Screening inhibitory effects of selected flavonoids on human recombinant aldose reductase enzyme: in vitro and in silico study

Aldose reductase (AR) is the first enzyme of the polyol pathway that has physiological importance under hyperglycaemic conditions. The article has been focussed on AR enzyme inhibition by selected compounds. For this purpose, the in vitro inhibitory effects of various compounds on commercially available recombinant human AR (rAR) enzyme activity were investigated. The IC₅₀ values of compounds on rAR inhibition effect were found for 6-hydroxy flavone, syringic acid, diosmetin, 6-fluoroflavone, 7-hydroxy-4'-nitroisoflavone, myricetin as 2.05, 2.97, 15.75, 16.1, 49.5, and 63 µM, respectively. 6-Hydroxy flavone and syringic acid competitively inhibited rAR with respect to the NADPH with K_i values 0.509 ± 0.036 and 0.842 ± 0.012 µM. In addition, docking studies were performed to evaluate the potential enzyme binding positions of the compounds. Our in vitro and in silico results indicated that the 6-hydroxy flavone may be a good lead compound in the development of AR inhibitors to prevent diabetic complications.

Comparison of blood carbonic anhydrase activity of athletes performing interval and continuous running exercise at high altitude

The effects of high-intensity interval and continuous exercise on erythrocytes carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) activity levels were scarcely investigated up until now. Here we present a study focused on the CA activity from erythrocytes of athletes experiencing interval and continuous training for 6 weeks, during cold weather and at high altitude (> 1600 m). We observed a 50% increase in the blood CA activity at the second week after initiation of the training in both interval and continuos running groups, whereas the control group did not experience any variation in the enzyme activity levels. In the trained individuals a mild decrease in their body mass, BMI and an increased [Formula: see text] were also observed. The CA activity returned at the basal values after 4-6 weeks after the training started, probably proving that a metabolic compensation occurred without the need of an enhanced enzyme activity. The unexpected 50% rise of activity for an enzyme which acts as a very efficient catalyst for CO2 hydration/bicarbonate dehydration, such as the blood CA, deserves further investigations for better understanding the physiologic basis of this phenomenon.

Evaluation of the effects of Cyclotrichium niveum on brain acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress in male rats orally exposed to lead acetate

Cyclotrichium niveum is an endemic plant for Turkey and it appears to have in vitro antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibition properties. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no study on the in vivo effects of this plant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of C. niveum on lead (Pb)-acetate-induced potential alterations in brain acetylcholinesterase activity, as well as oxidative stress in male rats. The rats were randomly assigned to control, Pb-acetate, C. niveum and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups. Pb-acetate was provided in drinking water (500 ppm), and C. niveum was administered via orogastric gavage (4 ml/kg) for 30 days. The acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain significantly decreased only in the Pb-acetate group. The malondialdehyde level significantly increased, and the reduced glutathione activity decreased in the Pb-acetate group. The reduced glutathione and glutathione-S-transferase activities of the C. niveum group were higher than the control group. No Pb was detected on a ppb level in the brain tissue of the control and C. niveum groups, while it was detected in the brains of the rats in the Pb-acetate and Pb-acetate+ C. niveum groups (185+8.98 ppb and 206+56.65 ppb, respectively). The data collected in this study suggested that C. niveum may reduce inhibition of brain AChE activity and oxidative stress against Pb-acetate-induced alterations in the brain of male rats.

Role of geraniol against lead acetate-mediated hepatic damage and their interaction with liver carboxylesterase activity in rats

In this study, the effect of geraniol (50 mg/kg for 30 d), a natural antioxidant and repellent/antifeedant monoterpene, in a rat model of lead acetate-induced (500 ppm for 30 d) liver damage was evaluated. Hepatic malondialdehyde increased in the lead acetate group. Reduced glutathione unchanged, but glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, as well as carboxylesterase activities decreased in geraniol, lead acetate and geraniol + lead acetate groups. 8-OhDG immunoreactivity, mononuclear cell infiltrations and hepatic lead concentration were lower in the geraniol + lead acetate group than the lead acetate group. Serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities increased in the Pb acetate group. In conclusion, lead acetate causes oxidative and toxic damage in the liver and this effect can reduce with geraniol treatment. However, we first observed that lead acetate, as well as geraniol, can affect liver carboxylesterase activity.

Compounds from Terminalia mantaly L. (Combretaceae) Stem Bark Exhibit Potent Inhibition against Some Pathogenic Yeasts and Enzymes of Metabolic Significance

Background: Pathogenic yeasts resistance to current drugs emphasizes the need for new, safe, and cost-effective drugs. Also, new inhibitors are needed to control the effects of enzymes that are implicated in metabolic dysfunctions such as cancer, obesity, and epilepsy. Methods: The anti-yeast extract from Terminalia mantaly (Combretaceae) was fractionated and the structures of the isolated compounds established by means of spectroscopic analysis and comparison with literature data. Activity was assessed against Candida albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei using the microdilution method, and against four enzymes of metabolic significance: glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, human erythrocyte carbonic anhydrase I and II, and glutathione S-transferase. Results: Seven compounds, 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-α-rhamnopyranoside; 3-O-methylellagic acid; arjungenin or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oïc acid; arjunglucoside or 2,3,19,23-tetrahydroxyolean-12-en-28-oïc acid glucopyranoside; 2α,3α,24-trihydroxyolean-11,13(18)-dien-28-oïc acid; stigmasterol; and stigmasterol 3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were isolated from the extract. Among those, 3,3'-di-O-methylellagic acid 4'-O-α-rhamnopyranoside, 3-O-methylellagic acid, and arjunglucoside showed anti-yeast activity comparable to that of reference fluconazole with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) below 32 µg/mL. Besides, Arjunglucoside potently inhibited the tested enzymes with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) below 4 µM and inhibitory constant (Ki) <3 µM. Conclusions: The results achieved indicate that further SAR studies will likely identify potent hit derivatives that should subsequently enter the drug development pipeline.

Purification of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase enzymes from the gill tissue of Lake Van fish and analyzing the effects of some chalcone derivatives on enzyme activities

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and glutathione reductase (GR) are metabolically quite important enzymes. Within this study, these two enzymes were purified for the first time from the gills of Lake Van fish. In the purifying process, ammonium sulfate precipitation and 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity column chromatography techniques for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, temperature degradation and 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity column chromatography for glutathione reductase enzyme were used. The control of the enzyme purity and determination of molecular weight were done with sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. K(M) and V(max) values were determined with Lineweaver-Burk plot. Besides, the effects of some chalcone derivatives on the purified enzymes were analyzed. For the ones showing inhibition effect, % activity-[I] figures were drawn and IC50 values were determined. K(i) value was calculated by using Cheng-Prusoff equation.

Investigation of the effects of some phenolic compounds on the activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from human erythrocytes

Polyphenols are the important compounds that have various bioactivities. They constitute vital active agents of not only daily diet but also natural medicines that are used traditionally. It is generally considered that they are safe because they are natural. In some conducted studies, different negative effects of these compounds were mentioned. Twelve phenolic compounds have been assayed to determine the effect of inhibition on glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD) enzymes activity. For in vitro studies, the enzymes were purified from human erythrocytes using 2',5'-ADP Sepharose 4B affinity chromatography. Naringenin, caffeic acid, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, and sinapic acid against two enzymes, hesperidin and polydatin, only on G6PD activity and chrysin solely against 6PGD showed inhibitory effect. Chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and syringic acid did not exhibit an effect on the activity of the two enzymes.

Purification of glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes from tumour and nontumour human stomach and inhibitory effects of some heavy metals on enzymes activities

In this study, glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzyme was purified from nontumour and tumour human gastric tissue and in vitro effects of heavy metals on the enzyme were examined. GST was purified 3089 fold with a specific activity of 20 U/mg and a yield of 78% from gastric tumour tissue; and 1185 fold with a specific activity of 5.69 U/mg and a yield of 50% from nontumour tissue by using glutathione-agarose affinity column, respectively. Enzyme purity was verified by SDS-PAGE and subunit molecular mass was calculated around 26 kDa. The molecular weight of the enzyme was calculated as 52 kDa by using Sephadex G-75 gel filtration column. Then, inhibitory effects of metal ions on the enzymes were investigated. Mg(2+) and Cd(2+) had inhibitory effect on the enzymes activities. Other kinetic properties of the enzymes were also determined.