Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic Potential, and In silico Analysis of Rhus chinensis from Western Nepal.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Rhus chinensis Mill, indigenous wild fruit primarily found in the hilly region of Nepal. The ripe fruit is very sour and considered medicinal as a remedy for colic pain. In addition, their astringent and styptic qualities are used internally to treat illnesses such as diarrhea and hemorrhage. Also, they are used as a common component of polyherbal medications for diabetic mellitus.

OBJECTIVES:

This work aimed to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant, antibacterial, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibition activity of the crude extract and fractions of Rhus chinensis Mill. Additionally, molecular docking of compounds from Rhus chinensis was performed.

METHODS:

Folin Ciocalteu's (FC) reagent was used to estimate total phenolic content. Likewise, the aluminium trichloride method was applied to determine total flavonoid content. A 2,2-diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay was performed for the antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the substrate-based enzyme inhibition assay was carried out for α-glucosidase and α- amylase inhibition activity of R. chinensis. P-nitrophenyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG) and 2- Chloro-4-Nitrophenyl-α-D-Maltotrioside (CNPG3) were used as substrates for α-glucosidase and α- amylase inhibition assay, respectively. Similarly, the well-diffusion method was used for the antibacterial activity. Autodock vina was used to perform molecular docking.

RESULTS:

The total phenolic and flavonoid content of R. chinensis fruit were 117.092±1.1 mg GAE/g and 62.41±1.23 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 value for antioxidant activity of the crude extract and its fractions ranged from 3.12±1.15μg/mL to 50.85±2.10μg/mL. Similarly, the IC50 for α- glucosidase inhibition ranged from2.33±1.01μg/mL to 28.34±2.79μg/mL. Likewise, The IC50 of R. chinensis crude methanolic extract against α-amylase was 120.3±1.382μg/mL. The antibacterial activity of R. chinensis was effective against gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus (ZOI=11.0) and Bacillus subtilis (ZOI=9.0). Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and Myricetin-3-Orhamnoside showed excellent binding to the active site of protein with binding energy -9.4kcal/mol and -9.6kcal/mol, respectively.

CONCLUSION:

Rhus chinensis Mill is a potent antioxidant and inhibits enzymes; α-glucosidase and α- amylase. In addition, the methanolic extract of this plant shows antibacterial activity. However, further research is required to determine the inhibiting compounds.

• Authors: Kamal Dhakal, Dipesh Shrestha, Tamlal Pokhrel, Prasamsha Panta, Anisha Pandey, Jeevan Dhakal, Achyut Adhikari
• Journal: Current topics in medicinal chemistry (Curr Top Med Chem) Vol. 22 Issue 26 Pg. 2145-2151 ( 2022) ISSN: 1873-4294 [Electronic] United Arab Emirates
• PMID: 35927822 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at [email protected].

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Hypoglycemic Agents
• alpha-Glucosidases
• alpha-Amylases
• Complex Mixtures

Topics

• Rhus
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Hypoglycemic Agents (pharmacology)
• alpha-Glucosidases
• Molecular Docking Simulation
• alpha-Amylases
• Complex Mixtures