were found to possess moderate antioxidant capacities and interesting inhibitory action against key enzymes.