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Chontzopoulou E, Papaemmanouil CD, Chatziathanasiadou MV, Kolokouris D, Kiriakidi S, Konstantinidi A, Gerogianni I, Tselios T, Kostakis IK, Chrysina ED, Hadjipavlou-Litina D, Tzeli D, Tzakos AG, Mavromoustakos T. Molecular investigation of artificial and natural sweeteners as potential anti-inflammatory agents. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022; 40:12608-12620. [PMID: 34499023 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2021.1973565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Repurposing existing drugs, as well as natural and artificial sweeteners for novel therapeutic indications could speed up the drug discovery process since numerous associated risks and costs for drug development can be surpassed. In this study, natural and artificial sweeteners have been evaluated by in silico and experimental studies for their potency to inhibit lipoxygenase enzyme, an enzyme participating in the inflammation pathway. A variety of different methods pinpointed that aspartame inhibits the lipoxygenase isoform 1 (LOX-1). In particular, "LOX-aspartame" complex, that was predicted by docking studies, was further evaluated by Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations in order to assess the stability of the complex. The binding energy of the complex has been calculated after MD simulations using Molecular Mechanics/Generalized Born Surface Area (MM/GBSA) method. Furthermore, Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics (QM/MM) calculations have been applied for geometry optimization of the "enzyme-ligand" complex. After having fully characterized the "LOX-aspartame" complex in silico, followed in vitro biological assays confirmed that aspartame inhibits LOX-1 (IC50=50 ± 3.0 μΜ) and blocks its biological response. The atomic details of aspartame's interaction profile with LOX-1 were revealed through Saturation Transfer Difference (STD) NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance). Finally, aspartame was also tested with Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics studies for its potent binding to a number of different LOX isoforms of many organisms, including human. The in silico methods indicated that aspartame could serve as a novel starting point for drug design against LOX enzyme. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Chontzopoulou
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina D Papaemmanouil
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Maria V Chatziathanasiadou
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios Kolokouris
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sofia Kiriakidi
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Athina Konstantinidi
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Gerogianni
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.,Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis K Kostakis
- Department of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia D Chrysina
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece.,Department of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Demeter Tzeli
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas G Tzakos
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.,Institute of Materials Science and Computing, University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), Ioannina, Greece
| | - Thomas Mavromoustakos
- Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Papaemmanouil CD, Peña-García J, Banegas-Luna AJ, Kostagianni AD, Gerothanassis IP, Pérez-Sánchez H, Tzakos AG. ANTIAGE-DB: A Database and Server for the Prediction of Anti-Aging Compounds Targeting Elastase, Hyaluronidase, and Tyrosinase. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11112268. [PMID: 36421454 PMCID: PMC9686885 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11112268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products bear a multivariate biochemical profile with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antitumoral properties. Along with their natural sources, they have been widely used both as anti-aging and anti-melanogenic agents due to their effective contribution in the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) caused by oxidative stress. Their anti-aging activity is mainly related to their capacity of inhibiting enzymes like Human Neutrophil Elastase (HNE), Hyaluronidase (Hyal) and Tyrosinase (Tyr). Herein, we accumulated literature information (covering the period 1965–2020) on the inhibitory activity of natural products and their natural sources towards these enzymes. To navigate this information, we developed a database and server termed ANTIAGE-DB that allows the prediction of the anti-aging potential of target compounds. The server operates in two axes. First a comparison of compounds by shape similarity can be performed against our curated database of natural products whose inhibitory potential has been established in the literature. In addition, inverse virtual screening can be performed for a chosen molecule against the three targeted enzymes. The server is open access, and a detailed report with the prediction results is emailed to the user. ANTIAGE-DB could enable researchers to explore the chemical space of natural based products, but is not limited to, as anti-aging compounds and can predict their anti-aging potential. ANTIAGE-DB is accessed online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina D. Papaemmanouil
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Jorge Peña-García
- Structural Bioinformatics and High Performance Computing Research Group (BIO-HPC), Computer Engineering Department, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Guadalupe, Spain
| | - Antonio Jesús Banegas-Luna
- Structural Bioinformatics and High Performance Computing Research Group (BIO-HPC), Computer Engineering Department, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Guadalupe, Spain
| | - Androniki D. Kostagianni
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ioannis P. Gerothanassis
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Horacio Pérez-Sánchez
- Structural Bioinformatics and High Performance Computing Research Group (BIO-HPC), Computer Engineering Department, Universidad Católica de Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Guadalupe, Spain
- Correspondence: (H.P.-S.); (A.G.T.)
| | - Andreas G. Tzakos
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
- Institute of Materials Science and Computing, University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), 45110 Ioannina, Greece
- Correspondence: (H.P.-S.); (A.G.T.)
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Tsiailanis AD, Chatzigiannis CM, Papaemmanouil CD, Chatziathanasiadou MV, Chaloulos P, Riba I, Mullard G, Wiczkowski W, Koutinas A, Mandala I, Tzakos AG. Exploration of Betalains and Determination of the Antioxidant and Cytotoxicity Profile of Orange and Purple Opuntia spp. Cultivars in Greece. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 2022; 77:198-205. [PMID: 35397767 DOI: 10.1007/s11130-022-00962-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Replacing synthetic dyes with natural pigments has gained great attention over the past years in the food industry, due to the increased alertness of consumers for nontoxic and natural additives. Betalains are water-soluble nitrogenous natural pigments that are used as natural colorants in food industries, due to their applicability and their rich pharmacological profile including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. Therefore, there is a need for a detailed exploration of betalains to fully exploit their properties. Opuntia spp. plants are one of the primary sources of betalains. The objective of this study was to identify betalain phytochemical content in prickly pear cactus of two different Opuntia species from Greece (an Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (OFI) orange prickly pear cultivar and an Opuntia spp. purple prickly pear cultivar) using modern analytical techniques as also to evaluate their antioxidant and cytotoxicity profile. To achieve this we used an array of analytical techniques, including ultra-violet-vis (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) as also cell based in vitro assays. These enabled us to establish a rapid approach that can distinguish the different Opuntia spp. cultivars based on their phytochemical constituents through untargeted metabolomics analysis using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry - quadrupole time-of-flight (UPLC/MS Q-TOF). These findings could allow a further exploitation of Opuntia species and especially their enriched betalain phytochemical profile as viable source of natural food colorants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios D Tsiailanis
- Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Christos M Chatzigiannis
- Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Christina D Papaemmanouil
- Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Maria V Chatziathanasiadou
- Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Chaloulos
- Laboratory of Food Process Engineering, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Isabel Riba
- European Application Laboratory, Waters Corporation, Stamford Avenue, Wilmslow, SK9 4AX, UK
| | - Graham Mullard
- European Application Laboratory, Waters Corporation, Stamford Avenue, Wilmslow, SK9 4AX, UK
| | - Wiesław Wiczkowski
- Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Apostolos Koutinas
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 118 55, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioanna Mandala
- Laboratory of Food Process Engineering, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas G Tzakos
- Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece.
- Institute of Materials Science and Computing, University Research Center of Ioannina (URCI), Ioannina, Greece.
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Pritsas A, Tomou EM, Tsitsigianni E, Papaemmanouil CD, Diamantis DA, Chatzopoulou P, Tzakos AG, Skaltsa H. Valorisation of stachysetin from cultivated Stachys iva Griseb. as anti-diabetic agent: a multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2020; 39:6452-6466. [PMID: 32731792 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2020.1799864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Stachys species are considered as important medicinal plants with numerous health benefit effects. In continuation of our research on the Greek Stachys species, the chemical profile of the aerial parts of cultivated S. iva Griseb. has been explored. The NMR profiles of the plant extract/infusion were used to guide the isolation process, leading to the targeted isolation of seventeen known compounds. The rare acylated flavonoid, stachysetin, was isolated for the third time from plant species in the international literature. Identification of the characteristic signals of stachysetin in the 1D 1H-NMR spectrum of the crude extract was presented. In order to evaluate the potential of the identified chemical space in Stachys to bear possible bioactivity against diabetes, we performed an in silico screening against 17 proteins implicated in diabetes, as also ligand based similarity metrics against established anti-diabetic drugs. The results capitalized the anti-diabetic potency of stachysetin. Its binding profile to the major drug carrier plasma protein serum albumin was also explored along with its photophysical properties suggesting that stachysetin could be recognized and delivered in plasma through serum albumin and also could be tracked through near-infrared imaging. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aristeidis Pritsas
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Ekaterina-Michaela Tomou
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Tsitsigianni
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina D Papaemmanouil
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dimitrios A Diamantis
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Paschalina Chatzopoulou
- Hellenic Agricultural Organization DEMETER, Institute of Breeding and Plant Genetic Resources, IBPGR, Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Andreas G Tzakos
- Department of Chemistry, Section of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Helen Skaltsa
- Department of Pharmacognosy and Chemistry of Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografou, Athens, Greece
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