Investigation of Anticholinesterase Activity of Chemically Characterised Hieracium s. str. Methanol Extracts and Their Selected Metabolites

Enzyme Inhibitory Activities, Phenolic Profile, and In Silico Studies of Sorbus torminalis Tree Bark Methanol Extract

The different parts of Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz are used in traditional medicine for various conditions such as cardiac diseases, cough, and diabetes, indicating its significant medicinal potential. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to reveal the phenolic composition of the poorly studied S. torminalis methanol extract of the bark, as well as its capacity to inhibit enzymes relevant to cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, and metabolic diseases. A total of 28 phenolic components, including 20 procyanidins aglycones (A- and B-type), four procyanidin glycosides, catechin and its glycoside, and two (epi)catechin derivatives, were detected using LC-MS. The contents of total polyphenols (6.22 %), total tannins (3.04 %), condensed tannins (0.70 %), and total flavonoids (0.24 %) were determined spectrophotometrically, highlighting the considerable phenolic richness of the examined plant material. The concentration-dependent ability to inhibit α-amylase (IC50=130 μg /mL), α-glucosidase (IC50=312.13 μg /mL), acetylcholinesterase (IC50=156.46 μg /mL), butyrylcholinesterase (IC50=217.68 μg /mL), and angiotensin-converting enzyme (IC50=36.77 μg /mL) was demonstrated in vitro. The in silico approach showed that catechin, procyanidin B2 and C1, S. torminalis bark constituents, can form stable complexes with the target enzymes but with different binding affinity. The results supported the medicinal potential of S. torminalis bark and significantly expanded our knowledge of its chemistry, justifying further research.

Can We Improve Diosmetin Activity? The State-of-the-Art and Promising Research Directions

Diosmetin is a natural substance widely distributed in nature, with documented multidirectional biological effects. The wide spectrum of biological activity of diosmetin gives hope that derivatives of this flavonoid may also be used as drugs or dietary supplements used in many diseases. Modification of the structure may, on the one hand, lead to an increase in biological potency, new biological activity, or an increase in solubility and thus bioavailability. This is an important direction of research because the use of pure diosmetin is limited due to its low bioavailability. This work is an attempt to collect information on the possibility of modifying the structure of diosmetin and its impact on biological activity.