Hyaluronidase Inhibitory Activity of Pentacylic Triterpenoids from Prismatomeris tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schum: Isolation, Synthesis and QSAR Study

Multidirectional Effects of Terpenoids from Sorbus intermedia (EHRH.) PERS Fruits in Cellular Model of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological disease affecting aging men. Its pathogenesis is regarded as complex and multifactorial, with sex hormones and inflammation as key contributory factors. In the current study, we investigated the anti-BPH potential of terpenoids present in the fruits of Sorbus intermedia (EHRH.) PERS. Not only the effects on testosterone-stimulated normal prostate epithelial PNT2 cells, namely suppression of 5-α-reductase activity, PSA secretion, and cell proliferation, were determined but also the inhibitory activity on heat-induced protein denaturation, hyaluronidase, as well as IL-6, TNF-α, and NO release in LPS-treated macrophages. Sorbus terpenoids significantly inhibited 5-α-reductase activity and reduced PSA secretion in PNT2 cells, reversing the stimulatory effect of testosterone. PNT2 cell proliferation was also found to be attenuated. Subsequently, all compounds reduced the release of pro-inflammatory mediators in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, ursolic acid (UA) and its aldehyde (UAL) were the most potent hyaluronidase inhibitors of all compounds, with IC₅₀ values of 225.75 µg/mL and 369.77 µg/mL, respectively. For better understanding and interpretation of the overall effect of Sorbus terpenoids on different aspects of BPH pathogenesis and development, cluster analysis was applied.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of Betulinic Acid Derivatives With Inhibitory Activity on Hyaluronidase and Anti-Inflammatory Effects Against Hyaluronic Acid Fragment Induced Inflammation

We previously reported that the structural modifications of pentacyclic triterpenoids including oleanolic acid resulted in enhanced hyaluronidase inhibitory activity but whether this applies to other pentacyclic triterpenoids such as betulinic acid (BA) is unknown. Herein, we synthesized BA derivatives with an α,β-unsaturated ketene moiety and evaluated for their: 1) hyaluronidase inhibitory activity and, 2) anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induced inflammation. Compared to BA, the BA derivatives exerted improved anti-hyaluronidase activity (26.3%-72.8% vs. 22.6%) and anti-inflammatory effects by reducing nitrite production in BV2 cells (3.9%-46.8% vs. 3.4%) and RAW264.7 cells (22.7%-49.2% vs. 20.4%). BA derivatives inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in THP-1 cells (15.2%-22.4%). BA derivatives also exerted promising anti-inflammatory effects against hyaluronic acid fragment induced nitrite production (8.6%-35.6%) in THP-1 cells. BA derivatives showed augmented anti-hyaluronidase and anti-inflammatory effects but further biological evaluations using in vivo models are warranted to confirm their efficacy.

Paving the way towards effective plant-based inhibitors of hyaluronidase and tyrosinase: a critical review on a structure-activity relationship

Human has used plants to treat many civilisation diseases for thousands of years. Examples include reserpine (hypertension therapy), digoxin (myocardial diseases), vinblastine and vincristine (cancers), and opioids (palliative treatment). Plants are a rich source of natural metabolites with multiple biological activities, and the use of modern approaches and tools allowed finally for more effective bioprospecting. The new phytochemicals are hyaluronidase (Hyal) inhibitors, which could serve as anti-cancer drugs, male contraceptives, and an antidote against venoms. In turn, tyrosinase inhibitors can be used in cosmetics/pharmaceuticals as whitening agents and to treat skin pigmentation disorders. However, the activity of these inhibitors is stricte dependent on their structure and the presence of the chemical groups, e.g. carbonyl or hydroxyl. This review aims to provide comprehensive and in-depth evidence related to the anti-tyrosinase and anti-Hyal activity of phytochemicals as well as confirming their efficiency and future perspectives.

Effects of Carissa carandas Linn. Fruit, Pulp, Leaf, and Seed on Oxidation, Inflammation, Tyrosinase, Matrix Metalloproteinase, Elastase, and Hyaluronidase Inhibition

In this study, the potential of Carissa carandas Linn. as a natural anti-aging, antioxidant, and skin whitening agent was studied. Various parts of C. carandas, including fruit, leaf, seed, and pulp were sequentially extracted by maceration using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography, Folin–Ciocalteu, and Dowd method were used to investigate their chemical compositions. The inhibitory activities of oxidation process, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), elastase, hyaluronidase, and tyrosinase were analyzed. Cytotoxicity was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay in a human epidermal keratinocyte line (HaCaT). The results exhibited that ethyl acetate could extract the most ursolic acid from C. carandas, while ethanol could extract the most phenolics and flavonoids. The leaf extract had the highest content of ursolic acid, phenolics, and flavonoids. The leaf extracted with ethyl acetate (AL) had the highest ursolic acid content (411.8 mg/g extract) and inhibited MMP-1, NF-kappa B, and tyrosinase activity the most. Ursolic acid has been proposed as a key component in these biological activities. Although several C. carandas extracts are beneficial to human skin, AL has been proposed for use in cosmetics and cosmeceuticals due to its superior anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammation, and whitening properties.

Synthesis and biological evaluations of oleanolic acid indole derivatives as hyaluronidase inhibitors with enhanced skin permeability

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a natural cosmeceutical compound with various skin beneficial activities including inhibitory effect on hyaluronidase but the anti-hyaluronidase activity and mechanisms of action of its synthetic analogues remain unclear. Herein, a series of OA derivatives were synthesised and evaluated for their inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase. Compared to OA, an induction of fluorinated (6c) and chlorinated (6g) indole moieties led to enhanced anti-hyaluronidase activity (IC₅₀ = 80.3 vs. 9.97 and 9.57 µg/mL, respectively). Furthermore, spectroscopic and computational studies revealed that 6c and 6g can bind to hyaluronidase protein and alter its secondary structure leading to reduced enzyme activity. In addition, OA indole derivatives showed feasible skin permeability in a slightly acidic environment (pH = 6.5) and 6c exerted skin protective effect by reducing cellular reactive oxygen species in human skin keratinocytes. Findings from the current study support that OA indole derivatives are potential cosmeceuticals with anti-hyaluronidase activity.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Cytotoxic Activity of Extracts from Some Commercial Apple Cultivars in Two Colorectal and Glioblastoma Human Cell Lines

Cancer initiation and development are closely related to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate apple extracts and individual tritepenes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities. Dry extracts of apple were analyzed by HPLC-PDA. A hyaluronidase inhibition assay was selected to determine the anti-inflammatory effect. Cytotoxic activities against human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29) and human glioblastoma cell line (U-87) were determined using MTT, cell colony formation, and spheroid growth assays. Radical scavenging and reducing activities were evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays, respectively. The apple extracts inhibited hyaluronidase from 26.38 ± 4.4% to 35.05 ± 3.8%. The AAW extract possessed the strongest cytotoxic activity (EC₅₀ varied from 113.3 ± 11.11 µg/mL to 119.7 ± 4.0 µg/mL). The AEW extract had four and five times stronger antiradical activity when determined by ABTS and DPPH, and two and eight times stronger reducing activity when evaluated by CUPRAC and FRAP, respectively. Understanding the mechanisms of apple extracts and individual triterpenes as hyaluronidase inhibitors and antioxidants related in cancer development may be a benefit to future study in vivo, as well as cancer prognosis or the development of new, innovative food supplements, which could be used for chronic disease prevention.

Variation of Triterpenes in Apples Stored in a Controlled Atmosphere

Apples are seasonal fruits, and thus after harvesting apples of optimal picking maturity, it is important to prepare them properly for storage and to ensure proper storage conditions in order to minimize changes in the chemical composition and commercial quality of the apples. We studied the quantitative composition of triterpenic compounds in the whole apple, apple peel and apple flesh samples before placing them in the controlled atmosphere (CA) chambers, and at the end of the experiment, 8 months later. HPLC analysis showed that highest total amount of triterpenic compounds (1.99 ± 0.01 mg g^-1) was found in the whole apple samples of the 'Spartan' cultivar stored under variant VIII (O₂-20%, CO₂-3%, N₂-77%) conditions. Meanwhile, the highest amount of triterpenic compounds (11.66 ± 0.72 mg g^-1) was determined in the apple peel samples of the 'Auksis' cultivar stored under variant II (O₂-5%, CO₂-1%, N₂-94%) conditions. In the apple peel samples of the 'Auksis' cultivar stored under variant I (O₂-21%, CO₂-0.03%, N₂-78.97%) conditions, the amount of individual triterpenic compounds (ursolic, oleanolic, corosolic, and betulinic acids) significantly decreased compared with amount determined before the storage. Therefore, in the apple flesh samples determined triterpenic compounds are less stable during the storage under controlled atmosphere conditions compared with triterpenic compounds determined in the whole apple and apple peel samples.

<p>Anti-Nociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of <em>Hygrophila schulli</em> Leaves</p>

Purpose

The management of pain and inflammation with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and opioid analgesics are currently encountering severe adverse reactions. To overcome these problems, herbal remedies may offer new alternative medicines. Hygrophila schulli is a medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of pain and inflammation-related disorders; yet, these claims are not scientifically validated. Hence, this study was aimed to validate the traditional use of Hygrophila schulli leaves as anti-inflammatory and analgesic remedy.

Methods

In vitro anti-hyaluronidase assay and in vivo carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema model were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory property of ethanolic leaf extract of Hygrophila schulli. Tail immersion and acetic acid-induced writhing tests were performed to determine the central and peripheral analgesic activity of the leaf extract, respectively.

Results

The ethanolic leaf extract exhibited significant anti-hyaluronidase activity (P<0.001) and significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw oedema (P<0.05) compared to untreated controls. Similarly, the extract significantly prolonged the reaction time of mice (P<0.05) for the hot-water stimuli. Furthermore, an oral dose of the extract showed significant inhibition (P<0.01) of acetic acid-induced abdominal contractions of mice. Besides, the ethanolic leaf extract did not cause any obvious sign of acute toxicity at a single oral dose of 2 g/kg.

Conclusion

The findings of this study may partially support the acclaimed traditional use of Hygrophila schulli leaves for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions.

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive property of Capparis tomentosa Lam. root extracts

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Capparis tomentosa Lam. root is one of the commonly used traditional medicines for the treatment of pain and inflammatory conditions by the Kunama ethnic group of Ethiopia. Yet, its ethnomedicinal claim has not been scientifically investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociception activities of root extracts of Capparis tomentosa Lam.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The anti-inflammatory activity of the 70% ethanolic extracts and solvent fractions was determined using invitro hyaluronidase inhibition assay and in vivo carrageenan-induced paw edema in Swiss albino mice model. The anti-nociception effect was determined using the acetic acid-induced writhing model and tail immersion model in Swiss albino mice.

RESULTS

The root extract of Capparis tomentosa has exhibited significant hyaluronidase inhibition activity which was comparable with the reference drug, indomethacin. Significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced paw edema was observed in all the test sample treated mice compared to the negative control with the highest activity observed from butanol fraction which was equivalent to the effect of acetylsalicylic acid. All the root extract and solvent fractions have possessed a significant and dose-dependent abdominal writhing inhibition with the highest effect observed in the aqueous fraction. Additionally, the crude extract was found better in increasing the reaction latency of the mice to the hot water stimulus than the solvent fractions which were significant after 60-120 min compared to the distilled water treated group. The root extract and solvent fractions were also found safe at a single oral dose of 2 mg/g in Swiss albino mice.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study may partially support the folkloric use of Capparis tomentosa root for the treatment of pain and inflammation.

Bioassay-Guided Isolation, Metabolic Profiling, and Docking Studies of Hyaluronidase Inhibitors from Ravenala madagascariensis

Hyaluronidase enzyme (HAase) has a role in the dissolution or disintegration of hyaluronic acid (HA) and in maintaining the heathy state of skin. Bioassay-guided fractionation of Ravenala madagascariensis (Sonn.) organ extracts (leaf, flower, stem, and root) testing for hyaluronidase inhibition was performed followed by metabolic profiling using LC–HRMS. Additionally, a hyaluronidase docking study was achieved using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE). Results showed that the crude hydroalcoholic (70% EtOH) extract of the leaves as well as its n-butanol (n-BuOH) partition showed higher HAase activity with 64.3% inhibition. Metabolic analysis of R. madagascariensis resulted in the identification of 19 phenolic compounds ranging from different chemical classes (flavone glycosides, flavonol glycosides, and flavanol aglycones). Bioassay-guided purification of the leaf n-BuOH partition led to the isolation of seven compounds that were identified as narcissin, rutin, epiafzelechin, epicatechin, isorhamnetin 7-O-glucoside, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin-7-O-rutinoside. The docking study showed that narcissin, rutin, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside all interact with HAase through hydrogen bonding with the Asp111, Gln271, and/or Glu113 residues. Our results highlight Ravenala madagascariensis and its flavonoids as promising hyaluronidase inhibitors in natural cosmetology preparations for skin care.

The Potential of Triterpenoids from Loquat Leaves (Eriobotrya japonica) for Prevention and Treatment of Skin Disorder

The leaves of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) possess high medicinal value and have been used as traditional medicines. However, there are no evidence-based studies on the skin-care effects of E. japonica leaves. To explore new biological activities of E. japonica leaves against skin disorder and to gain a better understanding of the chemical components associated with bioactivities, we evaluated 18 triterpenoids from E. japonica leaves on anti-melanogenesis, anti-acne, anti-allergy and anti-aging activities. Our results revealed that eight compounds showed anti-melanogenesis activity, of which ursolic acid (1) and maslinic acid (7) were the most potent with the similar selective index to that of arbutin. Structure–activity relationship and possible mechanism of active compounds were proposed. Twelve compounds exhibited anti-acne effect; ursolic acid (1), maslinic acid (7), corosolic acid (8) and euscaphic acid (12) showed highest activities against P. acnes. Four compounds displayed anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activity; 3-epicorosolic acid (9) and euscaphic acid (12) showed marked activity against β-hexosaminidase release. Finally, ursolic acid (1), pomolic acid (10), colosolic acid (8) and its methylated derivative (6) exhibited the highest anti-aging activity by stimulating collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) production. Our findings provide valuable evidence that E. japonica leaves have potential applications as ingredients of function foods or cosmetics for health benefits and a number of triterpenoids may play an important role in these bioactivities.

Data Analysis in Chemistry and Bio-Medical Sciences

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In silico approach to explore the disruption in the molecular mechanism of human hyaluronidase 1 by mutant E268K that directs Natowicz syndrome

Natowicz syndrome (mucopolysaccharidoses type 9) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient or defective human hyaluronidase 1. The disorder is not well studied at the molecular level. Therefore, a new in silico approach was proposed to study the molecular basis on which one clinically observed mutation, Glu268Lys, results in a defective enzyme. The native and mutant structures were subjected to comparative analyses using a conformational sampling approach for geometrical variables viz, RMSF, RMSD, and Ramachandran plot. In addition, the strength of a Cys207-Cys221 disulfide bond and electrostatic interaction between Arg265 and Asp206 were studied, as they are known to be involved in the catalytic activity of the enzyme. Native and mutant E268K showed statistically significant variations with p < 0.05 in RMSD, Ramachandran plot, strengths of disulfide bond, and electrostatic interactions. Further, single model analysis showed variations between native and mutant structures in terms of intra-protein interactions, hydrogen bond dilution, secondary structure, and dihedral angles. Docking analysis predicted the mutant to have a less favorable substrate binding energy compared to the native protein. Additionally, steered MD analysis indicated that the substrate should have more affinity to the native than mutant enzymes. The observed changes theoretically explain the less favorable binding energy of substrate towards mutant E268K, thereby providing a structural basis for its reduced catalytic activity. Hence, our study provides a basis for understanding the disruption in the molecular mechanism of human hyaluronidase 1 by mutation E268K, which may prove useful for the development of synthetic chaperones as a treatment option for Natowicz syndrome.