Non-targeted metabolomics characterization of Annona muricata leaf extracts with anti-angiogenic activity

Exploring the liver toxicity mechanism of Tripterygium wilfordii extract based on metabolomics, network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tripterygii wilfordii Radix, (TW) as a toxic herbal medicine, is the root of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. , which commonly used in China for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases, but its severe toxicity, particularly hepatotoxicity, significantly impacts its clinical application.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The hepatotoxicity and its molecular mechanism of 70% TW ethanol extract (TWE) on male mice were demonstrated based on metabolomics, network pharmacological analysis and experimental validation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The toxic and bioactive ingredients in TWE were quantitative analyzed by Triple quadrupole (TQ) mass spectrometry method. The liver organ index, as well as the liver function indexes AST and ALT were evaluated after administering different doses of TWE for 24 h, and a pathological change was analyzed in liver tissue. Non-targeted metabolomics using UPLC-QTOF/MS was performed on both the plasma and liver tissue samples in combination with network toxicology to screen for key targets related to TWE toxicity in the liver. These key targets including caspase 3, NF-κB, TLR4, TNF-α, NQO1, and Bcl2 were subsequently verified through Western blotting experiments.

RESULTS

The six toxic and active ingredients of raphenolactone, ranolactone, triptolide tripterine, wilforlide A, demethylzeylasterain in TWE for the contents of 0.709, 1.408, 0.353, 0.354, 0.882, 0.227 mg g-1, respectively. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels increased and liver index decreased after administration of TWE for 24 h. Pathological analysis showed that TWE could produce toxicity to mouse liver, and its toxicity was dose-dependent. In the high-dose group, TW-D (11.23 g/kg) and TW-E (22.46 g/kg) caused a large amount of rupture in mouse liver nucleus and a large amount of inflammatory infiltration at the same time. Furthermore, 64 metabolites in plasma and 59 metabolites in the liver tissue were identified. The main metabolic pathways involved glycerol phospholipid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-ether lipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, sphingomyelin metabolism, and ether lipid metabolism in plasma and liver tissue. Through analysis of the top 10 correlated targets, 6 out of the top 10 selected target proteins exhibited consistent expression patterns with liver injury. The levels of Bcl2 and NQO1 decreased with increasing exposure dose. The expression of Caspase 3, NF-κB, TLR4, and TNF-α increased with increasing dose. These findings suggest that protein expression has a regulatory effect at different doses groups compared to the control group.These findings suggest a regulatory effect of protein expression in different dose groups compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

The hepatotoxic effects of TWE can increase ALT and AST levels in plasma, leading to hepatic oxidative damage and inflammatory response. The toxic mechanisms that produce are closely related to the regulating of the abnormal metabolites in plasma and liver tissue. Furthermore, the regulating the expression levels of targeted proteins of TNF-α, NF-κB, Caspase 3, NQO1, and Bcl2 were confirmed by examining the liver tissue. These data clearly elucidate the toxicity mechanism of TW, laying the foundation for ensuring the quality and safety of drugs.

Characterization and enhanced antibiofilm activity of Annona muricata extract in combination with fluconazole against Candida albicans

Introduction

Candida albicans biofilm formation is a significant contributor to antifungal resistance, necessitating new treatment strategies. Annona muricata Lin., a traditional herbal remedy, has shown promise in combating microbial infections. The purpose of this study was to assess the antibiofilm activity of the methanol extract of A. muricata leaves alone or with the addition of fluconazole against C. albicans.

Methods

Phytochemicals from the methanol extract were analyzed by LC-MS, the XTT assay was used for metabolic activity, and morphological characteristics were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Molecular docking screening of identified compounds in A. muricata methanol leaves extract against a Sap3 receptor (PDB: 2H6T) was also performed.

Results

The LC-MS analysis detected 17 possible phytochemicals. The methanol extract showed a dose-dependent inhibition of biofilm formation, with maximum inhibition of ~60% observed at 240 μg/ml, and inhibition by fluconazole increased from 32% to 76% as the concentration increased from 15 to 240 μg/ml. The combination of A. muricata and fluconazole increased the inhibition significantly, from 74% to 78% at 15 μg/ml to 240 μg/mL, respectively. SEM of control and treated C. albicans biofilms showed an altered morphology and loss of cell integrity by the combination, corroborating the findings. Plant phytochemicals also possess high binding affinity (-9.7 to 8.0 kcal/mol, respectively) for the Sap3 enzyme and may therefore have therapeutic potential against C. albicans.

Conclusion

Consequently, the findings indicate that compounds in the A. muricata methanol extract may function in concert with fluconazole at sub-inhibitory concentrations to suppress C. albicans biofilm formation. This finding paves the way for the formulation and development of antifungal treatment regimens that may limit the development of fluconazole resistance employing this plant part.

Metabolomics approach for phenolic compounds profiling of soursop (Annona muricata L.) fruit during postharvest storage

INTRODUCTION

Soursop (Annona muricata L.) is a crop with medicinal properties and numerous bioactive compounds. Ripening is a complex process that regulates fruit quality and changes in metabolite content, such as flavonoids, polyphenols, and organic acids.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to analyze the phenolic profiling of soursop fruit ripening.

METHODS

The metabolic changes in different days of storage of soursop fruits were investigated using a semi-metabolomic approach based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Further, multivariate analysis such as supervised partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was conducted to identify differential metabolites.

RESULTS

A total of 68 metabolites were identified in soursop fruit during postharvest storage. A higher number of metabolites were identified in the Day zero (D0) compared to the Day one (D1), Day three (D3), and Day five (D5), belonging to flavonoids, other polyphenols, phenolic acids, and organic acids. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the pathways of flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, flavonoid biosynthesis, and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites were mostly enriched. Additionally, we included all the compounds and their postharvest storage in the public Phenolics profile database.

CONCLUSIONS

Here, we show that the stage of ripening has a significant effect on the phenolic content, highlighting the point of cut (D0) and the onset of senescence (D5). The findings of this study provide new insights into the soursop fruit quality and may contribute to the identification of metabolic markers for its storage.

A Proteomic Study of the Bioactivity of Annona muricata Leaf Extracts in HT-1080 Fibrosarcoma Cells

Graviola (Annona muricata) is a tropical plant with many traditional ethnobotanic uses and pharmacologic applications. A metabolomic study of both aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves recently allowed us to identify dozens of bioactive compounds. In the present study, we use a proteomic approach to detect altered patterns in proteins on both conditioned media and extracts of HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells under treatment conditions, revealing new potential bioactivities of Annona muricata extracts. Our results reveal the complete sets of deregulated proteins after treatment with aqueous and DMSO extracts from Annona muricata leaves. Functional enrichment analysis of proteomic data suggests deregulation of cell cycle and iron metabolism, which are experimentally validated in vitro. Additional experimental data reveal that DMSO extracts protect HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells and HMEC-1 endothelial cells from ferroptosis. Data from our proteomic study are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD042354.

Soursop (Annona muricata) Properties and Perspectives for Integral Valorization

The increased international interest in the properties of soursop (Annona muricata) alerts us to the sustainability of productive chain by-products, which are rich in phytochemicals and other properties justifying their industrial application in addition to reducing the environmental impact and generating income. Chemical characteristics of soursop by-products are widely known in the scientific community; this fruit has several therapeutic effects, especially its leaves, enabling it to be used by the pharmaceutical industry. Damaged and non-standard fruits (due to falling and crushing) (30-50%), seeds (3-8.5%), peels (7-20%), and leaves, although they constitute discarded waste, can be considered as by-products. There are other less cited parts of the plant that also have phytochemical components, such as the columella and the epidermis of the stem and root. Tropical countries are examples of producers where soursop is marketed as fresh fruit or frozen pulp, and the valorization of all parts of the fruit could represent important environmental and economic perspectives. Based on the chemical composition of the fruit as well as its by-products and leaves, this work discusses proposals for the valorization of these materials. Soursop powder, bioactive compounds, oil, biochar, biodiesel, bio-oil, and other products based on published studies are presented in this work, offering new ideas for opportunities for the regions and consumers that produce soursop.

Nutritional and Therapeutic Potential of Soursop

Soursop (Annona muricata) has been one of the most studied fruits in recent years, owing to its potential medicinal benefits, as evidenced by many studies. Soursop is a tropical and subtropical fruit having great versatility and is quite sensitive to drastic temperature fluctuations. Since soursop contains various phytochemicals, it can be used medicinally to treat a wide range of conditions, including diabetes (by inhibiting the enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase), tumor, cancer, oxidative stress, blood pressure, the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells as well as hemorrhagic disease and cholesterol lowering. Due to its significant nutritional profile and therapeutic potential, it can be utilized in the development of nutraceuticals and medicines. Its pulp, seed, and leaf extract are used as functional ingredients in different foods as value-added foods. This review article is intended to characterize fruit development patterns and examines potential maturity indicators in soursop. In addition, it also elaborates on the potential nutritional and active phytochemicals present in this magnificent gift of nature and their possible uses in the food and pharmaceutical industries.