Cyperaceae Species Are Potential Sources of Natural Mammalian Arginase Inhibitors with Positive Effects on Vascular Function

Abstract

The inhibition of arginase is of substantial interest for the treatment of various diseases of public health interest including cardiovascular diseases. Using an ex vivo experiment on rat aortic rings and an in vitro assay with liver bovine purified arginase, it was demonstrated that several polyphenolic extracts from Cyperus and Carex species possess vasorelaxant properties and mammalian arginase inhibitory capacities. Phytochemical studies performed on these species led to the identification of eight compounds, including monomers, dimers, trimers, and tetramers of resveratrol. The potential of these stilbenes as inhibitors of mammalian arginase was assessed. Five compounds, scirpusin B (5), ε-viniferin (4), cyperusphenol B (6), carexinol A (7), and the new compound virgatanol (1), showed significant inhibition of arginase, with percentage inhibition ranging from 70% to 95% at 100 μg/mL and IC values between 12.2 and 182.1 μM, confirming that these stilbenes may be useful for the development of new pharmaceutical products.

Natural products inCyperus rotundusL. (Cyperaceae): an update of the chemistry and pharmacological activities

“…11,78 Luteolin (137) has been isolated from the rhizomes of this plant species. 18 Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of CR led to the isolation 133, isorhamnetin (142), vitexin (143), isovitexin ( 144 (132). Compounds (146-148) having an ortho-dihydroxyl groups at ring B showed strong antioxidant activity.…”

Mammalian Arginase Inhibitory Activity of Methanolic Extracts and Isolated Compounds from Cyperus Species

“…The synthesized compound Nω-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (nor-NOHA), a well-known reference inhibitor of arginase, was used as a positive control (IC 50 = 1.7 ± 0.7 µM). Although all of the evaluated compounds remained less active than nor-NOHA, it should be noted that compound 4 (IC 50 = 17.6 ± 2.2 µM), compound 6 (IC 50 = 19.4 ± 1.3 µM), and compound 1 (IC 50 = 28.8 ± 2.5 µM) all show an activity close to that of the natural inhibitor piceatannol (IC 50 = 12.6 ± 0.6 µM), one of the most active natural compounds on mammalian arginase [12,23].…”

“…At 33 days post-immunization, corresponding to the acute phase of arthritis, the rats were anesthetized using sodium pentobarbital 60 mg/kg (Ceva Santé Animale, France). The descending thoracic aorta was excised and carefully cleaned for vascular study as previously described [23]. Acetylcholine (10 −11 −10 −4 M) relaxation curves were achieved in aortic rings from adjuvant induced-arthritis and controls rats.…”

“…Numerous pharmacological studies provide scientific evidence of the biological activities of these plants [14,15] because they possess an abundance of different phytochemicals. In general, Cyperus are renowned sources of biologically active compounds, such as essential oils [16], terpenes [17,18], coumarins, flavonoids [19][20][21], and stilbenes [21][22][23]. We recently isolated stilbene oligomers scirpusin B and cyperusphenol B from Cyperus eragrostis and demonstrated their in vitro inhibitory activity against liver bovine arginase [23].…”

“…In general, Cyperus are renowned sources of biologically active compounds, such as essential oils [16], terpenes [17,18], coumarins, flavonoids [19][20][21], and stilbenes [21][22][23]. We recently isolated stilbene oligomers scirpusin B and cyperusphenol B from Cyperus eragrostis and demonstrated their in vitro inhibitory activity against liver bovine arginase [23]. In order to extend the research initiated on Cyperus genus, based on a survey of traditional uses and literature, we chose to continue with the study of the aerial parts of Cyperus thunbergii and Cyperus glomeratus.…”