Multiple biological effects of secondary metabolites of Ziziphus jujuba: isolation and mechanistic insights through in vitro and in silico studies

Phytochemical Analysis and Assessment of Antioxidant and Enzyme Inhibitory Activity of Alchemilla pseudocartalinica Juz

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibitory activity of extracts, sub-extracts, and fractions prepared from the aerial parts and roots of A. pseudocartalinica. The phytochemical content of the active extracts was also analyzed. According to the results, ellagic acid (38.42 mg/g) was the major compound in the aerial part methanol extract and catechin (185.30 mg/g) in the root methanol extract. The DPPH inhibition activity of all fractions was monitored, with the most active one (Fr B) reaching an IC50 value of (4.92±0.59 μg/mL). All the fractions prepared from the aerial parts' water sub-extract showed higher a-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the positive control acarbose. In the tyrosinase assay, Fr B (58.81±7.50 μg/mL) exhibited the highest inhibitory actions among all fractions. The structure of the major substances of the most active fraction were elucidated as quercetin 7-O-β-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-glucuronopyranoside- (1), and α-[(2-formyl-5-hydroxymethyl)pyrrol-1-yl]aspartic acid (2).

Mechanism of Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Fruit in the Appetite Regulation Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Method

Objective

To investigate the mechanism of jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) in appetite regulation based on network pharmacology.

Methods

The active components and action targets of jujube were retrieved through the TCMSP and TCMID databases. GeneCards, DisGeNet, Therapeutic Target Database, and OMIM were used to screen the related targets for appetite, appetite suppression, and appetite regulation, and the intersection target of the two was selected. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. Important protein nodes and subnets were predicted based on the cytoHubba plug-in, and the hub gene was screened. Additionally, GO and KEGG pathway analyses were performed to obtain potential biological processes and signaling pathways of key targets. And the active ingredient-target-action pathway diagram was constructed.

Results

A total of 16 active components were screened from jujube, including 131 action targets related to appetite and appetite regulation. Three key targets (MAOA, MMP2, and HSPB1) were screened out by MCODE analysis. KEGG enrichment analysis was mainly enriched in neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, serotonin-containing synapse, gap junction, cAMP signaling pathway, and dopaminergic synapse. Molecular docking results showed that the components coclaurine, (−)-catenin, (+)-stepholidine, berberine, cianidanol, coclaurine, and moupinamide in jujube had strong binding activity to the main targets (ESR1, ADRA2C, and MMP2).

Conclusion

Based on network pharmacology, the appetite modulating effects of jujube on multiple components, targets, and channels were explored, and the main active components of jujube were predicted to act on multiple signaling pathways to regulate appetite. The molecular docking results showed that the components in jujube had strong binding activity to the main targets, which provided new ideas and methods to further investigate the mechanisms of appetite regulation by jujube.