Bioactive Compounds from Ephedra fragilis: Extraction Optimization, Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and AntiGlycation Activities.

Ismail Guenaou,Noureddine Bourhim,Imane Nait Irahal,Fouzia Hmimid,Ahmed Errami,Fatima Azzahra Lahlou

doi:10.3390/molecules26195998

Abstract

Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction of bioactive compounds from Ephedra fragilis. The results suggested that extraction with 61.93% ethanol at 44.43 °C for 15.84 h was the best solution for this combination of variables. The crude ethanol extract (CEE) obtained under optimum extraction conditions was sequentially fractionated with solvents of increasing polarity. The content of total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) as well as the antioxidant and antiglycation activities were measured. The phytochemical fingerprint profile of the fraction with the highest activity was characterized by using RP-HPLC. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) had the highest TP and TF contents and exhibited the most potent antioxidant and antiglycation activities. The Pearson correlation analysis results showed that TP and TF contents were highly significantly correlated with the antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Totally, six compounds were identified in the EAF of E. fragilis, including four phenolic acids and two flavonoids. Additionally, molecular docking analysis also showed the possible connection between identified bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action. Our results suggest new evidence on the antioxidant and antiglycation activities of E. fragilis bioactive compounds that may be applied in the treatment and prevention of aging and glycation-associated complications.

Highlights

The continuous exposure to aggressors from various sources may lead to a rise in free radicals production in the human body, exceeding its capacity to regulate them, and, over time, contributes to the development of several oxidative stress-associated diseases including ageing and diabetes [1]
A spontaneous nonenzymatic reaction between available amino groups of amino acid residues in proteins and reducing sugars, occurs to a higher extent under aging and hyperglycemia, resulting in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) production and accumulation [3]. Aside from it interfering with proteins and altering their functionality, AGEs can engage with the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), a 45 KDa multi-ligand-cell surface receptor belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily [4], and activate several downstream intracellular signaling pathways accompanied by a rise in free radicals production that contribute towards pathologic complications related to diabetes [5]
Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box–Behnken design (BBD) was applied to investigate the effect of ethanol concentration (%, X1 ), temperature (◦ C, X2 ), and time (h, X3 ) on the extraction yield of total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) from E. fragilis

Summary

Introduction

The continuous exposure to aggressors from various sources may lead to a rise in free radicals production in the human body, exceeding its capacity to regulate them, and, over time, contributes to the development of several oxidative stress-associated diseases including ageing and diabetes [1]. A spontaneous nonenzymatic reaction between available amino groups of amino acid residues in proteins and reducing sugars, occurs to a higher extent under aging and hyperglycemia, resulting in advanced glycation end products (AGEs) production and accumulation [3]. Aside from it interfering with proteins and altering their functionality, AGEs can 4.0/). Identifying new sources of phytochemicals that effectively scavenge free radicals and reduce non-enzymatic glycation is a great interest

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion