Participation of Oxidative Stress in the Activity of Compounds Isolated from Eleutherine plicata Herb

Abstract

From Eleutherine plicata, naphthoquinones, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol were isolated, and previous studies have reported the antioxidant activity of these metabolites. The present work evaluated the role of oxidative changes in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated with E. plicata extract, fraction, and isolated compounds, as well as to verify possible oxidative changes induced by these treatments. E. plicata extracts were prepared from powder from the bulbs, which were submitted to maceration with ethanol, yielding the extract (EEEp), which was fractionated under reflux, and the dichloromethane fraction (FDMEp) was submitted for further fractionation, leading to the isolation of isoeleutherine, eleutherine, and eleutherol. The antimalarial activity was examined using the suppressive test, evaluating the following parameters of oxidative stress: trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, the molecular docking of naphthoquinones, eleutherol, eleutherine, and isoeleutherine interactions with antioxidant defense enzymes was investigated, which was favorable for the formation of the receptor–ligand complex, according to the re-rank score values. Eleutherine and isoeleutherine are the ones with the lowest binding energy for catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), showing themselves as possible targets of these molecules in the involvement of redox balance. Data from the present study showed that treatments with E. plicata stimulated an increase in antioxidant capacity and a reduction in oxidative stress in mice infected with P. berghei, with naphthoquinones being responsible for reducing oxidative changes and disease severity.

Impact of Some Natural and Artificial Sweeteners Consumption on Different Hormonal Levels and Inflammatory Cytokines in Male Rats: In Vivo and In Silico Studies

“…Additionally, according to the present study’s findings, the potential clinical implications of these binding interactions in the context of consumption and metabolic health of many additives, such as sweeteners, could be predicted and ensured by both in vitro and in vivo studies. Based on the literature and in agreement with the above results, many natural and synthetic compounds showed a potential inhibition effect against many hormones and enzymes during consumption, such as amylin, , FSH and LH, COX I/II, prostaglandin E2, and antioxidant enzymes . The current study’s findings open the perspectives toward using in silico techniques to predict the negative implications of many food additives, including sweeteners.…”

“…Based on the literature and in agreement with the above results, many natural and synthetic compounds showed a potential inhibition effect against many hormones and enzymes during consumption, such as amylin, 88 , 89 FSH and LH, 90 COX I/II, 92 prostaglandin E2, 93 and antioxidant enzymes. 96 The current study’s findings open the perspectives toward using in silico techniques to predict the negative implications of many food additives, including sweeteners.…”

“…Through a molecular docking study, Gomes et al 96 rerank score values and demonstrate that the three compounds extracted from Eleutherine plicata herb favorably interact with antioxidant enzymes, developing a receptor–ligand complex. This suggests that these molecules can suppress the activity of these proteins.…”

Network pharmacology and molecular docking technology for exploring the effect and mechanism of Radix Bupleuri and Radix Paeoniae Alba herb-pair on anti-hepatitis: A review

“…[ 33 , 34 ] Additionally, molecular modeling can also confirm the clinical therapeutic effects of different components such as geissoschizoline N4-methylchlorine and Eleutherine plicata by simulating molecular docking. [ 35 , 36 ] Consequently, in silico modeling offers the potential to develop new drug candidate ingredients with targeted effects. [ 37 ]…”