Exploring Medicinal Herbs' Therapeutic Potential and Molecular Docking Analysis for Compounds as Potential Inhibitors of Human Acetylcholinesterase in Alzheimer's Disease Treatment

Antilisterial activity of Thymus vulgaris essential oil: In vitro, in situ, and in silico investigations

Listeria monocytogenes is a major foodborne pathogen that significantly threatens public health and food safety. While Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TV-EO) is widely recognized for its potent antibacterial activity, its specific effects against L. monocytogenes remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the antilisterial activity of TV-EO using in vitro, in situ, and in silico approaches. The in vitro assessment included disc diffusion method, determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), biofilm inhibition assay, and predictive modeling to assess L. monocytogenes reduction in the presence of TV-EO at 10 °C and 20 °C. In situ approach evaluated the inhibitory effect of TV-EO on L. monocytogenes in minced poultry meat stored at 4 °C. Finally, in silico approach, based on molecular docking, was employed to evaluate the binding affinity of major TV-EO components for β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II and chorismate synthase, key proteins involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and biofilm formation, respectively. Our finding revealed that TV-EO exhibited strong in vitro antilisterial activity, with inhibitory zones ranging from 51.00 ± 1.00 mm to 55.67 ± 1.15 mm, a MIC value of 0.125 %, and a MBC value of 0.25 %, indicating its bactericidal effect. TV-EO at 0.125 % demonstrated a high capacity to inhibit and eradicate the biofilm, with 100 ± 0.00 % and 91.33 ± 1.23 %, respectively. Predictive modeling, based on the combination of TV-EO and ζ values, revealed that L. monocytogenes inactivation was more pronounced at low temperature. Furthermore, the in-situ approach showed a significant reduction of L. monocytogenes amount, with decreases of 1.068 ± 0.132 log cfu/g, 0.671 ± 0.091 log cfu/g, and 0.317 ± 0.029 log cfu/g at TV-EO concentrations of 1 %, 0.5 %, and 0.25 %, respectively (p < 0.05). In silico analysis indicated that TV-EO components, particularly carvacrol, exhibited high affinity for β-ketoacyl-ACP synthase II and chorismate cynthase, suggesting strong antilisterial and ani-biofilm activity. These findings highlight the antilisterial efficacy of TV-EO, demonstrating its potential as a natural alternative to conventional preservatives for enhancing food preservation and safety.

Chemical Constituents, Antioxidant, and Enzyme Inhibitory Potentials Supported by In-Silico Studies of the n-Hexane Extract and Essential Oil of Platycladus Orientalis (L.) Franco Leaves

Platycladus orientalis leaves are widely used in traditional medicine to treat different ailments. In the present study, the volatile constituents were obtained by n-hexane extraction and hydrodistillation. Comprehensive metabolomic profiling was performed using GC-MS analysis. Furthermore, in vitro antioxidant potential and enzyme-inhibitory activity were assessed and supported by in silico profiling. Results revealed the predominance of monoterpene hydrocarbons in the hydrodistilled volatile oil (42.30 %) followed by oxygenated sesquiterpenes (32.10 %); with cedrol as the main component. Diterpenoids (49.70 %) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (13.43 %) were the major components of the n-hexane extract; with vulgarol A, a diterpene alcohol, as the major constituent. The volatile oil demonstrated significantly higher antioxidant potential across all assays, including ABTS and DDPH scavenging activity, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays. However, the n-hexane extract demonstrated broad inhibitory effects against butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase enzymes, supported by molecular docking study and predictive ADME profiling. Therefore, it may be concluded that the n-hexane extract is a viable option for treating dysregulated enzyme conditions. In addition, the potential use of volatile oil in the pharmaceutical industries and management of oxidative stress can be inferred. These results warrant further studies to validate the therapeutic potential of the volatile oil and the n-hexane extract.

Moroccan natural products for multitarget-based treatment of Alzheimer's disease: A computational study

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs neurocognitive functions. Acetylcholinesterase, Butyrylcholinesterase, Monoamine Oxidase B, Beta-Secretase, and Glycogen Synthase Kinase Beta play central roles in its pathogenesis. Current medications primarily inhibit AChE but fail to halt or reverse disease progression due to the multifactorial nature of Alzheimer's. This underscores the necessity of developing multi-target ligands for effective treatment. This study investigates the potential of phytochemical compounds from Moroccan medicinal plants as multi-target agents against Alzheimer's disease, employing computational approaches. A virtual screening of 386 phytochemical compounds, followed by an assessment of pharmacokinetic properties and ADMET profiles, led to the identification of two promising compounds, naringenin (C23) and hesperetin (C24), derived from Anabasis aretioides. These compounds exhibit favourable pharmacokinetic profiles and strong binding affinities for the five key targets associated with the disease. Density functional theory, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA calculations further confirmed their structural stability, with a slight preference for C24, exhibiting superior intermolecular interactions and overall stability. These findings provide a strong basis for further experimental research, including in vitro and in vivo studies, to substantiate their potential efficacy in Alzheimer's disease.

Herbal Nanoformulations for Diabetes: Mechanisms, Formulations, and Clinical Impact

BACKGROUND

Diabetes mellitus remains a global health challenge, demanding innovative therapeutic strategies. Herbal remedies have garnered attention for their potential in diabetes management, and recent advancements in nanotechnology have enabled the development of herbal nanoformulations with enhanced efficacy and bioavailability.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to comprehensively analyze the mechanisms, formulations, and clinical impact of herbal nanoformulations in managing diabetes mellitus.

METHOD

A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies exploring the mechanisms of action, various formulations, and clinical outcomes of herbal nanoformulations in diabetes management.

RESULT

Herbal nanoformulations exert their anti-diabetic effects through multiple mechanisms, including enhanced bioavailability, improved tissue targeting, and potentiation of insulin signaling pathways. Various herbal ingredients, such as bitter melon, fenugreek, and Gymnema sylvestre, have been encapsulated into nanocarriers, like liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and solid lipid nanoparticles, to enhance their therapeutic potential. Clinical studies have demonstrated promising results, showing improvements in glycemic control, lipid profile, and antioxidant status with minimal adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

Herbal nanoformulations represent a promising avenue for the management of diabetes mellitus, offering improved therapeutic outcomes compared to conventional herbal preparations. Further research is warranted to optimize formulation strategies, elucidate long-term safety profiles, and explore the potential synergistic effects of herbal nanoformulations in combination therapies for diabetes management.

Influence of Harvesting Stage on Phytochemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Activity of Immature Ceratonia siliqua L. Pulp from Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region, Morocco: In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Approaches

Ceratonia siliqua L. is a medicinal plant that has long been used in traditional Moroccan medicine to treat many diseases. This study aimed to assess the impact of the stages of the immature phase of carob pulp (M1, M2, M3, M4, and M5) on phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antidiabetic activity of Ceratonia siliqua L. The identification of the phenolic profile by HPLC-UV/MS-MS and the study of the antidiabetic effect by in silico, in vitro, and in vivo studies were carried out for extracts with high contents of phenolic compounds from immature wild carob pulp from the communes of Timoulit (TM), Bin Elouidane (AW), and Ouaouizerth (TG) in the province of Azilal in the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region. The results revealed a gradual increase in total sugar content over the pulp's ripening period, reaching a value of 2134 ± 56.23 mg GE/100 g fresh weight (FW) for TG. The three locations showed peak values for total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total condensed tannin (TCT) at the M2 stage. AW had the highest concentrations of TPC (3819 ± 226.4 mg GAE/100 g FM), TFC (1034 ± 57.08 mg QE/100 g FM), and TCT (1472 ± 28.46 mg CE/100 g FM). The DPPH assay (7892 ± 296.1 mg TE/100 g FM) and the FRAP assay (278.2 ± 7.85 mg TE/100 g FM) both demonstrated that the TG zone is a highly potent antioxidant zone. In contrast, the AW site exhibited a markedly elevated value of 725.4 ± 103.6 mg TE/100 g FM in the ABTS assay. HPLC-UV-MS/MS analysis showed that the methanolic extracts of immature carob pulp (MEICP) from the three areas contained several different chemical compounds. The most prevalent were 3-O-p-coumaroyl-5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin 3-methyl ether, gallic acid, and galloylquinic acid. Immature carob pulp extract (ICPE) from AW showed the strongest in vitro inhibition of pancreatic α-amylase (IC50 = 0.405 µg/mL) and TG extracts were most potent against intestinal α-glucosidase (IC50 = 0.063 µg/mL). In vivo, AW, TG, and TM extracts significantly reduced postprandial glycemia in rats, with AW having the greatest effect. These results highlight the antidiabetic potential of ICPE. The 3-O-p-Coumaroyl-5-O-caffeoylquinic acid showed better affinity for α-amylase compared to acarbose and interacted significantly with several amino acid residues of the enzyme. Similarly, this molecule and 3,4-Dicaffeoylquinic acid demonstrated a strong affinity for α-glucosidase, suggesting their potential as natural inhibitors of enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism. Most of the compounds are not substrates of P-glycoprotein and exhibited high intestinal absorption. Furthermore, the majority of these compounds did not act as inhibitors or substrates of CYP450 enzymes, reinforcing their suitability for development as oral medications. These results underscore the potential of immature carob pulp as a promising antidiabetic agent.

Mothana R, M. Noman O, Eto B, Chigr F, Chigr M. Synthesis and In Silico Analysis of New Polyheterocyclic Molecules Derived from [1,4]-Benzoxazin-3-one and Their Inhibitory Effect against Pancreatic α-Amylase and Intestinal α-Glucosidase

This study focuses on synthesizing a new series of isoxazolinyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-[1,4]-benzoxazin-3-one derivatives 5a-5o. The synthesis method involves a double 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction following a "click chemistry" approach, starting from the respective [1,4]-benzoxazin-3-ones. Additionally, the study aims to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of these newly synthesized compounds through in silico methods. This synthesis approach allows for the combination of three heterocyclic components: [1,4]-benzoxazin-3-one, 1,2,3-triazole, and isoxazoline, known for their diverse biological activities. The synthesis procedure involved a two-step process. Firstly, a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction was performed involving the propargylic moiety linked to the [1,4]-benzoxazin-3-one and the allylic azide. Secondly, a second cycloaddition reaction was conducted using the product from the first step, containing the allylic part and an oxime. The synthesized compounds were thoroughly characterized using spectroscopic methods, including 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT-135, and IR. This molecular docking method revealed a promising antidiabetic potential of the synthesized compounds, particularly against two key diabetes-related enzymes: pancreatic α-amylase, with the two synthetic molecules 5a and 5o showing the highest affinity values of 9.2 and 9.1 kcal/mol, respectively, and intestinal α-glucosidase, with the two synthetic molecules 5n and 5e showing the highest affinity values of -9.9 and -9.6 kcal/mol, respectively. Indeed, the synthesized compounds have shown significant potential as antidiabetic agents, as indicated by molecular docking studies against the enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Additionally, ADME analyses have revealed that all the synthetic compounds examined in our study demonstrate high intestinal absorption, meet Lipinski's criteria, and fall within the required range for oral bioavailability, indicating their potential suitability for oral drug development.

Mechanochemical Approach to Obtaining a Multicomponent Fisetin Delivery System Improving Its Solubility and Biological Activity

In this study, binary amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs, fisetin-Eudragit®) and ternary amorphous solid inclusions (ASIs, fisetin-Eudragit®-HP-β-cyclodextrin) of fisetin (FIS) were prepared by the mechanochemical method without solvent. The amorphous nature of FIS in ASDs and ASIs was confirmed using XRPD (X-ray powder diffraction). DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry) confirmed full miscibility of multicomponent delivery systems. FT-IR (Fourier-transform infrared analysis) confirmed interactions that stabilize FIS's amorphous state and identified the functional groups involved. The study culminated in evaluating the impact of amorphization on water solubility and conducting in vitro antioxidant assays: 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-ABTS, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-DPPH, Cupric Reducing Antioxidant Capacity-CUPRAC, and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power-FRAP and in vitro neuroprotective assays: inhibition of acetylcholinesterase-AChE and butyrylcholinesterase-BChE. In addition, molecular docking allowed for the determination of possible bonds and interactions between FIS and the mentioned above enzymes. The best preparation turned out to be ASI_30_EPO (ASD fisetin-Eudragit® containing 30% FIS in combination with HP-β-cyclodextrin), which showed an improvement in apparent solubility (126.5 ± 0.1 µg∙mL-1) and antioxidant properties (ABTS: IC50 = 10.25 µg∙mL-1, DPPH: IC50 = 27.69 µg∙mL-1, CUPRAC: IC0.5 = 9.52 µg∙mL-1, FRAP: IC0.5 = 8.56 µg∙mL-1) and neuroprotective properties (inhibition AChE: 39.91%, and BChE: 42.62%).